Vauxhall Astra — Buyer's Guide
Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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Vauxhall Astra overview
With 554,029 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 80% adult occupant and 82% 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 £1,425 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £119/month or 19p/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
£119
est. annual total
New From
£26,825
Safety rating
Euro NCAP tested the Astra in 2022 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
80%
Child Occupant
82%
Pedestrian
80%
Safety Assist
66%
Safety recalls
There are 37 known DVSA recalls affecting the Vauxhall Astra. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/227
Affected vehicles may experience an unexpected deactivation of the interior door handles when the key is in engine-running mode which could result in occupants being unable to exit.
Build dates: 2023-07-11 to 2025-02-28
R/2026/196
Affected vehicles may have an incorrectly routed fuel pipe at risk of contact with other components which could lead to a fuel leak or risk of fire.
Build dates: 2025-10-17 to 2026-01-22
R/2025/544
On certain Vauxhall Astra L vehicles the Automatic Emergency Braking Assist telltale fails to illuminate if the front camera is blocked. No AEB warning telltale meaning no warning light appears in the instrument cluster. An additional pop-up appears for around 10 seconds at each key on/key off (Driving Assistance Sensor Blind: clean sensor see User Manual). The Automatic Emergency Braking system is operating in a degraded mode but remains functional due to radar support.
Build dates: 2023-01-04 to 2025-04-10
R/2025/511
On affected vehicles the chemicals in the Takata airbag inflators may deteriorate over time. This may cause the inflators to rupture with too much force in a crash leading to serious injury or death in a worst-case scenario.
Build dates: 2005-01-03 to 2014-06-11
R/2025/511
On affected vehicles the chemicals in the Takata airbag inflators may deteriorate over time. This may cause the inflators to rupture with too much force in a crash leading to serious injury or death in a worst-case scenario.
Build dates: 2009-02-24 to 2018-08-23
+ 32 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.
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Running costs
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Vauxhall Astra are estimated at around £1,425 per year, or £119 per month.
Fuel
£0
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£975
/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 £26,825 new, a Vauxhall Astra typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 68% | £18,100 | −£8,725 |
| 2 years | 57% | £15,400 | −£11,425 |
| 3 years | 50% | £13,550 | −£13,275 |
| 4 years | 45% | £12,200 | −£14,625 |
| 5 years | 42% | £11,200 | −£15,625 |
| 6 years | 39% | £10,450 | −£16,375 |
| 7 years | 37% | £9,800 | −£17,025 |
| 8 years | 35% | £9,300 | −£17,525 |
| 9 years | 33% | £8,850 | −£17,975 |
| 10 years | 31% | £8,400 | −£18,425 |
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 554,029 licensed and 111,899 SORN Astras in the UK (665,928 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 80% for adult occupant protection, 82% for child occupant protection, 80% 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 £1,425 per year (£119/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 37 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 £26,825. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.
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