The 2016 Vauxhall Astra was part of the seventh-generation version of the car - known by some as the Astra K - which arrived on the market a year earlier in 2015. It didn’t look drastically different to the Astra J it replaced, but it was generally accepted that the car was a vast improvement, and in a wide variety of areas. Unusually, it was a shade smaller than the car it replaced, but with no penalty in interior space, and it was also significantly lighter, which helped in a variety of areas, including efficiency and handling dynamics. Although it was a vast improvement and an excellent all-rounder, it was still outshone slightly by a few of the super-impressive cars in the fiercely-fought compact family hatchback class. However, that slightly unloved status also means that the Astra is a good bit cheaper on the used car market, so there are some bargains to be had.

Strengths:

Available in hatchback and estate body styles
Vast choice of trim levels and engines
Affordable on the used car market

Weaknesses:

Not the comfiest nor the sharpest on the road
Many rivals were more desirable
Practicality merely average

Is the 2016 Vauxhall Astra better than the 2016 Ford Focus?

That depends on what you’re looking for. If you enjoy your driving, then the Ford is the better option due to its sharper handling, but the Astra is still a car that feels safe and secure in the bends. If you’re after a solidly built car, then the Astra has a slight edge on that score, and in pretty much every other area, it’s nip-and-tuck between the two. The Astra will cost you less on the used market, though, which also gives it some appeal.