Good fuel economy and cheap insurance help to keep running costs down. Parts and servicing costs are competitive to please fleet users. Depreciation steep when new, but reasonable afterwards, so carefully maintained two and three-year-old cars are the best buys for long-term ownership.

Astra is an environmentally friendly choice for green buyers. With an average of 160 g/km CO2 across the range, its emissions are relatively low for a small family hatchback. Eco-conscious buyers should consider the 1.7-litre diesel, which is one of the greenest models in the range. The range is also fairly economical, averaging 42 mpg.

Certainly better than the previous Astra, and the much improved build quality bodes well for the future. These fourth generation cars seem to have shaken off the engine niggles that gave older Astras such a patchy reputation. Some niggles with air-con and warning lights in new cars – most will be sorted by now.