This is the eighth-gen Vauxhall Astra. Some have been pretty good cars for their eras, others absolute donkeys. So past form is no guide to future performance. Besides, this is the first Astra to have been developed in Vauxhall-Opel’s post-GM era.
This means it has a lot in common with the Peugeot 308 and the DS 4 (because Stellantis), while also facing stiff competition from the likes of the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia, Kia K4, Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3, and to a lesser extent the more upmarket Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Merc A-Class.
Looks smart, doesn’t it?
Arguably even better in the metal. That dark visor front is distinctive, and there’s some attractive creasework: a sharp bone down the middle of the bonnet, and horizontal lines to mark the wheelarch bulges.
A little fluted black triangle aft of the rear door harks back to the Mk1 Astra. Most versions have a black roof, which visually lowers the car. It’s truthfully lower than before anyway, and wider too. But only a bit. And it isn’t needlessly bulky.
Inside you get a dash that mimics the black visor approach of the front end, and double 10-inch screens as standard. The designers have clearly been busy with the crayons in here and it shows: head over to the Interior tab for the full lowdown.
Four years on from launch, a small nip ’n’ tuck has slightly narrowed the front ‘vizor’, while the front logo is now permanently illuminated (because 2026) and there’s a hint of a compass that runs horizontally into the headlights and vertically into the bonnet. Aligning these with north, east, south and west on your driveway is optional.
There’s also fancy new headlights featuring 50,000 individual LED elements, allowing you to see 30-40m further ahead at 50mph, claims Vauxhall. Plus a couple of new alloy wheel options and paintjobs.
What are my engine choices?
It’s petrol, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric. Options galore. We’ve got a dedicated review on the Astra Electric, which you can read by clicking these words.
The base petrol is a 128bhp 1.2-litre 3cyl, paired with an eight-speed auto gearbox. A six-speed manual is arriving later this year. The mild hybrid pairs the 1.2-litre with a gearbox-integrated motor and small battery for a total of 143bhp.
Step up to the plug-in hybrid and you get a 1.6-litre petrol and more powerful e-motor for a combined 193bhp, plus an e-range of up to 52 miles thanks to the 17.2kWh battery; a chunky improvement on the old PHEV.
An estate (sorry, Sports Tourer) is also available. It has a longer wheelbase, so people as well as luggage get more space. It also gets the same powertrains, including electric. Click here for our full review of that, or here if it’s the EV you’re after. Variant overload!
Tell me about it. How does it go?
The Astra handles well (even if it doesn’t encourage you to take corners with gusto) and runs true on the motorway. As a mainstream hatch, it walks the tightrope between agility and stability. If we’re comparing, it’s a bit more tautly sprung and stiffer in roll than the mainstream Golfs or the 308. That means a ride that’s busy but not jarring.
The 1.2 engine can get noisy if you ask too much of it, though we’ve heard less pleasurable tunes before now. The plug-in hybrid gets along well enough, and the increase in e-range is most welcome, given its predecessor could barely manage a medium-sized commute.
How much does it cost?
The cheapest of the lot is the 1.2 auto petrol, at £27,495. Expect the manual to be cheaper when it arrives too.
Here’s the interesting bit though – Vauxhall has been banging the price parity drum between its ICE and electric cars, and whether you go mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full EV, you’re looking at a starting price of £29,995.
But wait. Because throw in the £1.5k Government Electric Car Grant, and the EV undercuts both. If it suits your lifestyle, that’s a compelling incentive.
And we’re not done. Because whether you go hatch or estate, you’re looking at identical prices. Surely… that makes the estate a bit of a no-brainer? Anyway, more on all that on the Buying tab.
There’s nothing eccentric about the Astra. It competes in one of the most rigidly defined parts of the car market, and it pretty much matches all the benchmarks, even if it busts through none.
It’s decent to drive, smart looking and is finished to a high standard. And Vauxhall has clamped down hard on ownership costs – add that to the competitive list prices (across powertrains and bodystyles, no less), and you’re looking at one of the most accessible cars money can buy. How much of a win that is when almost everyone is buying crossovers is another matter… but that’s Vauxhall’s problem, not yours.
The Astra’s not a car to set your heart on fire, or your pants, but it feels satisfyingly well sorted.