Used Vauxhall Astra 2015-2021 review

Although for many years a hugely popular car, the Vauxhall Astra has never been one to set an enthusiastic driver’s heart on fire. Enter this seventh-generation version, which carried beneath its handsome skin such a raft of changes over the previous 2009-2015 Vauxhall Astra that everyone who tried it immediately declared it to be a huge improvement in every area.

Thanks to its new platform, it was smaller than the car it replaced externally but bigger inside, with a notably capacious interior. It was better to drive, too, and lighter. With a wide range of more efficient engines to choose from, and some showroom-friendly and innovative technology inside, it’s not surprising that it won praise from a broad range of people and even scooped the 2015 European Car of the Year Award.

Engines: Initially, petrol engines ranged from a 99bhp 1.4-litre unit right up to a 197bhp 1.6-litre that gave the five-door Astra almost hot hatch pace. In between were two sprightly turbocharged 1.4-litre engines of 124bhp and 148bhp respectively and a more recently introduced 104bhp three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine that endowed the Astra with an impressive blend of performance and economy. Not surprisingly, though, it’s the three 1.6-litre diesel options that were the most economical – these came in 109bhp, 134bhp and 158bhp varieties.

A major facelift in 2019 resulted in a complete overhaul of the engine range. The lineup now offers a 1.2-litre with 109bhp or 128bhp power outputs, or a 1.4 with 143bhp, while the diesel was a 1.5-litre in 104bhp or 120bhp forms.

Ride and handling: In corners, the Astra is safe and secure, and more pleasurable to drive than any previous version. The ride has a jiggly quality around town and over sharp road irregularities, but soon settles down at higher speeds to prove comfortable.

Interior and practicality: Inside, in a bid to pitch it more squarely against its chief rivals (the Ford Focus and the VW Golf), the Astra has a more upmarket feel than its predecessors. Its infotainment system also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As you would expect from a Vauxhall, there are many trim levels to choose from, ranging from the well equipped to the very nearly sumptuous.

Space in the interior is fine up front, even for the very tall, and there's a very generous amount of room in the back for two, three at a pinch for shorter journeys, with plenty of leg and head room. The boot is easily accessible and, at 370 litres, of a good size and useful shape. However, one or two rivals have bigger boots.

Trims and equipment: Trims initially ranged from the well-equipped entry-level Design, with touchscreen infotainment, Bluetooth and cruise control, through Tech Line (aimed at the business user) and Energy, up to SRi, a semi-sporting but handsomely equipped trim. There was one trim above that, Elite, that added luxuries including electrically folding mirrors, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats. If you wanted sat-nav, Vauxhall offers a Nav version of most of the trims listed, so it’s worth trying to find one of those.

That 2019 facelift brought a change to the trim designations, too. The entry-level trim became SE, then Business Edition, then SRi, then SRi Nav, next up came Elite Nav, as well as a sporty and most expensive SRi VX-Line Nav.

If you're interested in finding a used Astra or any other model for a great price, head over to our Used Cars for Sale pages

It's possible to pick up a good version of this generation of Astra for around £5000. Cars below this figure will be Cat D or high-mileage examples, and are probably best avoided. However, around and just above £6000 will buy you a clean 2016 car with an average mileage from an independent dealer. Spend between £7000 and £9000 on good 2017 cars, with some 2018 ones sneaking in there too. Spend between £10,000 and £12,000 on 2019 models and £13,000 and £15,000 on 2020 and the last cars of this generation.

If you're interested in finding a used Astra or any other model for a great price, head over to our Used Cars for Sale pages

MPG

The diesels are particularly economical, with the 1.6-litre ecoTec returning an official 85.6mpg while the regular 1.6 CDTi 136's manages 72.4mpg. Even the twin-turbo version achieves a highly respectable 68.9mpg. The latest WLTP rated 1.5 diesels of 104 and 120bhp get 65.7 and 64.2mpg, respectively.

The 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol model returns a claimed 62.8mpg. Both the non-turbocharged 1.4 and turbocharged 1.4 petrols are rated to do 51.4mpg, but the newer three-cylinder 1.2 is better still at 54.3mpg. Go for the warm hatch 197bhp 1.6 petrol and don't expect much more than 45.6mpg.

CO2 emissions

Go for the ecoTec 1.6 and emissions are a mere 89g/km of CO2, but the regular 136bhp and 158bhp versions can't quite match this and emit 101 and 109g/km, respectively. The replacement 1.5 diesel spits out 92g/km. The greenest petrol is the 1.2 at 99g/km of CO2, while the mid-range 1.4 emits 127g/km. The worst performing is the 1.6-litre petrol at 143g/km.

Road Tax

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017 will vary depending upon the emissions the engine produces (see paragraph above for more information) while examples registered after this date will have the same flat rate fee for cars that cost less than £40,000 when new. This is currently £180 per year.

Servicing and insurance

Servicing costs are competitive with rivals such as Skoda and Volkswagen. There are different prices depending upon whether you have a petrol or diesel engine and if you need an interim, main or major service. For petrol models, these are £160, £265 and £305 respectively; diesel models are a little more expensive at £170, £295 and £335 respectively. If you have an engine that requires a fuel additive as part of the service, you’ll need to add £19.20 to the cost of a service. Alternatively, you can also pay monthly for a servicing plan with prices starting from £15 for examples over 10 months old. Servicing is required annually or every 20,000 miles.

Insurance costs are competitive with rivals, and often undercut those of the VW Golf. The entry-level 99bhp 1.4-litre petrol starts in insurance group 6, rising to 14 for the more refined and powerful 148bhp 1.4. The 104bhp 1.6-litre diesel is in group 12, while the potent 158bhp, twin-turbo version of the same engine is in group 18. The top-of-the-range 197bhp 1.6-litre petrol is the most expensive to insure since it starts in group 19.

Reliability

The Vauxhall Astra's reliability receives mixed reviews from owners, according to our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, which analyses real-world owner feedback. A notable number of owners report electronic issues, particularly with the infotainment system and engine warning lights, leading to multiple dealer visits. While some owners commend their dealers for quick and efficient problem-solving, others have faced slower service and warranty disputes.

Despite these electronic hiccups, many owners still find the Astra dependable for everyday driving, highlighting its overall reliability. It appears that the Astra's reliability may largely depend on individual experiences with dealer service, which significantly affects customer satisfaction.

Discover more about the reliability of the used Vauxhall Astra on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine

On the road, our favourite engine is the turbocharged three-cylinder 104bhp 1.0-litre, which is a smooth and flexible performer that also offers reasonable economy. The two more powerful 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines both offer impressive performance, while the 197bhp 1.6-litre provides storming speed but, as a result, its economy inevitably suffers.

Of the three 1.6-litre diesels, the 109bhp version offers outstanding claimed economy, but the 134bhp has the best blend of speed and efficiency. The 158bhp twin-turbo model offers the most entertaining performance. All are refined under normal use, although there is a hint of gruffness around town and when the engines are cold.

Of the newer engines introduced in 2019, the 120bhp 1.5 diesel provides adequate power, while the 143bhp 1.4 petrol is quite a flyer. However, go for the 128bhp 1.2 because it has enough performance for most needs with costing a fortune to run.

Specification

Trims range from the well-equipped entry-level Design, with touchscreen infotainment, Bluetooth and cruise control, through Tech Line (aimed at the business user) and Energy, up to SRi, a semi-sporting but handsomely equipped trim that we think is worth splashing out for, especially in Nav form.

Our favourite Vauxhall Astra 1.0 105 SRi Nav

The most obvious alternative to the Astra is the evergreen VW Golf. This car has been a colossus in the family hatchback category for many years and is the standard by which all others are judged in this class. It’s not the cheapest family car, but it is the best all-rounder, able to hold its own on the road, with smooth and efficient engines, top-notch refinement, excellent handling and a high degree of comfort. In short, it offers everything that most people would want. With good resale values and fuel-efficient engines, if it costs a little more to buy, it at least shouldn’t cost you a fortune to run.

The Ford Focus is likewise an old hand in this class, often swapping places with the Golf at the very top of the tree. Over the years, many have even considered it the better driver’s car, thanks to its quick steering and eager handling. True, the Golf will hold its value better and is the better-finished car inside, but pick the right version of the Focus and you’ll find it an excellent all-rounder.

No family car considerations would be complete without the Skoda Octavia. This is the car that offers the most space and the best value for money of all the contenders, complete with a huge boot and a versatile interior. Sharing so many parts with the other cars from the Volkswagen Group means it performs very well on the road, too. Add to that its excellent reliability record and it is a very strong used car buy.

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If you're interested in finding a used Astra or any other model for a great price, head over to our Used Cars for Sale pages