Perennial bridesmaid to Ford in the UK’s ‘most popular home brand’ stakes, though both are actually American owned. But Vauxhall is no Betamax to Ford’s VHS. Its customers are loyal for a good reason – that’s why GM’s long-held plan to ditch the badge and rebrand everything Opel has never taken off.
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Agila
£7,220 - £11,450
It’s basically Suzuki’s SX4 cardboard box with indistinguishably tweaked panels and a griffin badge. Both as exciting and aerodynamic as the Emmerdale Omnibus.
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Antara
£19,811 - £26,276
Last time they had this urge they came up with the excruciating Frontera – a soft-roader so lame it broke down in tears. The Antara could not be, and is not, as bad.
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Astra
£11,765 - £22,845
You’re either a Focus man or an Astra man. But unlike City vs United or Arsenal vs Spurs, there’s a cigarette paper’s difference between the two hatches. Impressive.
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Astra Twintop
Nobody needs a four-seat cabrio, clever hard roof or not, so this is an answer to a non-question. Not actually bad, but the ride’s so flaccid it should run on Viagra.
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Astra VXR
Not one of those hooligans who bursts into tears when caught and gets his mum to bail him out. No, the VXR flicks a v-sign to the judge. Vauxhall vs the establishment.
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Corsa
£7,665 - £16,850
Brilliant supermini as good as anything on the market and wearing a surprisingly stylish suit. Grans will argue with grandsons about who’s taking it Saturday night.
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Corsa VXR
Properly lairy hot hatch in the old-school tradition. With a bodykit this rippling you might need more than charm to convince PC Savage you don’t have an attitude.
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Insignia
£15,800 - £31,215
The Vectra is dead, long live the Insignia. Vauxhall’s back on form with this tech-laden, swoopy Mondeo rival – in fact, it’s so good that we made it our Exec Car of the Year.
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Insignia Sports Tourer
Good-looking and big-booted, the Insignia estate plays havoc with the having cake/eating cake principle.
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Meriva
£10,445 - £17,210
A small MPV with more seating permutations than Earls Court. When you’ve finished arranging the chairs maybe you can figure out where to put the luggage.
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Tigra
£14,195 - £16,895
The Corsa may be great, but the old Corsa wasn’t – and that’s what’s lurking under this half-baked drop-top tiddler. Vauxhall has had better days at the office.
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VXR8
£34,170 - £36,895
The staid Vauxhall family enjoys another visit from its mad, crude Aussie uncle. Strewth mate, what a ripper etc. Rear-wheel drive V8 excess. Eat your heart out, M5.







Open Car Bar