Vauxhall Astra
Subtle exterior revisions and new engines boost Astra’s ability
THE Vauxhall Astra was a class-leading car when it arrived in 2015, but with revisions and updates to rivals, it fell behind. Here we’ll see if this refreshed model can put it back on top. We’re testing an Elite Nav model with the new 143bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine, which costs £23,955.
Design & engineering
WHILE the Astra is like the Focus and doesn’t share its architecture with other makers’ models, all three cars here share the same suspension layout. There are MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear, which Vauxhall calls its ‘Compound Crank’ set-up. This is a costeffective system, and these three models prove it doesn’t compromise handling or comfort.
The main engineering change for this version of the Astra is its engine range. All models now have three-cylinder engines, including the diesels, and our test car features a 1. 2-litre turbo petrol unit and six-speed manual gearbox. This engine has 143bhp and 225Nm of torque, so it’s the most powerful here.
Along with some minor external changes the Astra’s interior has also had a small refresh. It’s not a whole lot different to the model that came before, though, and the problems we had with the old car remain here. While it’s functional and durable, the Astra’s cabin is dull and features hard materials that make it looks and feel cheap. However, there are a few soft-touch plastics.
The eight-inch infotainment screen is fine, but the user interface is a bit behind the curve; it’s easy to use, though, and there’s a new digital display in the instrument cluster, but it’s not a full digital dash.
The Astra has always been about offering great value for money, and you certainly get a lot for your cash here, because this top-spec Elite Nav has lots of kit. That infotainment screen has sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality as standard, while the car also features 17-inch alloys, heated leather seats front and rear, cruise control, USB sockets in the front and rear, LED lights and AEB.
Driving
THE new 1. 2-litre engine in this
Astra is a good unit and there’s a welcome chunk of extra power over the previous model’s 1.0-litre engine.
A 143bhp output puts the Astra quite a bit ahead of the 123bhp Focus and 128bhp Leon, but this power advantage only showed itself at higher speeds in our straight-line tests. The Vauxhall was the fastest from 0-60mph, but its time of 9.4 seconds wasn’t that far ahead of the Focus, at 9.9 seconds, and the Leon, at 9.7 seconds. The Vauxhall and SEAT both took 8.8 seconds to go from 30-70mph though the gears, beating the Focus’ 10. 2-second time in that test, while the Astra only managed to pull ahead of its rivals in our in-gear tests in fifth and sixth gear from 50-70mph, where its 225Nm of torque (25Nm more than both rivals) helped a lot.
The Astra’s long gearing is the reason why it’s so closely matched to its less powerful rivals. There’s a flat spot below 2,000rpm where it feels gutless, and the long ratios mean it takes longer to build revs and therefore power. This is a shame, because the gearbox feels slicker than its predecessor otherwise: the shift is lighter, more precise and pleasant to use. It’s roughly on par with the Leon’s, and slightly behind the Ford’s sweet shift.
The Astra still excels in other areas of the driving experience just as it did before. The steering is well weighted and direct, and the chassis has a lively edge to it, so the car is great fun to hustle down a twisty road. It’s not as agile as the Ford but more fun than the SEAT. It’s comfortable and composed too.
The suspension soaks up potholes and bumps well, so not only is it more fun than the Spanish model, it’s smoother as well. The quiet engine makes it relaxing on the motorway, too.
Practicality
WITH a boot capacity of 370 litres with the rear seats in place, the Astra has a respectable level of load volume, while a comparison between them shows that the Vauxhall is more practical than the Leon.
Only 10 litres separate the two cars (the SEAT is the biggest, at 380 litres), but the Astra’s lower lip gives it an advantage when loading and unloading large items. The ridges in the boot floor are also claimed to help stop items sliding around.
There’s plenty of space in the back seats for passengers, with enough leg and headroom for adults in the outer seats (which are heated on this Elite Nav model). It’s darker inside than its rivals, though.
Ownership
VAUXHALL scored poorly in our 2019
Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, finishing in 29th place. Ford came in 23rd, while SEAT was 14th overall.
All three models received a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating, and Elite Nav Astras get Vauxhall’s Driving Assistance Pack One as standard. This adds autonomous braking, forward collision alert, traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist. It’s a shame that front and rear parking sensors are an expensive £480 option, though.
Running costs
THE 1. 2-litre engine isn’t a top performer in terms of driveability, but some buyers will accept that compromise given its benefits in fuel economy.
At 46.4mpg, the Vauxhall was the most efficient car on test, which works out at £1,508 a year (12,000 miles) in fuel costs. The SEAT was next, at 43.1mpg, while the Focus did 37.5mpg. Those models will cost £1,625 and £1,866 respectively to run over the same distance.