One left  in Silver              £11450+VAT                              £59 Per Week

This van has the 1.9CDTi 16v engine coming in Sportive trim is aimed at the performance orientated driver. The power plant produces 150bhp and due to lack of weight in the load bay the Astravan is like driving a rocketship. In fact as you would expect the Astravan drives just like the three door Astra. Drive is channelled to the front wheels and the engine is mated to a smooth shifting six speed gearbox but if you prefer there is an automatic gearbox offered as an option. In town it is easy to drive but it is much better when you let the 1.9CDTi 16v sing freely on the open road.

Vauxhall claims the accent is on sporting style, comfort and performance – the Griffin badged van certainly delivers this and more. The Astravan has a firm ride due to the lowered suspension but this makes the van handle really well on B roads when there is a need to push on. The Astravan handles like the car it’s derived from, and the steering is weighted quite well so that you know where the front wheels are pointing.

It’s a car-derived van and there has been much carry over from the Astra and again just like the Corsavan (www.roadtestreports.co.uk/full-road-test-report/Vauxhall/Corsavan/) we tested this is a good omen. Moving to the inside of your office on wheels the build quality is first class with the majority of the cabin coming straight from the road car. The dash has an orange peel effect with all the dials and gauges are within easy reach of the driver. The service intervals are set at 20,000 miles and the maker provides a three-year/60,000 mile warranty and there’s a no mileage limit in the first year.

Vauxhall regard safety as high on your agenda and have equipped the Astravan with Side-impact protection beams, Height-adjustable head restraints, an Energy-absorbing steering column, Pyrotechnic body-lock. There also a driver’s airbag as standard to help protect you in the aftermath of an accident. While prevention aids like Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) also come as standard. Security is also high. To prevent theft Vauxhall has included a 'Key left in ignition' audible warning, electronic theft protection for audio equipment, electronic engine deadlock immobiliser and remote control central deadlocking (for the doors, tailgate and fuel flap).

Space and practicality is pretty well thought out as the load area is accessed through a high opening tailgate. It provides a maximum length of 1,780mm, 900mm maximum height and there’s a maximum width of 1,380mm. This means that there’s a load space of 1.6m cubed and with the 1.9CDTi engine you’ll have a payload of 650kg. Up front the seats are figure hugging and ultra comfortable when on long drives. The only downside was that the main cup holder it is to the left and rear of the driver meaning that is awkward to get at.

Priced from £15,898 this is the most expensive Astravan available but you get what you pay for. The Vauxhall Astravan 1.9CDTi SE in Sportive trim is a head turner – yes that’s right a van that turns heads. It’s aimed at the performance-orientated driver and it gets the job done beautifully. With its modern and sporty stlying, the silver paint-job and the 17 inch alloys the Vauxhall Astravan 1.9CDTi Sportive SE should be a great addition to you business fleet.

Summary

The Astravan is an Astra estate car minus rear seats and windows, albeit with extensively re-engineering to cope with commercial work. Load capacity is improved over the previous model, but the Astravan's primary virtues are its good looks, car-like cabin and excellent road manners. The Astra is a particualrly striking car, and just as much so as a van. There are plenty of vans that are equal or better in terms of load carrying, but probably none that can better the Astravan from the driver's perspective.

The cabin is pretty much identical to that found in the Astra hatchback. It feels refined, well built and looks good too, with strips of aluminium adding a sporty touch. It's also well equipped and options like satellite navigation and heated seats are available. The driver's seat is height adjustable and the steering wheel adjusts up and down, and in and out. The seats are comfortable, although it's worth noting that those fitted to the Sportive model have added support and lumbar adjustment. Both Club and Sportive models have electric windows, and the latter also has heated electric mirrors.

The choice of engines consists of an 89bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine and three diesels: a 1.3 with 90bhp, a 1.7 with 100bhp and a 1.9 with 120bhp. The petrol engine has a five-speed gearbox while the diesels are all fitted with a six-speeder with an optional six-speed auto on the 1.9-litre engine. The Astravan drives so well, that it almost seems a waste to choose one of the smaller engine options. Handling is excellent and it copes as well with twisty roads as it does the motorway fast lane. Its car-like dimensions make it narrow for a van, so it's equally manageable in an urban situation.

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