Like most performance hatchbacks, the VXR isn’t a cheap car to run. Claimed average fuel economy is 31mpg but you’ll rarely see this in everyday driving and it will get through plenty of front tyres, which aren’t cheap. On the plus side, insurance is group 17 – the same as the Focus ST and Mazda3 MPS – and the body has been designed to be easier to repair after minor accidents.

It also uses the same 20,000 mile minor, 40,000 mile major servicing requirements as all Astras.

The VXR is a polluting model – although it’s about average when judged by hot hatch standards. The 2.0-litre engine emits 211g/km of CO2 while average fuel economy is 30mpg.

The previous Astra three-door was (on the whole) reliable, but suffered from a string of niggling electrical and trim problems. Quality on the current Astra is better, with few faults reported from owners so far.