VAUXHALLAstra Sport Hatch 2004 - 2010

　　The 2004 Astra came in a few shapes and sizes, but Vauxhall didn’t forget to create one for the younger generation and offered them the Sports Hatch version.

　　In England, Vauxhall made the Astra Sport Hatch as a true alternative vehicle for those who didn’t need rear doors or a spacious bench seat. As a result, the car was not just a three-door version of the five-door hatchback. Its styling was different even though it shared many parts with the rest of the Astra range. Apart from the look, it also offered a few different options that were unavailable for the rest of the range, making young people feel special because their cars could have something like their parents didn’t.

　　The front fascia was shared with the rest of the third generation of the Astra, with its rhomboidal headlights swept back over the fenders. Between them, on the grille, Vauxhall placed a chromed horizontal slat that featured a V-shape in the middle, where the carmaker’s badge was mounted. On the lower side, the bumper was more aggressive than in the five-door hatchback, featuring a flat and wide center grille flanked by a pair of scoops for the optional fog lamps.

　　From its profile, the Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch featured a raked windshield tilted even more than on the rest of the range. Moreover, the greenhouse was shorter but with a roof extended above the rear seats. Thanks to the low profile of the cabin, the automaker could install narrow side windows, and those in the back had a triangular shape. To further emphasize the car’s sporty character, Vauxhall installed flared wheel arches on both axles. Finally, at the back, the automaker installed corner-mounted taillights that flanked the raked-forward tailgate.

　　Inside, the automaker mounted bolstered front seats for the front occupants. Between them, the Astra Sport Hatch had a center console that housed the gear stick, the handbrake, and a small storage compartment. Depending on the trim level and engine version, the center stack was finished with a black trim or a silver one, just like in the rest of the Astra range. Above it, integrated into the dashboard, the automaker offered a navigation system as an option. In front of the driver, the Astra Sport Hatch featured a small instrument cluster covered by a rounded vizor. Inside it, the automaker placed the wide dials of the speedometer and tachometer, while above them, in the middle, the fuel level gauge. An additional LCD integrated into the instrument panel showed additional information from the car’s onboard computer. The bench seat was profiled for two passengers. Unfortunately, the low roof limited the headroom for those seated there.

　　Under the hood, Vauxhall installed a choice of diesel and gasoline engines ranging between 90 PS (89 hp) and 180 PS (188 hp) paired with either manual or automatic gearboxes. Power went to the front wheels only via an open differential.