CRASH repair costs on the new Vauxhall Astra have been cut by up to 50% thereby savings fleets money and vehicle downtime. With the Astra due to go on sale in the UK on March 27, insurance group ratings from the Association of British Insurers for the new car have resulted in it being placed in lower brackets across the whole range compared with the outgoing model.

In many cases new Astras will have a 4E rating compared to a level for the current cars in the Astra-sized market segment three or four groups higher. New group ratings include: 1.6i Envoy hatch/estate manual/automatic down from 7E to 4E, 1.4i 16v LS hatch/estate manual down from 8E to 4E, 1.6i 16v CD hatch/estate manual/auto down from 10E to 6E, 1.8i 16v CD hatch/estate manual/auto down from 14E to 7E and 1.8i 16v Sport hatch manual down from 12A to 7E.

Vauxhall engineers have worked closely with experts from Thatcham - the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre - to ensure low crash repair costs, particularly in the event of a low speed accident. Modifications have seen costly components located in places where they can be protected from damage. And crash boxes, designed to crumple in the event of an impact, have been located around the bumpers.