Henrietta Thompson goes in search of the rear of the year.

Emphasising width might not be what you’d want of your own rear end, but when it comes to your car, the careful design can really give that winning edge - a boot up the backside, as it were. There’s no doubt about it that this car looks good from behind, with its powerful, broad-shouldered stance and all details from tail lamps to the upper rear bumper positioned to make sure maximum impact as you speed off into the sunset.

Keeping its coupé-like lines the new Astra has a wraparound rear screen which gives the (true) impression of spaciousness, and the trademark ‘V’ graphic works down from the roofline to the bottom of the indent for the rear number plate.

Question is, will it win Rear Of The Year?