Used Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 2016-2020 review

Let’s face it: buyers of a family estate car are not usually looking for something that’ll offer thrills aplenty. What matters most of all in cars like these is space, comfort and – in particular – value. And, while that last point is the trump card of the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, the fact that it offers so much else besides makes it a very intriguing used car.

For starters, there’s a plethora of engine options, from a basic 1.4-litre unit through to 1.0-litre and 1.4-litre turbo petrols, plus three 1.6-litre diesels, and up to the top-of-the-range 1.6-litre turbo petrol.

These are paired with a range of variants. Entry-level Design trim gets air conditioning and cruise control; SRi features sports seats and a leather steering wheel; Tech Line comes with sat-nav as standard; then there's SE, which has heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Elite model is the priciest and gets automatic headlights and wipers, heated rear seats and ambient lighting. All trims from SRi upwards (apart from Tech Line) have the option of sat-nav.

Variety isn’t all the Astra can offer, though; it’s impressive to drive, too. Granted, it can’t quite match the class best Ford Focus Estate and Volkswagen Golf Estate for ride and handling balance, but it comes ever so close. In corners, it’s responsive, stable and grippy, with steering that’s sharp and direct, if a little on the light side. And yet it rides smoothly, too, particularly out on the motorway, where it soothes away all but the harshest bumps.

Diesel versions can get a little vocal when you ask more of them than a steady cruise, but the petrol models are commendably quiet, while every Astra is a doddle to drive, with easy controls and a progressive clutch.

Of course, space is a big priority in an estate car, and here the Astra performs well. Both front and rear passengers will find there’s plenty of room to stretch out; more so than in most rivals, in fact. And while the boot isn’t the biggest in the class, it’s a very practical, square shape, and when you fold the rear seats down the space that’s left is flat and very usable.

Further forward, the dashboard is less impressive; top-spec Elite models look decent enough with gloss black inserts, but cheaper versions get a plasticky-looking matt silver lump that stretches across the dash. Still, most cars get a smart 8.0in touchscreen that works well and all the buttons and controls are well placed and slick to use. If you can live with the way it looks, you’ll have no complaints.

If you're interested in finding a used Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Prices start at around £8000 for a car with a higher than average mileage, or £10,000 for a good 2016 car, which makes it something of a bargain. Up the folding to around £11,000 for your choice of smart used STs from 2017, and if you can splash out around £13,000 you could net a 2018 model from a franchised dealer, with a low to average mileage and a full service history.

If you'd like a later example from 2020, then have around £15,000 to spend.

Check the value of a used Astra Sports Tourer with What Car? Valuations

Find used Vauxhall cars for sale

MPG

Very little. The Ecotec diesel version is one of the most efficient estates around, with an impressive official fuel consumption of 83.1mpg, while most other diesels return similarly impressive figures and even petrol versions’ fuel economy is on a par with their rivals’. What’s more, the Astra Sports Tourer’s real-world efficiency is one of the best around, so you’ll get closer to the official figures than you will in most cars.

Road tax

If you buy an Astra registered before 1 April 2017, its road tax rate will be linked to its emissions – and since the Astra is so efficient, it’s a smart move to do so. Most versions will cost £120 per year or less to tax, with the 108bhp diesel completely free. Astras registered after that date, by contrast, will cost a flat rate of £140 per year to tax, no matter how efficient they are.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups range from six to 23, meaning the Astra Sports Tourer should be relatively affordable to insure.

Servicing costs are very competitive. Vauxhall doesn’t operate a transparent fixed-price servicing scheme like other manufacturers, but if you sign up to the company’s free-to-join Service Club, you get a 15% discount on all servicing and repairs once your car is two years old and 25% discount once it’s three, as well as half-price MOTs.

Unless you’re a high-mileage driver and really need the efficiency of a diesel engine, we’d go for a petrol-powered Astra Sports Tourer – specifically, the potent yet smooth 1.4-litre turbo, which is well-suited to the car whether you go for the 123bhp or 148bhp version (badged 125 and 150 respectively).

As for which model to choose, any version – even the entry-level Design – will come with a decent amount of equipment. But since the top-of-the-range Elite and Elite Nav trims (they get sat-nav) aren’t a huge amount more to buy, if we could stretch that far, we would.

Our favourite Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.4T 150 Elite Nav

The Seat Leon ST is almost as inexpensive as the Astra Sports Tourer, looks a little sharper and feels a bit smarter inside. However, the ride is a touch firmer and you have to pay quite a lot more for the smarter versions.

If space is your primary concern, the Skoda Octavia Estate should be on your list. It offers the biggest boot in the class and loads of room for rear passengers, as well as a good range of frugal yet gutsy engines

Or if the Astra’s reliability is a concern, you could always try the Toyota Auris Touring Sports. It isn’t as comfortable, spacious or good to drive, but it is one of the most reliable estates out there and comes with a long warranty. It’s almost as cheap to buy as the Astra, too.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

If you're interested in finding a used Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.