Vauxhall Astra Review

Introduction

The Astra had a recent mid-life refresh, although you’ll be doing well if you can tell by looking at it as the cosmetic changes are so slight that it’s tough to spot. Vauxhall tells me the front grille, bumper and lights are different (I’ll take their word for that) but it’s the engines that are the real talking point, with new designs being slotted under the bonnet promising impressive efficiency.

Review Sections

• At a Glance
• Key Features
• Performance & Drive
• Running Costs
• Interior
• Practicality & Boot Space
• Safety
• Options
• Verdict & Next Steps

At a Glance

The UK had something of an obsession with hatchbacks, with models from Ford and Vauxhall dominating the sales charts before the rise of SUVs and premium brands squeezed the likes of the Astra out of favour.

But to dismiss the all-round appeal of a hatchback would be a mistake, and to dismiss the Astra would be an even greater error. Vauxhall has fiddled with, updated and refreshed the Astra for 40 years, and the latest models are frugal, comfortable and practical.

It might not have the kerb appeal of some more on-trend models, and the lack of a headline-grabbing VXR model means it might drop out of the public conscience a little, but the latest generation Astra is all the car you might ever need.

Key Features

Vauxhall has set its sights on the fleet user, developing a new range of engines that improve efficiency, lower running costs and make it more appealing to managers with budgets to protect.

The big step forward is in engine technology, where General Motors has developed a set of impressive new units that sip at fuel while emitting little out of the tailpipes. Sadly, its investment in this technology is probably not going to be repaid as the next Astra, whenever that appears, will use PSA’s range of existing engines.

Equipment has been carefully considered, with the introduction of a Business Edition ringing together the essentials that long-distance drivers will appreciate.

But it’s not forgotten its family car roots, so you’ll find plenty of space and a decent boot, as well as reasonably engaging handling and impressive ride quality.

Performance & Drive

It’s the engineers that are most excited about the new Astra, as the most significant changes take place out of sight. Gone are the various petrol and diesel engines, replaced by entirely new units developed by General Motors, despite Vauxhall now being owned by the French PSA Group, the company behind Peugeot and Citroen.

Most will have a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine fitted, available with 110, 130 and 145hp power outputs. There’s also a 1.4-litre engine with a CVT automatic gearbox, or a 1.5-litre diesel choice. Unusually, they’re less powerful than the old engines they replace, but they’re significantly more economical and pollute less. That will please company car drivers immensely, which is a hint as to where Vauxhall thinks its customers will be coming from.

Elsewhere, there’s new springs and dampers, and revised steering, along with changes under the car to improve aerodynamics.

The Astra was never a bad car to drive. Uninvolving, perhaps, but fundamentally comfortable and surprisingly agile when required. The revisions made in Germany have improved matters further, with the smaller, lighter engine allowing the front end to tuck in nicely as you enter a corner.

Despite its size, the engine is up to the task of propelling the car along at a decent pace. It’s not quite up to Ford Focus levels of engagement though, as the steering, while accurate and smooth, lacks much feedback.

Few drivers will ever explore the dynamic limits of either the Ford or the Vauxhall though, so it’s fair to say there’s not much between them in terms of excitement and ability.

It does ride a little better than the Focus though, with those constant rumbles from road surfaces being isolated nicely by the revised suspension.

It’s as civilised as a car of this size gets, which bodes well for those fleet users who plough up and down the nation’s motorways.

Running Costs

Chasing efficiency gains means the Astra is an economical motor to run, both in terms of fuel and general running costs. Our 1.2-litre 145hp model promises fuel economy returns of as much as 54.3mpg, which is impressive for a small petrol engine. It’s not unrealistic, either, as our time behind the wheel saw the car’s computer suggest we’d achieved 48.9mpg.

Those wanting to use as little fuel as possible should look at the diesel models, with the 105hp model having an official economy figure of 65.7mpg. We’ve not driven that but the same engine in the Corsa was stunningly efficient.

Servicing for every model is just once a year, as is normal across the industry, but those covering high miles will only need to visit a dealer every 20,000 miles.

Emissions

Vauxhall’s move to more economical engines has done wonders for the Astra's CO2 emissions. Pick carefully, and you can find a model that emits just 113g/km of CO2 - very nearly the lowest in its class, and bringing the BIK rate for company car drivers down to just 25%.

Our test car’s 119g/km is pleasingly low too, despite having the most powerful petrol engine option. Choose the larger engine with an automatic gearbox and you can add 10g/k to that total, which adds another 2% to the BIK bill.

The lowest emissions come from the diesel models, but the difference is minimal. The tax bill difference is minimal too, as they’re RDE2 compliant - that means there’s no increase in company car tax just for having a diesel model. Again, though, adding an auto box makes a difference and adds around 20g/km to the diesel output.

Interior

Inside the changes are equally subtle, with a new digital screen in the centre of the instrument binnacle being the most obvious update. The infotainment system also gains a larger 8.0-inch screen (at least on higher-spec levels) while there’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay across the entire range, and slightly plusher trim. It’s not game-changing, but it’s a pleasing update

The rest of the car remains much the same as it did before, so there’s a pleasant and comfortable interior that’s loaded with equipment, at least on this Elite spec model. That infotainment system includes European navigation, a DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and those smartphone mirroring choices, all presented in an easy to use interface.

There’s also leather seat trim with a heated leather-covered steering wheel. Both front and rear seats are heated, while those in the back also get a couple of USB sockets which should keep youngsters quiet.

While life at the top of the range is pleasant, you lose adjustable lumbar support on the SE and Business Edition models, and only the SRi model gets well-bolstered sports seats. Only the Elite model gets the 8.0-inch screen, too, with every other car making do with a less impressive 7.0-inch variant that is just ever so slightly too small.

It’s all wrapped up in a cabin that’s built well and has plenty of impressive soft-touch materials and gloss black or chrome trim inserts. It feels a more premium environment than that of the Ford Focus, but it can’t quite match the latest Volkswagen Golf- or Skoda Octavia, for that matter.

Technology

It’s consigned to the options list, but Vauxhall’s IntelliLux LED headlights are something of a talking point. Once the preserve of high-end safety-led cars such as the Volvo XC90, the lights automatically adapt to conditions to make driving safer and more comfortable.

They’ll switch to main-beam automatically but can then adjust the beam pattern to suit the road conditions and avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. The effect from behind the wheel is odd, with lights dancing around in front of you, but the results are impressive - there’s swathes of light at all times, even when facing an oncoming vehicle.

It’s not quite a game-changing addition to the spec lists and will set you back £1,500 if you want them added to your Astra, but it’s great to see that this vital safety tech is no longer limited to those with bigger budgets.

Practicality & Boot Space

The swept roofline of the Astra suggests space might be at something of a premium, but it turns out that there’s plenty of room inside Vauxhalls’ finest.

There are certainly no complaints at the front, with enough head, elbow and legroom for all to get comfortable. The driving position is solid too, with good pedal locations and adjustable steering. The rear is more impressive, with enough headroom and lots of legroom

Sitting three adults in the rear will be a bit of a squeeze, as is common in cars of this size, but it’s not unbearably uncomfortable. Deep windows let in a lot of light, too, ensuring it doesn’t feel claustrophobic.

The boot is decent, if not noteworthy. At 370-litres, it’s capacity all but matches the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf’s boot, but is a long way behind the Skoda Octavia’s back end. There are no special tricks either, with rear seats folding down conventionally in a 60/40 split to leave a spacious but not flat cargo area. There’s no adjustable floor, either, leaving a large lip to haul heavy goods over.

Safety

Despite its age, the Astra still maintains a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, with strong results in every test they ran the car through.

The entire range is fitted with automatic emergency braking (although this only works at low speeds) and cruises control with a speed limiter, but you need to start moving up the grades to get a full complement of kit. Lane-keeping assist and distance alerts only come in on SRi and Elite spec models, which you’ll need to choose if you want that emergency braking system to operate at higher speeds.

Traffic sign recognition is an optional extra on every model, while only the Elite model gets parking sensors at the front and rear.

Options

Vauxhall has followed other manufacturers in keeping options to a minimum and concentrating on making trim levels comprehensive enough to appeal to all requirements.

The range starts with the SE, which still gets a 7.0-inch infotainment centre, DAB radio with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as air-conditioning, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, and a suite of driving aids.

Moving to the Business Edition, a name that suggests just who Vauxhall is targeting with this trim, adds navigation and automatic lights and wipers.

Don’t be followed by the SRi badge on the next grade, as this isn’t a sporting proposition. Some supportive sports seats are about as hot as things get, but there are larger 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and some more safety kit. Navigation is a £500 option.

Finally, the Elite spec adds, well, everything. The infotainment is upgraded to 8.0-inches, there’s a large digital panel in the instrument binnacle, the seats are covered in leather, a rear-view camera is added and there’s now dual-zone climate control.

Options are limited, but the one impressive addition is the £1,500 headlight system, called IntelliLux LED Pixel headlights by Vauxhall. These are superb, and make night-time driving easier and safer. It might sound a lot, but could be worth every penny.

Rival cars

The most obvious rival for the Astra is Ford's Focus, a mainstay of the UK car market. It’s more fun to drive than the Astra, and every bit as spacious. The ST-Line model strikes a great balance between driving engagement, efficiency and luxury, and could be as much car as anybody needs.

Volkswagen’s eighth-generation Golf majors on technology, with an impressive cabin filled with touch panels and digital screens. However, it can all get a bit much, with the reliance on tech taking away from the simplicity of the car. The quality of materials has also taken a backward step.

A Skoda Octavia is a more spacious, equally efficient option, but many might choose to head to a pseudo-SUV in the form of the Skoda Kamiq. This SUV has a distinctive style that stands out from the anonymous crowd of hatchbacks, but doesn’t have the SUV dimensions you might expect, making it more of a practical hatchback-plus-a-little-bit.

Verdict & Next Steps

The Vauxhall Astra might be a car people forget about, as it tends to fade anonymously into the background, but it’s always had a lot to offer. For the fleet manager, the improved efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, as well as long service intervals, could well swing any leasing decision the Astra’s way.

However, even without the fleet-friendly financials, the changes made to the Astra makes it as good as anything else out there, which is not something I was expecting to say.

Where to next?

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*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the Vauxhall Astra

**Correct as of 19/03/2021. Based on 9 months initial payment, 8,000 miles over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments or £1810.94 Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.