• Turbocharged engines are efficient and sprightly
• Ecoflex fuel-saving measures improve economy further
• Best in the range’s official claim is 85.6mpg

An efficient range of largely turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, plus a 135kg weight saving compared with its predecessor, means that running costs are lower than ever for the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer.

Efficiency champion of the range is the 1.6-litre CDTi engine in 110hp form with Ecoflex fuel-saving measures. Fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels Vauxhall claims this Sports Tourer will average 83.1mpg and emit just 89g/km of CO2.

The company expects the 136hp edition of this motor to be the range’s best-seller – it posts figures of 74.3mpg and 101g/km, again on 16-inch wheels.

If you don’t cover the kind of annual mileage to warrant going for a diesel then the 1.0-litre petrol’s your best choice: Vauxhall claims averages of 62.8mpg and 103g/km of CO2.

Looking for the one to avoid? While the turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol’s good for 200hp, it costs the most to run as its 45.6mpg and 142g/km of CO2 figures confirm.

A career as a detective isn’t necessary to conclude that CO2 emissions closely follow the fuel efficiency trends, meaning the 110hp Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.6-litre CDTi Ecoflex is the least-polluting of the range at 89g/km of CO2.

The expected popular choice of the 136hp diesel weighs in at 101g/km, providing you stick to 16-inch wheels, while the similarly-rimmed 1.0-litre petrol manages to keep to 103g/km.

Highest-emitting of the Astra Sports Tourer range is the 1.6-litre petrol turbo at 142g/km of CO2.

• Good quality materials and well-assembled in Britain
• Engine range already sees service in other Vauxhalls
• An airbag fault has prompted a DVSA recall

It’s difficult to determine how reliable the latest Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer will prove to be given its newness, but so far both it and the hatchback version have been subjected to a DVSA vehicle recall over a potentially faulty passenger airbag.

The latest Sports Tourer’s a well-made car using robust components, with no rattly bits of trim on our encounters with early-build examples.

Much of the mechanical line-up is relatively new, too, but again initial reports are that they’re providing sterling service in the other Vauxhalls fitted with the latest three-cylinder petrol engines and ‘Whisper’ diesels.