Used Vauxhall Astra review

Verdict

In 2016, the Astra K was European Car of the Year, so it’s no lame duck, despite disappointing results in our Driver Power surveys in 2019. There’s no knockout styling, class-leading warranty or brilliant dynamics, while owners’ forums suggest reliability can be an issue with early cars. While Vauxhall’s lack of badge appeal steers some people away from the Astra, this hatch has plenty to recommend it. It’s no class-leader, but you get plenty for your money, the roomy cabin is comfortable, plus the large sales volumes and lacklustre image conspire to ensure that the Astra can make a sensible – and good value – used buy.

In recent years car buyers have been drawn towards either bargain basement or premium car makers, which has made life difficult for firms between those extremes.

One such brand is Vauxhall, which sits very much in that middle ground by offering decent cars, but ones with little in the way of unique selling points. It’s been the same way since well before the first Astra went on sale 40 years ago, and we’ve had many versions that have been average at best; however things took a turn for the better with the Mk6, in 2009.

That car was so good that when Vauxhall replaced it in 2015, it was with a model that didn’t look a lot different, arguably because it didn’t have to. But how does the seventh-generation iteration stack up on its own, and should you buy a used one?

Models covered

• Vauxhall Astra Mk7 (2015-date) - Spacious and comfortable family hatch or estate offers value-for-money motoring.

History

The Mk7 Astra, or Astra K, arrived in UK showrooms in October 2015, priced from £15,295. The range consisted of 99bhp 1.4, 104bhp 1.0T, 124bhp and 148bhp 1.4T, and 197bhp 1.6T petrol engines; all of these were turbocharged, except the 99bhp unit. A 1.6 CDTi diesel motor with 109, 134 or 158bhp was also offered.

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Initially the car came only as a five-door hatchback, but by March 2016 there was a five-door estate, called the Sports Tourer, with the same engines and trims as the hatch. From April 2018 a new range-topping Ultimate trim was offered only on the hatch.

A facelifted Astra arrived in September 2019 with aerodynamic improvements to improve fuel economy, a nine-speed automatic gearbox, upgraded engines and extra driver-assistance systems.

Which one should I buy?

All of the engines, gearboxes and trims are decent enough, but the non-turbo 1.4 feels weak compared with the alternatives. Entry-level Design trim gets 16-inch alloys, air-con, cruise control, electrically adjustable, heated door mirrors, all-round electric windows and a seven-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth.

Each trim adds to that list, with Tech Line also featuring upgraded infotainment with nav, while Energy has 17-inch wheels, plus heated front seats and steering wheel. SRi has sports seats, 17-inch rims, auto lights and wipers, plus extra safety systems. The Elite has leather, heated rear seats, dual-zone climate control, and nav on Elite Nav trim. Ultimate adds LED headlights, 18-inch wheels and further safety systems.

Alternatives to the Vauxhall Astra

The Ford Focus is at the top of this segment in terms of sales; with a wide model range, keen prices and superb dynamics, it’s hard to beat. But VW’s Golf gives the Ford a run for its money due to excellent engines, a classy cabin, hi-tech equipment and refinement.

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The SEAT Leon is more keenly priced, while the Mazda 3 is a blast to drive, has a superb interior and is well equipped. The Hyundai i30 and Kia Ceed provide a great balance of space, kit, build quality, reliability and value, while the Peugeot 308 is worth shortlisting for its comfort and low running costs.

What to look for

Engines

Some early Astra K petrol engines suffered piston ring failure. Using Dexos 2 oil rather than Dexos 1 is key to avoiding this.

Dials

Fuel gauges in early examples of the Astra K could under-read at times, but software updates should have fixed this on most cars by now.

Motor

The Astra’s 1.4-litre turbocharged engine can suffer from a flat spot at around 3,000rpm, especially when the motor is under load.

Clutches

Be warned: worn clutches on low-mileage cars and noisy front suspension seem to be disappointingly common traits.

Interior

The Astra’s dash looks quite modern and of a high-quality finish; it’s also fairly user-friendly. Some cars had glitches with Android Auto smartphone integration, but software updates should have fixed them. Cabin space is good, with lots of room for four people, although it’s tight for five. The boot is a competitive 370 litres with the seats up, or 1,210 litres with them down; the estate has 540 and 1,630 litres.

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Running costs

The Mk7 needs servicing every 12 months or 20,000 miles, with three levels of check-up: Interim, Main and Major. For petrol cars these cost £160, £265 and £305; diesels are £170, £295 and £335.

Engines are chain-driven, except the 1.2 turbo, which has a wet cambelt with no fixed replacement interval. Only cars built from 2019 have this, so none have needed a new belt yet; neither Vauxhall nor its dealers could give us a cost to fit one. We’d expect a charge of £300-£400, with 100,000+ miles likely between replacements.

Recalls

The Astra K has been recalled four times. In December 2016 airbag issues affected 1,745 cars (including some Merivas). Brake-hose issues saw 713 Astras recalled in July 2018; only officially converted police cars were affected. Braking problems caused the third action in December 2018, where 37,167 models had a series of unspecified faults. In October 2019, 1,688 Astras and Insignias were recalled for poorly welded seat frames.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

The Astra Mk7 crept into the Driver Power 2019 New Car Survey in 75th place (out of 75); it was 70th out of 100 in the Used Car Survey. It didn’t score highly in any area; the only ones in the top 30 were for infotainment and the convenience of the switch positioning. Most scores were mid-table, but front-seat comfort, interior quality and the brakes all came towards the bottom