The Vauxhall Astra is a British institution. The family hatchback arrived on UK shores in 1980, replacing the venerable Vauxhall Viva. Those earliest cars were right-hand-drive examples of the Opel Kadett built in Germany and Belgium, but from November 1981 Astra production moved to Vauxhall’s UK Ellesmere Port factory, dubbed ‘Home of the Astra’. This remained the case until the demise of the seventh-generation Astra, whereupon Astra production was moved back to Germany, with Ellesmere Port being repurposed as an electric van factory.
With Ellesmere Port producing more than four million cars since 1981, the Astra has been exported to 25 countries. Vauxhall claims one in four Brits has owned or driven an Astra, and, collectively, more than 216 billion miles have been driven in Astras – apparently enough for a round trip to the sun 1,160 times over.
Vauxhall was once owned by US firm General Motors, but in 2017 GM sold Vauxhall (and Opel in Europe) to the PSA Groupe, the French company that owns both the Citroen and Peugeot brands. Since then, PSA has itself been taken over by the Stellantis group, which also owns brands like Fiat, Jeep and Alfa Romeo.
Most people refer to the different generations of Astra as the mk1, mk2 etc, but real Vauxhall fans will recognise them by letters, the first being D.
Generations: 8
- Vauxhall Astra mk8 (2022-)
- Vauxhall Astra mk7 (2016-2021)
- Vauxhall Astra mk6 (2009-2016)
- Vauxhall Astra mk5 (2004-2010)
- Vauxhall Astra mk4 (1998-2004)
- Vauxhall Astra mk3 (1991-1998)
- Vauxhall Astra mk2 (1984-1991)
- Vauxhall Astra mk1 (1980-1984)
Vauxhall Astra mk8 (2022-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Vauxhall Astra mk8:
- First Astra developed as part of global Stellantis group (which includes Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat)
- Model generation known as Astra L
- Plug-in hybrid power available in an Astra for the first time
- Fully electric model planned
The eighth generation of the Vauxhall Astra is quite a departure from previous versions. It’s the first to be developed as part of the huge Stellantis conglomerate, which owns brands such as Peugeot and Citroen, as well as Fiat, Chrysler and Jeep.
As such, almost all of the firm's latest products use technology shared with various Peugeots and Citroens, the Astra included. This includes a new range of petrol engines that are shared with the Peugeot 308, with 108bhp or 128bhp. There’s also a 128bhp turbodiesel. The big news, though, are two plug-in hybrid models, one with 178bhp and one with 222bhp. Both can cover around 35 miles on pure electric power alone.
The styling, too, is a world away from the safe-but-sensible Astra designs of older models. The distinctive front end, for example, is dominated by what Vauxhall calls its ‘visor’ design – a black strip running between the headlights – and bringing its looks in line with most other Vauxhall models.
Inside, you’ll find the ‘Pure Panel’ screen layout, which is Vauxhall’s name for its two 10-inch screens that meld into one another to form one continuous dashboard display.
Vauxhall Astra mk7 (2016-2021)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Vauxhall Astra mk7:
- Known as the Astra K
- A massive 200kg lighter than the car it replaced
- Lightly facelifted in 2019 with a new grille and rear lights, and revised engines
The upmarket aspirations of the sixth-generation Astra meant it had gotten a bit heavy and big. So with the mk7, Vauxhall put its family hatchback on a strict diet, and it promptly shed 200kg. That had many benefits, not least on the fuel economy. But despite the weight saving and slight decrease in exterior dimensions, the Astra came fully loaded with equipment and offered greater interior space than ever.
Among the new tech offerings was a touchscreen infotainment system that incorporated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satnav, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity as well as USB ports. Driver aids offered include Traffic Sign Assistant, Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning, as well as Forward Collision Alert with Collision Imminent Braking, Cruise Control, and Advance Park assist. A rear-view camera and Blind Spot Alert were also available, depending on the trim level and options packs selected. Upmarket kit like heated and ventilated front seats are also offered, and you can even heat the rear seats.
All models feature alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights, as well as air-conditioning, a 7.0-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth as standard. In five-door hatch and Sport Tourer estate form, the Astra scored a full five-star safety rating in Euro NCAP tests, and in 2016 joined only a handful of cars to ever win the European Car of the Year award for the second time (it previously won in 1985).
The engine line-up included everything from a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 105bhp to a 200bhp 1.6-litre turbo engine. The diesels were all 1.6-litre units, with power from 110bhp to 160bhp. That engine choice changed in 2019, with the petrol engine range updated to 1.2- and 1.4-litre units, with between 110bhp and 145bhp, and a 1.5-litre turbodiesel with 105bhp or 122bhp. All came with either a six-speed manual gearbox, or an automatic transmission.
Read our expert review of the Vauxhall Astra mk7 or search for a used Vauxhall Astra mk7 for sale on CarGurus.
Vauxhall Astra mk6 (2009-2016)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Vauxhall Astra mk6:
- Known as the Astra J
- More upmarket than its predecessor
- Styling inspired by the larger Vauxhall Insignia
- New engines and engineering
Upmarket aspirations defined the new mk6 Astra, which arrived in 2009. All mainstream brands were taking this more premium route, because cheaper, well-equipped and increasingly good-to-drive-and-look-at Korean rivals from Kia and Hyundai were eating into sales at the bottom end of the family hatchback scale. With premium family hatchbacks from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi doing the same above the Astra, Vauxhall pushed up the quality and smartened up the design.
Its heartland buyers remained those who might also look at a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf, however. Vauxhall did a good job, because the mk6 Astra is an impressive car. It borrows heavily from the larger Vauxhall Insignia, which gave it a smarter cabin, both in look and materials, and an electronic parking brake as standard across the range.
A great deal of emphasis was put on the mk6’s interior, with Vauxhall boasting about the amount of cupholders, and the ability to hold nine CD cases in the centre console (remember CDs?). A huge amount of work went into the seats to make them as comfortable, adjustable and supportive as possible, something Vauxhall’s been consistently good at. Other optional practicalities available included a FlexFloor dual-level boot floor, and a Flex-Fit integrated bicycle carrier at the rear.
It wasn’t just the interior that was all-new; the chassis and engines were new, too, and safety equipment like Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Departure Warning crept onto the specifications, which was unusual at the time.
The Astra was also a trend-setter in its class for offering optional adaptive suspension that went by the name of FlexRide, which had three settings: Standard, Tour and Sport. A longer wheelbase increased interior space compared to the previous model, and Vauxhall dropped the three-door version to only offer the mk6 in five-door hatchback and Sport Tourer estate form. That said, it did make a sporty three-door Astra GTC model in 2014.
In keeping with the greener times, the mk6 also sported a range of ‘downsized’ engines to improve MPG, with the range of ultra-efficient, economical turbodiesels and petrol engines ranging in power from 85-180bhp, many featuring stop-start technology to save fuel. EcoFlex models brought further improvements in CO2 emissions, road tax and running costs to appeal to fleet buyers.
The mk6 benefitted from some celebrity endorsement, too, with it used as Top Gear’s Reasonably Priced Car, in the television show. The car - a 1.6-litre VVT petrol in Tech Line trim - was fitted with a full roll cage and bucket seats, and was driven by celebrities.
Safety was again improved, with the Astra achieving a coveted five-star result in the independent Euro NCAP tests, thanks to its comprehensive active and passive safety equipment. A sporty VXR model was also offered. Developed at the Nurburgring, its 2.0-litre turbo engine pushing out 280bhp. It was good enough to be considered one of the best hot hatches in its class, even if its price was a little bit higher than some of its key rivals, most notably the Renault Megane RS.
Read our expert review of the Vauxhall Astra mk6 or search for a used Vauxhall Astra mk6 on Car Gurus
Vauxhall Astra mk5 (2004-2010)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door hatchback
- Two-door convertible
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Vauxhall Astra mk5:
- Known as the Astra H
- Looks inspired by the GTC concept car
- Facelifted in 2007 with tweaked exterior looks
Taking its styling cues from the GTC concept car, the mk5 brought some sharper looks to the otherwise commendable Astra history. It was in essence the result of clever re-engineering of the previous model, rather than being an all-new car, and was offered in the usual five-door hatchback and estate guises, with the three-door Sport Hatch given a more coupe-like look with its more rakish styling.
The coupe and convertible were replaced by a single model, the Astra TwinTop, which with its folding hardtop brought all the benefits of a coupe, while opening up to the sun like a convertible.
The trim lines remained familiar, with the established Life, Club, Design, SXi, SRi, Elite and VXR lines. That range-topping 240bhp VXR model was only offered in Sport Hatch form.
If the standard VXR wasn’t extreme enough, Vauxhall offered a VXR Nurburgring model, which celebrated Vauxhall’s VXR lapping the famous German circuit in 8min 35sec in 2005. It added white paint and chequered decals, carbon fibre trim, race circuit logos inside and a Remus exhaust, which brought a 13bhp increase in power. Just 835 were built, in homage to the lap time.
Unusually, Vauxhall offered the Sport Hatch with a panoramic windscreen. This innovative 1.8m windscreen saw the glass continue over and behind the driver’s head, giving a unique feeling of airiness and space. Despite heat-absorbing glass, there were a pair of blinds with visors attached for when the sun was too strong. This £850 option was not taken up by many, not least because repairing it would be hugely expensive – even if Vauxhall claimed that, being around 20% thicker, it was more resistant to stone chips. Due to the slight loss of torsional strength, the panoramic roof wasn’t offered with the VXR model.
Read our expert review of the Vauxhall Astra mk5 or search for a used Vauxhall Astra mk5 on CarGurus.
Vauxhall Astra mk4 (1998-2004)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Vauxhall Astra mk4:
- Known as the Astra G
- Smart but conservative styling
- Suspension tuned by Lotus
- Estate model particularly praised for its practicality
In mk4 guise, Vauxhall wanted its new Astra to address criticisms of the previous car, so Lotus was used to tune the chassis. A stiffer structure allowed better suspension control, but also better crash performance. Quality was improved, too. The new styling looked a touch conservative alongside its radical-looking rival, the Ford Focus, which was also even better to drive.
The range followed the familiar three-door and five-door hatchback choices, as well as a spacious estate. The smartly-styled – by Italian styling house Bertone - convertible and coupe arrived in 2000.
The engine line-up was also largely familiar, with 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2-litre petrol choices spanning outputs from 65bhp to 200bhp. CDTI diesel engine choices included 1.7 and 2.0-litre turbodiesels, with high-pressure common-rail diesel being introduced, improving fuel economy, emissions and performance. Vauxhall offered the Astra mk4 with dual-fuel LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) capability for the first time, too.
The mk4 Astra scored a then-very impressive four-star result in the independent Euro NCAP safety tests, reflecting its increasing importance to customers.
The interior was a step up from its predecessor. However, as Ford dominated on the driver engagement scale, Volkswagen had taken up ownership of the interior quality standards; the Golf felt a cut above the Astra, and, indeed, all its contemporaries.
A good, if unspectacular all-rounder, the mk4 did have a few high points, most notably a 100 run of limited-edition 888 Coupes, developed in partnership with Vauxhall’s British Touring Car team, Triple Eight Engineering. The 888 Coupe came with uprated suspension, racing bucket seats and several other unique interior and exterior changes to the styling. It also had the range-topping 200bhp, 2.0-litre turbo engine. Triple Eight also built a one-off Astravan, confirming the often-held view that it was the fastest car-based commercial vehicle you could buy.
Vauxhall Astra mk3 (1991-1998)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door hatchback
- Four-door saloon
- Five-door estate
- Two-door convertible
Notable features and facelifts of the Vauxhall Astra mk3:
- Known as the Astra F
- An evolved version of the mk2
- Convertible launched in 1993
- Facelifted in 1995 with a new engine and revised styling
- Sport and GSi models had suspension from Lotus
A solid performer in the sales charts, the Astra’s continued success was spearheaded in 1991 by the advertising slogan ‘Every Car You’ll Ever Need”. Largely based on the previous car, but featuring an all-new look inside and out, it was offered as a three-door and five-door hatchback, a saloon and an estate model, as well as a convertible. The mk3 Astra won praise when it was introduced for its comfort, space and quality.
Trim levels included Merit, LS, GLS and Sport, with GM’s ECOTEC (Emissions Control Optimisation TEChnology) engine technology introduced for the first time. It featured advancements like exhaust gas recirculation – a first in class for the Astra – as well as low-pressure turbodiesel engines. The mk3 Astra was also considered a safe car, and was the first Astra to be fitted with airbags and twin side protection bars.
Vauxhall improved the ride comfort with facelifted models, from 1995 onwards, with gas pressure suspension struts and shock absorbers. Key rivals remained the Ford Escort and Volkswagen Golf, with the Renault 19, Citroen ZX and Peugeot 306 being the French competition. There was also some home-market rivalry from the Rover 200. Japanese rivals would start to impact the Astra and its European rivals’ sales in this period, with cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda 323 adding competition in the small family hatchback sphere.
With hot hatches falling out of favour, and becoming tricky to insure, the mk3 Astra dropped the GTE badge and instead adopted the GSI name for its most sporting model. It added a 2.0-litre engine in 1991, with 16 valves for 150bhp, as well as suspension tuned by Lotus. However, the GSI was eventually quietly dropped and replaced by a less overt, but still enjoyable Sport model at the top of the range.
Vauxhall Astra mk2 (1984-1991)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door hatchback
- Four-door saloon
- Two-door convertible
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Vauxhall Astra mk2:
- Known as the Astra E
- Used the same engines as the mk1 but with better aerodynamics
- European Car of the Year in 1985
- Saloon model was badged Belmont
The mk2 Astra arrived late in 1984 and featured radically different styling inside and out. With what was then a low drag coefficient figure of 0.30, GM’s wind-tunnel (then the world’s largest for vehicles) shaped the new Astra as much as the stylists did. Its bodywork was far smoother than before, featuring plastic contoured bumpers and neater integration of the front grille, headlights and taillights. Vauxhall boasted of its use of CAD (Computer Aided Design) to shape the Astra’s body and structure, as well as of new production techniques like off-line sub-assembly of major components such as the entire instrument panel, wiring harness and steering column. All that was good enough to see the Astra take the title of European Car of the Year in 1985.
At launch the engines were carried over from the mk1 in 1.2-litre (55bhp), 1.3-litre (75bhp), 1.6-litre (90bhp) and 1.8-litre (115bhp) petrol guises, as well as a 1.6-litre diesel. Trim levels were Astra, L, GL, SR and GTE. Later, the engine line-up would include a 2.0-litre, with trims growing to include SX and SXi among others. Three-door and five-door hatchbacks were offered, as well as an estate, with Bertone building an Astra Cabriolet based on the three-door hatchback. A saloon model, badged Belmont, was also offered.
Again, the GTE model topped the line-up, based on the three-door hatchback and featuring LCD instruments. It initially came with the same 115bhp 1.8-litre engine as the mk1, before a 2.0-litre engine upped that to 130bhp in 1987. Shortly after, in a bid to keep the Astra among the fastest of its hot hatchback contemporaries, the GTE gained a 150bhp, 16-valve, 2.0-litre twin-cam 20XE engine developed by Cosworth. This so-called ‘red top’ GTE – due to the red finish on the cam covers – became the stuff of legend among high-performance Vauxhall fans.
Vauxhall Astra mk1 (1980-1984)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door hatchback
- Four-door saloon
- Two-door saloon
- Five-door estate
- Three-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Vauxhall Astra mk1:
- Known as the Astra D
- The first front-wheel-drive Vauxhall
- Early models were built in West Germany, and only available with high specifications
- Vauxhall-badged Astras arrived from early 1980, but there were identical cars, badged as Opel Kadetts, sold from late 1979
- Cars from late 1981 were built in the UK
Replacing the ageing Viva, the Astra saw Vauxhall switch to front-wheel drive for better interior space. It also introduced a new range of overhead camshaft petrol engines in 1.3-litre, 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre capacities, with an older 1.2-litre carried over from the Viva and Chevette models. The new Astra was offered in hatchback, saloon and estate body styles, all with either two or four side doors – even the estate model.
The Astra quickly established itself as a popular alternative to cars like the Ford Escort, Volkswagen Golf and the Austin Allegro, as well as a host of other European and Japanese small family cars.
With the advent of the hot hatchback, in 1983 Vauxhall developed a high-performance version to rival the Golf GTI and Escort XR3. The 115bhp fuel-injected 1.8-litre Astra GTE was sold as a three-door hatchback only, in either red, white or black. It featured lowered suspension, body-coloured wheel-arch extensions, front and rear spoilers, and on the white GTEs even the bumpers and alloys were colour-coded.