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

Reliability and Safety rating

4.2

How we review cars
RRP
£25,245 £34,980
Avg. savings
£4,656 off RRP*
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

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Astra

Vauxhall Astra

RRP £25,465Avg. savings £4,656 off RRP*Used from £14,488
KIA Ceed

KIA Ceed

RRP £19,965Avg. savings £2,098 off RRP*Used from £8,900
Seat Leon

Seat Leon

RRP £24,125Avg. savings £5,279 off RRP*Used from £10,395
Mazda 3

Mazda 3

RRP £22,065Avg. savings £2,429 off RRP*Used from £8,290
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2
Ford Fiesta facelift - front cornering

Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2

VW’s sales and marketing boss considers Ford tech share “very successful” – and won’t rule out future projects
News
30 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025