Road test: Clever Cascada packs a real punch

The good-looking new Vauxhall Cascada is the company’s first full-sized cabriolet since the Thirties, and it clearly has the accomplished Audi A5 cabriolet in its sights.

This four-seater convertible is not lacking ambition, with a generous standard equipment list and glamorous looks.

Although built for comfort rather than speed, the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel boasts 192 bhp and a 0-60mph of just 8.9 seconds. Even the 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine packs a respectable punch.

There are lots of toys on both the SE and Elite versions. The adaptive forward lighting automatically detects the surrounding environment and shines or dips the main beams accordingly.

The impressive forward cameras can recognise traffic signs and warn of potential collisions.

There is also parking assist, lane departure warning and side blind-spot alert.

The fabric hood goes up or down in 17 seconds at up to speeds of 30mph, although it eats into the luggage space when folded away.

There are six different wheel options of up to 20in. And there is a slickly-styled dashboard with full smartphone integration.

Launched in Monaco, we took the car for a spin on the famous Formula 1 circuit where it not only looked the part but felt the part, too. Comfortable, though not particularly sporting, it is also pricey compared to rivals.

Vauxhall Cascada 1.6 Elite
Top speed: 135mph;
Emissions: 168g/km;
Combined fuel consumption: 39.2mpg;
Price: £28,605