Vauxhall Astra reviews

This car has sufficient space for a family and their luggage. Seating is comfortable for 4 but barely adequate for 5. The engine provides sufficient power to move swiftly away from standstill and allows 70mph cruising at below 3000rpm. Sound damping does not work well against road noise. The automatic transmission gives smooth gear changes but has only 4 forward gears, making for high extra-urban fuel consumption; around 34mpg. Emissions are quite high at 186g/km, making the car expensive to tax; 12 months excise duty from June 2013 cost £260.00. Instruments and controls are mostly clear and efficient. however, the air conditioning settings are impossible to read when sitting in the driver's seat and the indicator stalk may fully engage the indicators or, rather pointlessly, give only three pulses and disengage. This demands extra vigilance. I regard it as a hazard.

Quiet and very comfortable. Long wheel base makes some manoeuvring difficult.

My car performs well considering it's age though it is expensive to insure. It is comfortable and as it is regularly serviced gives quite good reliability. For my needs it is spacioyus and practical.

I've had this car 3 years and apart from replacing all tyres, no problems until recently. At last service I was advised front discs may need replacing. NOT GOOD they were replaced only last year and done only 5,000 miles!!

Modern body shape, comfortable ride and average running costs. Only drawback, blind spot on passenger side when driver looking left at junctions. Dashboard stylish and easy to read, spacious boot, quiet engine.

Astra is a good reliable car with easy handling and average running cost. Plenty of storage for average family other than lack of adequate drink holders.

Economical to run, decent performance for size of engine, reliable.

Its my third one they do everything and as a popular make as second hand cars spares easily available and not too expensive The front wheel drive makes them good in the snow have heard more than one owner boasting that it overtook stuck 4x4 Just not a glamorous car

Estate Cars are beneficial to the older person ,as when you do any form of shopping,there is less strain in getting the goods out from the boot space. you do not need to lift it to get it out from the boot you can just slip it out the tailgate, causing no strain to your back

More than ample for my everyday needs

This is the second Astra estate I have owned. I have been very happy with this car. It has had very low maintenance costs even as it has become older. It is comfortable to drive, reasonable on fuel consumption and the amount of room available has been of great use. The only reason for changing it would be when the running costs have become greater than its worth. It may not have the looks of a sports car but it has been so reliable that I will be reluctant to change it for an unknown newer model!

Quite speedy, especially if you engage the facility which gives the ride quality a better feel. Seating in front is quite uncomfortable, and seating in back is only slightly better, and can only accomodate two average sized people.But it is a smallish convertable. Quite a solid car - made in germany under the Opel branding. Like the facility of a a solid roof, which folds back quite quickly, and allows the facility of a convertable as the weather suits [ best in 2013] over the last few years!! Completed 81000 + miles in 7 years, still have original exhaust - tyre, brake changes minimal in that time - and no major parts replacements. Diesel fuel, with average 42 -44 mpg on daily useage / reasonable journeys, - can increase to circa 47mpg + on motorway runs. Will be looking to change in 2014, as we are consolidating road car costs [ we have two cars] and need to reduce to one in retirement + family changes [ new babies]. Poor residual value - part exchange etc - will have to look far & wide for a good deal either from a garage or coupled in with a car purchase deal from a manufacturer. All in all, not unhappy with this car over the last 7 years - just hope i can get a fair trade in price for a car that cost circa £20k - but i doubt it.

This car has served me well, it is reliable and gets me from A to B. Fairly cheap to run as well. Had a corsa before and didn't feel safe in it, but the Astra has a bit more weight and body to it.

My automatic makes the whole driving experience relaxing and effortless. On the continent it has served me well on thousands miles of autoroutes and it cruises along their beautifully surfaced roads with minimum stress and noise. Why aren't all cars made this way? It makes city traffic and congested routes less of a problem because of the lack of gear change. Also steep inclines and descents, in the Alps and Pyrenees for instance, are a breeze. Meeting obstructions requiring quick reactions are no problem; there's no risk of stalling. I wish they would do some research and development into making automatics a little more economical on fuel, in order to maximise the benefits, but service costs have always been very reasonable. Incidentally, I've always wondered - what is it about French tarmac (or whatever their road surfaces are made of) that makes it such a pleasure to drive in France? Couldn't our civil engineers investigate?

I love my wee car. It has the biggest boot I've ever had despite being a convertible. As with most cars I wish I got better fuel mileage but it could be worse. It has only let me down once and I would buy another astra convertible in a minute though I would like a newer model. Perhaps one day......

I have used a variety of cars which have included three Vauxhalls. I have found Vauxhalls to be reliable. In my experience, Vauxhall parts are economic and readily/widely available in contrast to BMW parts which are not only expensive but are only available from select outlets and quite often take days to arrive after ordering. Such difficulties and delays in obtaining parts not only affect daily routines but may lead to the AA having to tow rather than repair at the roadside.

It's not a bad car but it's not a great car

A practical,reliable vehicle which is also a pleasure to drive added to which is a good level of comfort & space.

I have had this car for a year and it suits me as it is reliable, easy to drive and I have had no major repairs so far. It is comfortable for long drive (Cornwall 320miles in the summer) easy to park and fairly economical. I would have a better car if I could afford one, such as a Honda Civic, but the Astra is good value for money . Overall I am pleased with it and it is the second Astra I have owned.

I don't like this model as much as my previous Astra estate. It is longer, wider, but has less space inside. It is a reliable workhorse, with no fancy bits to go wrong.