Vauxhall Astra hatchback (2009-2015) - Practicality & boot space
The Vauxhall Astra has plenty of room inside and boot space is on par with most of its rivals'
It's large enough to feel spacious, but not so big that it’s tricky to park. Having said that, the narrow rear window means it can be hard to judge where the back of the car lies, so rear parking sensors are recommended.
Vauxhall Astra interior space & storage
It can’t match the Skoda Octavia or Honda Civic for space, but the Vauxhall Astra is still a practical family runaround. The cabin is roomy, you get a decent-sized boot and there’s plenty of interior storage.
Passengers get just enough legroom in the back and, while headroom is a little tight, only occupants over six feet tall will feel uncomfortable.
Take a look around and you’ll spot plenty of useful cubbies for odds and ends. For instance, the door bins will comfortably accommodate a one-litre bottle of water, and there’s a deep space in front of the gearlever that houses the USB and MP3 player ports, plus a 12v power supply.
Design models and above get handy map pockets in the backs of the front seats, while the Limited Edition and above have a folding centre armrest in the rear, plus a ski hatch that adds practicality by allowing long loads to poke through the seats without the need to fold them. Design, Tech Line and SRi models can be given an extra dash of practicality courtesy of the £155 Interior Versatility Pack, which adds a storage tray under the front passenger seat and centre rear headrest.
Boot space
Opening the tailgate reveals a 351-litre boot, which is 29 litres less than a VW Golf's, yet a useful 35-litre increase over the Ford Focus'. For an extra £55, you can specify the Flex Floor set-up, which reduces overall capacity, but creates some hidden underfloor storage. It also results in a totally flat floor when the 60:40 split-folding rear seats are lowered, while overall capacity increases to 1,216 litres.
Towing
If you’re looking to tow a caravan or trailer, then the 2.0-litre CDTi diesel is the best bet, as its has a 1,500kg towing limit. Better still, GT Tech Line models and above can be fitted with the optional £252 Towing Pack, which adds a detachable tow bar and trailer stability programme for the standard electronic stability system.
