For Special exterior pack including Silver Alpha trim, rear spoiler and 18-inch alloys; front, side and curtain airbags; ESP with traction control; sports front seats; sport suspension
Against Limited rear visibility; cramped boot; cabin could be more spacious; less legroom than competitors; steering is precise but without much feedback; residual values not up to rivals’
Two refined 1.9-litre diesel engines are available, but this stronger 148bhp unit packs the serious punch, with plenty of low-end grunt, effortless power and impressive fuel economy
Of the four bodies in the Astra range, the three-door Sport Hatch is - naturally - the sporty option.
Effectively, it’s a three-door version of the regular five-door, but there are sufficient differences that it deserves its own name.
To go with the sportier styling is a more sporty drive (plus tighter accommodation and worse rear visibility), while the Sport Hatch also does without some of the more basic trims.
That means the Sport Hatch range starts at a higher price, but if you compare like for like, the two models cost the same.
The most major difference is that, in keeping with its sporty ethos, the Sport Hatch range is topped by the screaming 236bhp VXR hot hatch, which isn’t available in the five-door.
Other than that, the engine options are pretty much the same and, as in the five-door, our favourite model has the 1.6 16v petrol engine.
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