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Expert Rating

Vauxhall Astra

(2022 - present)

Expert Rating

New car score:

69
%
B

Used car score:

71
%
B

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

65
%
C

Safety Rating:

69
%
B

Eco Rating:

77
%
A

Reliability Rating:

53
%
D

Running Costs:

76
%
A

How are our Expert Rating scores calculated?

Expert Rating

New car score:

69
%
B

Used car score:

71
%
B

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

65
%
C

Safety Rating:

69
%
B

Eco Rating:

77
%
A

Reliability Rating:

53
%
D

Running Costs:

76
%
A

Summary


Now in its eighth generation, the Vauxhall Astra is a family-sized hatchback and estate car that poses direct competition to the likes of the Ford Focus, SEAT Leon, and Volkswagen Golf.

The Astra hatchback range became available for order in late Autumn 2021 while the estate version, named the Astra Sports Tourer, joined the range in Summer 2022.

As well as being completely redesigned, the new Astra is larger thn the old model and is closely related to the Peugeot 308, with the same range of petrol and diesel engine options and a range-topping plug-in hybrid. Both manual and automatic transmissions are available across the range. An all-electric version was released in 2023.

Plenty of reviewers have expressed their enthusiasm after their test drive in the Astra, first and foremost due to the car’s bold exterior styling that Car Keys calls “properly eye-catching”. Motoring Research comments, “this new Astra makes the anonymous old car seem like something from another era. It looks fantastic.”

Many journalists have made similar comparisons to the last-generation Astra in their reviews, but not all are favourable. While some argue that the latest Astra iteration has sharper driving dynamics, they add that the Astra models of old had more rear headroom and legroom, and were notably cheaper when new.

That said, most motoring outlets praise the Vauxhall Astra for its competitive pricing, particularly as the family car is available with a generous list of on-board tech as standard. Parkers points out that “performance is good without being great” however, and that if you are after a family car with particularly punchy acceleration, it is best to look elsewhere.

As Top Gear concludes, “the Astra is not a car to set your heart on fire, or your pants, but it feels satisfyingly well sorted.”

As of January 2025, the eighth-generation Vauxhall Astra holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 69%. It scores highly for its low running costs and low average CO2 emissions (both helped by having a plug-in hybrid model), while questionable reliability stops the Astra from scoring an A.

Vauxhall Astra highlights

  • Stylish exterior looks
  • Competitive battery range
  • Relaxing driving experience
  • Generous equipment list as standard
  • Refined and efficient powertrain line-up

Vauxhall Astra lowlights

  • Rivals are more spacious in the rear
  • Interior trim cheap in places
  • Class leaders offer more powerful performance
  • Plug-in hybrid’s brakes are rather stiff
  • Question marks over reliability

Key specifications


Body style: Five-door hatch and estate
Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £26,610 on-road

Launched: Spring 2022
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA


Media reviews


Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

+

Auto Trader

+

Business Car

+

Car

+

Car Keys

+

Carbuyer

+

Carwow

+

Driving Electric

+

Electrifying.com

+

Heycar

+

Honest John

+

Motoring Research

+

Parkers

+

The Sun

+

The Sunday Times

+

The Telegraph

+

Top Gear

+

Safety rating


Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: May 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 80%
Child protection: 82%
Vulnerable road users: 67%
Safety assist: 66%

The Vauxhall Astra has been given a four-star rating from Euro NCAP.

Shy of a full five-star rating, Euro NCAP comments that the Astra has “plenty of crash avoidance technology, but does not have some of the latest advancements introduced in the market”, and that the car was not “equipped with a centre airbag for far-side crash protection, a countermeasure which is increasingly common on modern cars”.

Eco rating


Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of January 2025, the Vauxhall Astra has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating


Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The Vauxhall Astra has a below-average reliability score of 59% as of January 2024, according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at MotorEasy. This applies to both the current model Astra (2022 onwards) and previous models.

The most common faults with the Astra have been engine-related. Unfortunately, these have also been the most expensive, with an average repair bill of more than £1,000. Gearbox faults are almost as expensive to fix, although not as common.

Running cost rating


Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumptionAverageScoreVariationScore
Plug-in hybrid models256 mpgA256 – 256 mpgA – A
CO₂ outputAverageScoreVariationScore
Petrol models127 g/kmA122 – 134 g/kmA – A
Diesel models120 g/kmA114 – 132 g/kmA – A
Plug-in hybrid models24 g/kmA23 – 31 g/kmA – A
Battery rangeAverageScoreVariationScore
Plug-in hybrid models42 milesD35 – 43 milesD – E
Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
All models28B16 – 50A – F
Service and maintenanceCostScore
Year 1£190A
Year 2£532B
Year 3£819A
Year 4£1,092B
Year 5£1,463B
Overall£4,096B

The Vauxhall Astra is a very affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

We don’t have independently verified fuel economy figures for the petrol and diesel models, but the CO2 emissions (which are closely related) are excellent, so they should be good. The plug-in hybrid model looks fantastic on paper, but this is largely a result of the poorly designed EU/UK government lab testing process, which is completely useless for measuring plug-in hybrids.

The battery range on the plug-in hybrid may only score a D, but this is actually a good result for a plug-in hybrid. If you can charge the battery each day, you could easily do most or all of your day-to-day driving on electric power only.

Insurance and servicing costs are also very competitive, so overall the Astra is likely to be one of the cheapest cars in its class to own.

Awards


Trophies, prizes and awards that the Vauxhall Astra has received

2022

  • Top Gear Awards – Best Family Hatch

Similar cars


If you’re looking at the Vauxhall Astra, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Audi A3 | BMW 1 Series | Citroën C4 | Fiat Tipo | Ford Focus | Honda Civic | Hyundai i30 | Kia Ceed | Mazda 3 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | Mini Countryman | Peugeot 308 |  Renault Megane | SEAT Leon | Skoda Scala | Skoda Octavia | Suzuki Swace | Toyota Corolla | Volkswagen Golf


More news, reviews and information about the Vauxhall Astra at The Car Expert

Everything you need to know about Vauxhall

Everything you need to know about Vauxhall

Vauxhall Astra range now includes mild-hybrid option

Vauxhall Astra range now includes mild-hybrid option

Full Vauxhall Astra Electric range now on sale

Full Vauxhall Astra Electric range now on sale

Vauxhall Astra Electric

Vauxhall Astra Electric

Electrified Vauxhall GSe range now available to order

Electrified Vauxhall GSe range now available to order

New Vauxhall Astra Electric to go on sale in 2023

New Vauxhall Astra Electric to go on sale in 2023

Vauxhall Astra range first to get GSe treatment

Vauxhall Astra range first to get GSe treatment

Top marks for four brands in latest Euro NCAP tests

Top marks for four brands in latest Euro NCAP tests

Pricing revealed for Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer

Pricing revealed for Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer

Vauxhall reveals first electrified Astra estate

Vauxhall reveals first electrified Astra estate

New Vauxhall Astra now on sale

New Vauxhall Astra now on sale

Vauxhall to launch electric Astra-e in 2023

Vauxhall to launch electric Astra-e in 2023

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Attractive, capable and affordable - reviewers agree that the Vauxhall Astra is an interesting proposition, but rivals are more entertaining on the road.Vauxhall Astra