Skip advert
Advertisement

Vauxhall Astra (2015-2021) review - Reliability and safety

New Astra gets impressive safety kit and we’d expect reliability to be okay, although Vauxhall’s Driver Power ranking is poor

Find your Vauxhall Astra
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Euro NCAP awarded the Astra five stars for crash safety in 2015, and the car benefits from a full range of driver aids and equipment.

The Driving Assistance Pack, which is standard on Griffin and Elite Nav Premium editions, provides a forward-facing camera that brings with it all sorts of assistance and safety benefits.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There’s autonomous emergency braking to help prevent you bumping into the car in front at low speeds (the car will also tell you if you’re travelling a safe distance from the car in front), Lane Departure Warning will let you know if you’re wandering out of your lane on the motorway, while Lane Keep Assist will gently turn the steering wheel to help stay in lane.

The Astra will also read and display road sign speed limit information and warn you if there’s someone in your blind spot. And, as with rivals, there are self-parking systems available, too.

Vauxhall did not do too well in our 2020 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, finishing 29th out of 30 manufacturers. The current, refreshed Astra did not feature, but its broadly similar predecessor only managed a 75th-place finish out of 100. Owners criticised front-seat comfort, safety features and child-friendliness – but smartphone connectivity, refinement and engines were more able to impress. We reckon the newer car’s updates should see the Astra climb the ranks next time around.

Warranty 

Vauxhall’s Lifetime Warranty is no longer – the company didn’t see much value in it and consumers didn’t seem that bothered either. So instead, there’s now a standard three-year, 60,000-mile warranty that’s a match for rivals’ cover.

Servicing

Vauxhall offers a range of servicing packages; Vauxhall Care is the most comprehensive, offering three years servicing, two years roadside assistance and a free MoT when your car needs it. Standalone fixed-price services are also available, including all parts and labour with no hidden costs, plus a 12-month warranty on any work.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.2 Turbo 130 Griffin [Tech Pack] 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £26,590
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.6 Plug-in Hybrid 195 GS 5dr e-DCT7
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £36,035
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    1.6 Plug-in Hybrid GSe 5dr e-DCT7
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £38,665
Select car

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Astra

Vauxhall Astra

RRP £26,090Avg. savings £4,764 off RRP*Used from £13,067
Ford Focus

Ford Focus

RRP £19,135Avg. savings £2,461 off RRP*Used from £6,795
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £4,289 off RRP*Used from £10,799
Peugeot 208

Peugeot 208

RRP £18,520Avg. savings £5,732 off RRP*Used from £8,563
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car headlights are too bright, but the Government can’t do much about it
Car headlights - opinion

Car headlights are too bright, but the Government can’t do much about it

Editor Paul Barker thinks car headlights are too bright but any solution to combat headlight dazzle is some way off
Opinion
5 Nov 2025
Renault 5 outsells Tesla Model Y, but both are beaten by Jaecoo 7
Renault 5 - front cornering

Renault 5 outsells Tesla Model Y, but both are beaten by Jaecoo 7

Renault’s retro hatchback topped the EV sales charts in October, but even it couldn’t come close to internal-combustion alternatives from China
News
5 Nov 2025
New Audi A3 e-tron confirmed: low-cost EV to get retro A2 looks
Audi A3 e-tron - front 3/4

New Audi A3 e-tron confirmed: low-cost EV to get retro A2 looks

The design of Audi’s latest EV appears to have been inspired by the unconventional Audi A2 hatchback
News
4 Nov 2025