Driver satisfaction is fundamental to the interior layout of new Vauxhall Astra. Incorporating a series of functions to make every journey more pleasant, the car offers high standards in ergonomics, communications, entertainment and user-friendliness.

And this user-friendliness goes beyond the cabin. New Vauxhall Astra features a raft of systems to aid the driver from the wheels up, including steering wheel-mounted controls as standard for those choosing the Easytronic gearbox, and as an option Deflation Detection System, which keeps the driver informed regarding his tyres' condition.


Ergonomic seating innovation in new Vauxhall Astra

Sitting properly is not only important from an orthopaedic point of view; it also increases the sense of well being in the car and helps to prevent premature fatigue and loss of concentration. With this in mind, a lot of attention has been paid to seat comfort in new Vauxhall Astra. Incorporating improved contouring with higher side supports, new materials such as polyurethane foam for the upholstery and a longer seat cushion for better leg support, new Astra's seats are designed to provide a snug and secure environment.

Detailed attention was also paid to operation of the seats and the location of their controls, with advice taken from the latest ergonomic research. This means that the lever used to adjust the height of the seat is easy to locate and grip, that the head restraints are easily adjusted by pressing a button and that the position of the lumbar support wheel has been changed and is now slightly higher - all these measures vastly improve new Vauxhall Astra's ergonomics.

And the sport seats have been improved as well. Taking into account the many and varied needs of various target groups, the engineers re-developed the sport seats so that they not only provide ample lateral support, but also a deeper seating position, by about 20 mm.


Increased security and comfort with new Vauxhall Astra's central locking

Boasting remote central locking as standard, new Astra offers users easy access, especially with the introduction of the new, elegantly styled foldaway key (standard on Club and above).

Realising the very real security concerns for all car owners, Vauxhall has built-in several safe guards to its central locking system. Standard features are Auto Lock, which automatically re-locks the vehicle five minutes after the doors are unlocked without being opened, and Speedlock, which automatically locks the doors when road speed exceeds 7 mph (the boot is locked at speeds above 4 mph).

The key can also be used to personalise Vauxhall Astra's cabin ambience and the CD50 and CDC 80 audio units. Preferred settings, such as for the temperature of the automatic climate control or a favourite radio channel, can be memorised automatically.

For even more operating comfort, from the autumn new Astra owners can specify Vauxhall's Keyless entry, Keyless start system as an optional extra. This unlocks the doors and boot as soon as the driver approaches the vehicle with the electronic key; it is automatically locked in a similar way when the driver walks away from the car. Particularly secure against theft, Keyless entry, Keyless start uses elaborate cryptographic encoding to guard against theft and unauthorised access.

When using Keyless entry, Keyless start, the engine is started by pressing a start/stop button next to the steering column.

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