The Astra has long been a car for all seasons. A tidy family hatchback, sexy cabriolet, deceptively spacious estate and an excitingly designed hot-hatch, depending which model you plump for.

It's also been one of the most successful diesel models, benefiting from the rise I this form of fuel thanks to a sparkling set of engines which are both smooth and efficient.

Now Vauxhall have launched one of the best diesel sports models, the Astra Sport Hatch. At £16,000, it's neatly priced and with a terrific 1.9 litre engine it's both sporty and practical.

This version of the Astra was originally launched in 2003 and updated in 2007 to help it keep pace with fresher opposition.

The most significant development was the launch of the Sport Hatch which is essentially a three-door coupe-style model.

It comes as an SXi (the test version), SRi (faster) and VXR (even faster).

Traditionally, drivers of hot-hatches have demanded petrol power but the advance of diesels makes them ideal for these types of cars. They are flexible, powerful and economical, meaning the test version is capable of 60mph in under ten seconds, yet it returns more than 50mpg on a run.

If you want proper power, the SRi or the VXR are better alternatives, but for most people the SXi is a pretty good all-rounder.

An extra £850 gets you the panoramic windscreen option, which is likened by Vauxhall to piloting a plane. From the outside the difference is simple but dramatic. Where a normal windscreen stops, the panoramic version keeps going, swallowing up a third of the regular roof.

On the inside there is no noticeable difference - at least until you move the blind. A cleverly arranged thick roof blind means you can have the same view out as everyone else, or gradually roll it back to reveal more and more of the screen's full length. It is effortless to use and is no more hassle than a regular screen, but in the right conditions it does bring a welcome extra buzz on a country road.

The same could be said for the way the Sport Hatch drives. The Astra's chassis is sharp and responsive, as is the steering, and for an everyday machine it drives with impressive verve. In Sri specification the bigger alloy wheels and firmer suspension bring it up to sub-hot hatch territory, and it does not disappoint.

Neither is it a compromised street racer however, as the ride quality is a little sporty but comfortable. The seats are supportive and the driving position is very good, factors which combine to make the Sport Hatch a delight to drive whatever the circumstances.

It can still do the practical stuff too. It may only have three doors, but it will seat four with room for a small one, while the boot is no less capacious than a hatch of this size should be. The only cost of the rakish exterior is a slight reduction in visibility, but the wary can specify parking sensors to ease the worry.

Compact hatchbacks tend to come with a myriad of trim combinations, engine options and bodystyles which should mean there is a car for all needs. The Astra Sport Hatch proves that you can also have what you want from a car without the need to compromise.

Vauxhall Astra SXi Sport Hatch

PRICE: £16,545

ENGINE: 1.9 litre CDTi diesel engine generating 120PS

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 122mph and 0 to 60mph in 9.7 secs

COSTS: urban 38.2mpg; extra-urban 57.6mpg; combined 48.7mpg

EMISSIONS: 149g/km

WARRANTY: Three years' unlimited mileage

INSURANCE: Group 8E