Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Review
Published: 27th June 2007
Vauxhall Astra TwinTop
Safety and Security 
On the Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Sport model you get remote control central dead-locking, an electronic engine immobiliser and an ultrasonic alarm. You do not get a spare wheel as that would take up too much space and you do not even get a skinny spare (a steel space saver wheel is a £100 option), but you do get a puncture sealant kit with a compressor to inflate the tyre.
There are front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) and cornering brake control (CBC) as standard. You even get adaptive brake lights which if you brake hard enough to activate the ABS the brake lights pulse on and off at the rate of four times per second to warn following traffic.
There are ISOfix mounting points in the rear two seats, to accommodate child seats. We used our ISOfix child seat and it was very easy to fit without error and it felt extremely secure. You can lock the doors from a centrally mounted switch below the Satellite Navigation screen, but you don’t get drive off locking. The glove compartment is lockable, so should you leave the roof down, it will offer some protection for your documents or CDs.
ESP and Traction Control are not standard on the base models, only on the diesel Sport, petrol & diesel Design and Exclusive models, otherwise it is a £ 400 option. We recommend that this is an option you take and it really should be standard across the model range.
Comfort and Refinement
The seats were comfortable and we found it easy to get into a good driving position. The driver’s seat is adjustable for height and the steering wheel for reach and rake. Taller drivers may find that headroom isn’t that fantastic and it can feel a little claustrophobic.
Although Vauxhall claim that the rear seats are practical for adults, we feel that teenagers are going to complain about the lack of leg room. It was possible and fairly comfortable for a short period time for me (male circa 5’ 8”) to sit in the rear behind my co. test driver (female circa 5’ 4”) whilst she drove. With the roof down I lasted in the rear for over an hour before I pleaded to be let out. I cannot say that the rear seats were uncomfortable as I didn’t suffer from a numb bum, it was more a case of I wanted to stretch my legs.
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