Vauxhall Astra VXR
during our catch-up with it, this time
on dry roads
, can be typified by the reaction of one elderly gent. Imagine the scene: while standing in his front garden, pruning his buddleia on a sunny Sunday afternoon, some young roustabouts blaze past, whipping up leaves and deafening his cat with their unsociable exhaust note and popular rock music. Undoubtedly, these clearly irresponsible yoofs in their bright blue hot hatchback must be doing twice, perhaps even three times the speed limit, so he puts on his most indignant grimace, runs to lean over his front fence, and gesticulates wildly in their direction.
Of course, happily ensconced in the cockpit of the VXR, we were calmly doing 50 in sixth along the 60-limit lane, with the air-con set just so and a spot of Bowie on the playlist.
Looks shouty. Drives that way, too.
It’s not like he’s alone, mind. The Astra VXR seems to be a car that everyone assumes is being driven by a bunch of hoodlums. You can’t blame them, really; finished in VXR trademark Arden Blue, and complete with the Aero Pack – a £995 option on top of the £27,010 asking price – it’s not exactly inconspicuous.
Its looks do suit it, though. There’s a lot of in-yer-face-ness about the VXR. That exhaust note, for example – raspy and belligerent, like an old RS Turbo with an aftermarket system. The interior, overly laden with buttons but shot through with gimmicky-but-cool red accent lighting. And the way it delivers that 280hp, 295lb ft wallop, lagging a little before slugging you on to 60mph in 5.9 seconds (not 62mph, mind – that’d knock it over the six-second barrier), and overlaying that rude exhaust note with a compressed air whoosh so violent it verges on a shriek at times.
Rear end stays put, even with provocation
Previous VXRs
fast Astras
in general – have always had a slightly uncouth, ragged edge. It’s still present in this latest Astra, but Vauxhall’s engineers have done a pretty effective job of neatening it off. They’ve not skimped on tech in their effort to do so, teaming
HiPer Strut
suspension (similar to Ford’s
RevoKnuckle
PerfoHub
Astra GTCs
Insignia VXR
) with the Drexler plate-type limited-slip diff last seen fitted to the
Corsa VXR Nurburgring
; unusual for a front-wheel-drive car, and notable as it feels less snatchy than
helically
-equipped rivals. The Astra also gets Vauxhall’s Flexride continuous damping control system with three modes, the full-fat VXR setting tightening things up nicely and also sharpening up both steering and throttle too. Ride-wise, the VXR isn’t bad, though even with the suspension set to its softest we found an annoying background vibration at speed that was likely the result of the 20-inch wheels and their painted-on tyres that come with the Aero Pack, as fitted to our test car.
Interior's full-on, but pretty sturdy
All that high-end tech does show when you throw the VXR at some corners, though. The front end’s impressive, keying into the road without scrabbling, and hauling you around satisfyingly. Torque steer is contained and while understeer can be provoked the limit is high. The rear, on the other hand, is a little less special, its
Watt’s linkage
setup feeling as though it’s been tuned for safety, rather than flair. There’s no sense of movement on lift-off; instead, it’s planted and stable, meaning the VXR can’t offer the delicacy of a
Megane 265
, or the playfulness of a
Focus ST
. As a result, it feels a touch one-dimensional, like its only party trick is that huge power and front-end grip.
If you’re going to have just one party trick, though, it’s not a bad one to have. Tip it in, mash the throttle, let the front end do the work and enjoy the G-forces on the ride out. Feather it if you’ve stoked it too hard, free from fear of a sudden exit backward through a hedge. Repeat until fuel is depleted. It’s a simple recipe, but it works.
It still doesn’t quite have the finesse of its rivals, then, and it’s flawed in other areas, too, but the Astra VXR is still a great hot hatch that entertains by teaming its overwhelming punch with a really useful amount of front-end grip. And if your prime criterion in choosing a hot hatch is its ability to upset crinkly country cottage owners on sight alone, there’s nowt better.
VAUXHALL ASTRA VXR
Engine: 1,998cc 4-cyl, turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 280@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 295@2,400-4,500rpm
0-60mph: 5.9 sec
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,475kg
MPG: 34.9mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 189g/km
Price: £27,010 basic; test car fitted with Aero Pack (£995)