49: Opel Astra – More rewarding than you might imagine

The Astra has become, through no fault of its own, a bit of an odd-bod. Now that Opel is owned by PSA Peugeot Citroen, it's one of the models that still uses an older General Motors chassis. Even odder, it's just been updated with new petrol and diesel engines that are still GM designs, no imported from the rest of the PSA lineup. That should, and to an extent does, put it out on something of a limb, but the thing is that the Astra actually still impresses.

It may not look like the most exciting car on Earth but the Astra’s chassis and steering are - honestly - right up there with the very best. It’s a well-built thing too, with good quality materials throughout, and a cabin that’s plenty spacious.

If only Opel had made it look a little more dynamic, maybe more people would have paid attention, but for those that do, there’s a car here that’s far more rewarding than you might imagine.

Best model: Astra 1.0i Turbo SRi for €25,650. Price range: €23,350 to €33,800. Finance from €436 per month. Co2 emissions: 123 to 142g/km. Sum up: Better than you might think.