We say The Antara looks good but falls short of its rivals - it's poor on running costs and practicality. 2WD represents the most sensible option.Performance There are two diesels and one petrol engine available on the Antara and it’s the 2.2-litre CDTi diesel that’s the most powerful with 160bhp at its disposal. That makes it the quickest, too, clearing 60mph in 9.6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 117mph. All engines are decent and provide enough grunt for straight forward driving.Emissions The largest diesel in the range is also the most efficient with the 2.2-litre unit returning 42mpg and emitting 175g/km in CO2, making it the obvious choice for buyers. The 2.4-litre i petrol unit is poor, emitting 229g/km in CO2 and returning just 29mpg on a combined cycle.Driving The Antara is a soft road SUV and it has been tuned to city driving as a result. For that Vauxhall has gone for a soft suspension set-up which absorbs bumps and blemishes road surfaces in the road surface brilliantly but to the detriment of handling. It wallows and rolls around corners.Feel The Antara is smooth around town but around bends and over bumps it wallows and wafts, taking time to settle down. It’s quite refined in terms of engine noise but you’ll notice just how soft the suspension is when you get to motorway speeds.Space While the cabin is cavernous, with plenty of head and legroom for all passengers, the boot is disappointingly small at just 370-litres. It does come with fold-flat seats in the rear which increases its load capacity, as well as a range of storage options throughout the cabin.Equipment Standard kit is good: 18-inch alloy wheels, front foglights and heated front seats are all included.Price Not very cheap to buy or to run with list prices starting from just under £20,000 and rising to more than £26,000 and emissions and fuel economy poor on all bar the large diesel unit. Resale values are poor as well.Quality It should be reliable and the cabin is well finished and comfortable, if a little dull. It lifts a lot of its features and materials from other Vauxhall models so it won’t stand out but it shouldn’t disappoint. It’s uncluttered and solid rather than exciting and high-tech.Safety Six airbags and stability control are standard on all models.Pros The Antara is a solid, compact SUV. If you’re aware of its limitations it’s a decent car with good looks but it won’t turn heads.Cons The Antara is expensive to run and, despite its SUV tag, it’s a soft-roader and not a very practical one at that.Alternatives Honda CR-V, Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, Chevrolet Captiva
