Practicality and beyond

There's a decent-sized boot with the option of a FlexFloor a divider that you can leave in place if you want a flat deck, remove if you want a deeper luggage area or concertina up to hold shopping securely. Storage space inside the cabin has been devised as a result of a study of what people actually carry, and where.

There's nothing innovative, but buyers will be impressed not only by the shape and size of the storage areas, but also by where they're located.

Vauxhall will be hoping that its future independent of GM can now be wrapped up just as tidily before the Astra goes on sale, so that it can return to something like normality.

The Astra has challenges enough to face not least some outstanding competition and a Europe-wide recession without a bankrupt parent acting as a millstone, too.

New Vauxhall Astra preview video
• [Click here to see the new Astra](/car-news/video-news?vurl= mms://a1211.v38076a.c38076.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1211/38076/v0001/haymarket.akamai1.streamuk.com/wmv/WhatCar/News/2009/July/Vauxhall_Astra_Preview_512kws.wmv&vtype=WM)