The Vauxhall Astra Tech Line faces unprecedented competition from above in the form of a crop of new premium-badged Golf-sized cars, and from below from the former budget brands. Vauxhall’s petrol engines so far have no reply to Ford’s ground-breaking 1.0-litre EcoBoost 3-cylinder engine – our Company Car of the Year.
But does it matter? The Astra is still a modern, competitive design that holds up well on the fundamentals, and the Tech Line models are an interesting choice for business users. Thanks to Vauxhall’s focus on P11D prices, equipment levels and CO2 levels a 20% tax payer can run the 1.7 diesel for only £43 a month in company car tax, get 76mpg, take advantage of a 100% write down allowance, and escape road tax. Pinch yourself if you’ve got anything to do with company car finance.
The low down
| P11D Value: | £19,810 |
| Monthly business rental (ex VAT): | From £256 |
| Tax Bands 2012/13 to 2014/15: | 13%, 14%, 15% |
| Benefit in kind 2012/13 to 2014/15: | £2575, £2773, £2972 |
| Engine: | 1.7 litre 4 cyl turbocharged diesel |
| CO2 Emissions: | 99g/km |
| Power/torque: | 130PS/300Nm |
| 0-62mph/top speed: | 10.4secs/126mph |
| Economy: | 76.3mpg |
