New Vauxhall Astra news - Astra: inside’s out - 2009

See more pics of the Astra's interior

Vauxhall has just given us a first look at the interior of the new Astra, set to arrive later this year.

It looks good. It looks posh. It’s clearly influenced by the Insignia’s classy, understated cabin, with a curved, swooping centre console and echoes of the ‘blade’ motif – look at the side strake on the Astra – along the door grabs.

Vauxhall has gone for a more muted interior than, say, the current Honda Civic, but it’s a less muted effort than the new VW Golf – you’ll be able to spec a range of different colours on the dash and trim inserts.

By the way, that big wheel next to the electronic parking brake – an optional extra, since you ask – isn’t an iDrive-style controller. It’s an ashtray. Sorry.

Like the Insignia, that red glow coming from the base of the doors and the dash indicates you’re in ‘Sport’ mode – click into a more sedate mode and it’ll glow white or blue.

All in all, we’re impressed. While Ford interiors are getting a bit bling, a bit blousy, this looks like a solid, classy effort from Vauxhall.

Top Gear drives the new Astra in early July, so we’ll let you know soon whether the rest of the car lives up to the standards set by the cabin.