THERE are just two haute couture hatchbacks on the market right now. One of them is Renault's Vel Satis, the other is the Vauxhall Signum.

These cars are of a rare breed, each being a sort of luxury stretched hatch, and while the bigger, more expensive Vel Satis is the more striking of the two in looks, the Vauxhall packs in a lot more practicality.

The two are tailor-made to meet the demands of a buyer who seeks a lot more than a family-sized five-door, but doesn't want to settle for a big-booted saloon, or make the move into MPV territory.

You're talking serious money for either car, but the Vauxhall is by far the better long-term buy.

The British second-hand market has never really taken to big Renaults, and the Vel Satis' quirky looks could see purchasers pass it by on the used car lots.

So the Signum is the safer bet, and Vauxhall's executive cars never fail to put a smile on fleet buyers' faces at turnaround time.

The Signum has a choice of six engines, three diesel and three petrol. Three of the six were new at launch.

It's worth mentioning because it is the firm's first petrol direct-injection power pack, with fuel consumption around six per cent less, and power (155bhp) six per cent greater than a normal manifold-injection engine.

Top speed is 131mph, and the Signum can storm to the 60mph mark in 8.8 seconds. For a hefty hatch that's slightly longer than the Vectra and good going in every sense of the term.

Running costs shouldn't be a problem as, with sensible driving, this Signum's capable of 42.8mpg on the official combined cycle.

The on-road behaviour is as solid as the build, with nothing to pick fault with.

But let's look at this Vauxhall's real virtue, which means going back to a word used earlier in this review: practicality.

The Signum's certainly a multi-faceted motor, thanks to its patented FlexSpace system, which is also put to good use in Vauxhall's new mini-MPV, the Meriva, and that seven-seater star, the Zafira.

The set-up means the smart folk at Griffin HQ have produced one of the most relaxing, most spacious rear seats on the market today. And the benefits aren't only confined to laid-back comfort and luxurious leg-stretching. Exiting via the rear doors is far easier than in a Rolls Royce as nothing seems to get in your way as you simply step out.

It's all boosted by the Travel Assistant - which folds up from the middle - a sort of cross between a picnic hamper and a hi-fi cabinet.

A brilliant idea, this equivalent of a Swiss Army knife between the back seats is, among other things, an electric cool box, and can hold everything from cups to a DVD player.

And that's rounded off very nicely by a twin audio console for separate listening in the front and back, and an overhead storage console.

Signums sell in three trim levels, Elegance, Design and Elite, starting at £17,995 for the 2.2i Elegance, rising to £25,600 for the three-litre turbo diesel Elite, with the on-test 2.2i Design model (pictured) at £18,595.

They're all chock-full of innovation and safety, and the sky-high levels of versatility point the car very firmly towards families.

So go point yourself at a Vauxhall showroom if you want a full-sized, and very fulfilling, hatchback.

For more information, call your local dealer J Davy on 01256 319450.