Refinement is generally good, with the wind deflector (a £150 option on lesser models) keeping buffeting to a minimum up to 70mph. Roof up, cabin insulation is impressive, with only a wind whisper from the roof panel gaps above 85mph really serving to distinguish the TwinTop from a ‘proper’ coupé.
Standard equipment is good in the top trim, although buyers will no doubt want to consider leather seats (£750) and the Plus pack, which features 18in alloys, CD changer and cruise control (£850 but free to the first 900 customers).
Vauxhall’s clever bi-xenon Adaptive Front Lighting (£750) is also worthy of mention; the bend-following illumination works every bit as well as the much more costly set-ups offered by premium makers. What’s more, the kerb light that comes on when you indicate at low speeds is a particularly neat idea.
The interior is very similar to that of the standard Astra, the TwinTop sharing the hatchback’s slightly bland-looking dashboard and awkwardly placed ventilation controls. Exposed bits of mechanism on the underside of the hard-top also cheapen the interior slightly with the roof in place.
Even in range-topping Design trim, the newcomer offers manual air conditioning rather than full climate control, although that’s hardly a great hardship. And a good range of driving position adjustment gives plenty of headroom and legroom for front seat occupants, although the nominal rear seats are only really suited to small children or for extra luggage storage.
As with all CCs, boot space is generous with the roof up (a healthy 440 litres here), but awkward to access with the top down (210 litres).