I RECKON ‘Astra’ is a great name for a car.

My dear, departed dad was ground crew in the Royal Air Force, with its motto ‘Per ardua ad astra’ (Through adversity to the stars), and that phrase has always seemed magical to me.

Plus, Astra has a truly aspirational ring to it ... after all, who doesn’t want to reach for the stars?

So I think Vauxhall’s choice for its best-selling model is an inspired one, and the motoring public seem to agree, with almost three million sold in the UK over the last 36 years.. More than a quarter of British motorists have either owned or driven an Astra,

And the latest version of the car certainly has star quality, as I was to find on a week-long road test of an Astra Sports Tourer. This five-door estate car is based on an all-new lightweight vehicle architecture with a new design, powertrains and technology.

A wealth of features on our test car, a 1.6CDTi Bi-Turbo, included front fog lights and LED daytime running lights, steering column adjustable for reach and rake, steering wheel- mounted audio controls, leather-covered steering wheel, sports-style front seats, rain-sensitive windscreen wipers, automatic lighting with tunnel detection, automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirror, air conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, satnav, eight-inch colour touchscreen, digital radio, Bluetooth and a USB connection.

Safety kit includes six airbags, electronic stability programme, and anti-lock brakes, hill start assist, tyre pressure monitoring system, and a ‘driving assistance pack’ with features including a forward camera system, lane departure warning with lane assist, traffic sign recognition and forward collision alert with automatic city emergency braking.

Connectivity is the current buzzword of the motoring world, and Vauxhall’s OnStar system offers features including crash response, wifi hotspot and remote car checks.

The driving experience is excellent, with agile handling and bags of power from the 160bhp,1598cc diesel engine, delivering 0-60mph in 8.1 secs and a top speed of 137 mph, while returning 67.3mpg on the combined cycle (manufacturer’s figures). The Sports Tourer combines style with practicality - and a marvellous name, of course.Price: £27,490 OTR inc options.