Vauxhall Astra — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

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Vauxhall Astra overview

With 584,545 currently licensed in the UK, the Vauxhall Astra is one of Britain's most popular cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Astra 4 stars in 2022, with 82% adult occupant and 83% child protection scores.

It has a 75.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.

Annual running costs are estimated at £1,395 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £116/month or 17p/mile.

Theft risk is rated very low at 2.6 per 1,000 registered vehicles.

NCAP Safety

2022

MOT Pass Rate

75.2%

720,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£116

est. annual total

New From

£26,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Astra in 2022 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

82%

Child Occupant

83%

Pedestrian

65%

Safety Assist

66%

Safety recalls

There are 31 known DVSA recalls affecting the Vauxhall Astra. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2025/282

On affected vehicles there there may be loose connections between a high-pressure fuel pipe and the engine fuel rail which potentially could lead to a leak and risk of fire.

Build dates: 2024-01-02 to 2025-04-23

R/2025/055

Affected vehicles may face potential leakage of the under-bonnet fuel pipe due to a weakness of its crimping.

Build dates: 2024-01-02 to 2024-09-13

R/2025/044

Affected vehicles may not comply with test requirements in the matter of emissions test execution by competent authorities and energy consumption may be too high.

Build dates: 2023-01-19 to 2024-03-13

R/2024/236

On affected vehicles equipped with E-call the device may not function when trying to connect to E-Call (Emergency Call) and B-Call (Breakdown Call) due to incorrect BSRF (On-board radiocommunication transmitter) configuration and as a result does not comply with regulatory requirements.

Build dates: 2023-05-03 to 2023-05-25

R/2024/133

On affected vehicles below 12500 miles under certain conditions engine emissions may lead to a non-compliance to regulatory requirements.

Build dates: 2022-01-11 to 2023-12-06

+ 26 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Reliability & MOT

Based on 720,000 MOT tests, the Astra has a first-time pass rate of 75.2% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Astra is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Vauxhall Astra are estimated at around £1,395 per year, or £116 per month.

Fuel

£0

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£945

/year

MOT

£55

/year

Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.

Electric specifications

Battery

54 kWh

Range (WLTP)

258 mi

Motor

115 kW

154 bhp

Drive

FWD

Rapid charge: 26 min (20-80%) | Home charge: 8h (0-100%)

Depreciation

Starting from £26,000 new, a Vauxhall Astra typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year68%£17,550−£8,450
2 years57%£14,900−£11,100
3 years50%£13,150−£12,850
4 years45%£11,800−£14,200
5 years42%£10,850−£15,150
6 years39%£10,100−£15,900
7 years37%£9,500−£16,500
8 years35%£9,050−£16,950
9 years33%£8,600−£17,400
10 years31%£8,150−£17,850

Theft risk

The Astra has a theft rate of 2.6 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.

How common is the Astra?

There are currently 584,545 licensed and 108,770 SORN Astras in the UK (693,315 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Vauxhall Astra reliable?

The Astra has a 75.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 720,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the Vauxhall Astra?

Euro NCAP awarded the Astra 4 out of 5 stars when tested in 2022. It scored 82% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant protection, 65% for vulnerable road users, and 66% for safety assist features.

How much does a Vauxhall Astra cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Astra are estimated at around £1,395 per year (£116/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Vauxhall Astra?

There are 31 known safety recalls affecting the Astra. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.

Is the Vauxhall Astra likely to be stolen?

The Astra has a theft rate of 2.6 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.

How much does a new Vauxhall Astra cost?

A new Astra starts from around £26,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.

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