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Just when you thought car-derived vans were going the same way as dodos and dinosaurs, along comes yet another Vauxhall Astravan. How does it continue to defy extinction? David Cameron finds out
In the late 1990s a whole new generation of purpose-built vans emerged. They were penned on totally dean sheets of paper, so had none of the limitations of their three-door estate-car-derived predecessors. The newcomers were small vans with big load-carrying capabilites and had sliding side doors for unrivalled load access. Surely this was what every van operator wanted?
According to Vauxhall this isn't the case, and it has the figures to prove it. Last year its Astravan, the sole-surviving estate-car-derived van on the market, achieved 10,000 UK sales. And what's more, Vauxhall is confident that the market is good for at least another 2,000 units per annum. So much so that it has just launched its fifth-generation Astravan.
The van
The Astravan shares the same sleek styling as its passenger-carrying sibling, which results in one of the best-looking vans on the market.
The British-built van is offered with a choice of four engines, including three Euro 4 diesels. At the bottom end of the range is the Fiat/GM 1.3-litre Multijet, which we rate highly in the Doblo. But those operators who want more power can opt either for the 1.7-litre, or in the case of our test van, the 1.9-litre. There are two trim levels to choose from, either the entry-level Club or the better-equipped Sportive.
Inside story
Our test van was the Sportive model, which came equipped with sportscar-style bucket seats. While we found these to be supportive and extremely comfortable, we wonder how a 'larger framed' driver would have fitted. The seats are fully adjustable, as is the steering wheel, so finding your ideal driving position isn't too much of a challenge.
The dashboard is straight out of the passenger car, and is beautifully designed. The dials are easy...