Fallen trees, debris covered roads and strong winds make for interesting motoring when you are driving someone else's car, writes Caroline Beamish.

Do you use the conditions to really test the car's handling or do you stick to clear roads in sheltered areas so there's no chance of a stray twig dirtying the paintwork?

Clearly, for most people, the answer has to be test it. Take advantage of the unusual conditions to let the car get to work and show you what it can do.

But it helps to know you are in a vehicle that surrounds you with six airbags, ABS and headlights that can see around corners when you make that decision.

Enter the new Vauxhall Astra SRi.

Perhaps not the car you would immediately sit next to the words agile, responsive and composed.

But the stylish new design not only carries a look of quality, it possesses that rare balance of speed and stability to provide a ride that shouts gorgeous'.

The 1.8litre 16valve engine produces a sting worthy of the SRi badge to make you feel you can power out of any situation.

And the electrically assisted steering adds to the smooth, comfortable ride and excellent handling on South Lakeland's winding roads and corners.

Even high wind speeds and wet conditions are thrown aside as no match for the Electronic Stability Programme which applies corrective braking to keep the driver in control at all times.

But if all this is starting to create an image of clean, sensible, fun-free driving, think again.

Because the guys at Vauxhall have added, what I believe should be renamed, the Batmobile button.

OK, so it doesn't activate bulletproof armour or send flames pouring out of the exhaust.

Instead, sitting on the rather elegant silver control panel, above the MP3 compatible CD player, is a small, unassuming button labelled Sport'.

And if you can ignore the fact that your miles per gallon suddenly disappear into the ether, you'll never want to drive without it again.

Instantly, acceleration sharpens noticeably accompanied by more responsive steering and tighter body control.

And if you are lucky enough to get behind the wheel of a model with the Interactive Driving System, you also get sportier chassis dynamics.

The IDS itself is a nice extra it reduces body roll giving you confident handling and sharper cornering.

Then there's the one-touch indicators and windscreen wipers. Press the indicators lightly and they stay on just long enough to change lanes. You'll never accidentally leave them on again.

A firmer touch and they stay on until the steering is corrected or you turn them off a surprisingly easy system to get used to. All in all, it's enough to give the Ford Focus the current class leader a serious run for its money.

But then the Astra hasn't traditionally had the looks to warrant a double take as it passes you quietly on the dual carriageway.

Clever styling and attention to detail, however, may finally have laid that reputation to rest.

The new Astra's classy profile and muscular rear end marry five-spoke alloys, lumbar support seats and sporty white dials to create a picture that is more than pleasing to the eye.

It might not be the flashy supermodel of the motoring world. The car, by design, is not supposed to be.

But then you don't often get intelligent supermodels. Instead, the new Astra has a watermark of quality running all the way through it.

l The Astra SRi costs £15,495.00 on the road. The model tested was supplied courtesy of Hargreaves Garages of Mintsfeet Road, Kendal. Contact them on 01539-724420 if you are interested.