Vauxhall Astra Estate (98-04) - Review

Review by Parkers on
The reason you see so many Astra vans pounding the fast lane is because they're excellent workhorses and the closely-related estate is no exception. It's a much better car than the early '90s car that it replaced. Changes to the suspension and chassis mean that handling and ride are far more responsive and comfortable than earlier Astra models. Even the estate is a driver's car despite its lack of image. Used prices are now very competitive for this dependable workhorse and there's a wide range of petrol and diesel engines.
3 out of 5

Other Vauxhall reviews

4 out of 5

Running costs

Good fuel economy and cheap insurance help to keep running costs down; parts and servicing costs will stay competitive to please fleet users. Depreciation will always be a problem, so carefully maintained two- and three-year old cars are the best buys for long-term ownership.

* based on most recent data

Estimated fuel cost for 10,000 miles per year

Unleaded

£1,461 - £1,918 *

Diesel

£1,105 - £1,602 *

The estimated fuel cost figure is a guide to how much this model will cost to fuel each year, so you can compare between cars. It's calculated by using the model's average mpg (calculated from both town centre and motorway driving) and the average fuel price. It's based on the following cost-per-litre: petrol 135p and diesel 141p. Prices are updated daily.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

Every 10,000 miles

Warranty

Mechanical 1 year, bodywork 12 years

Road tax (12 months)

£100.00 - £270.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

3.5 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
    129
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
    211
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

Astra performs well on the eco front. With an average of 161 g/km CO2 across the line-up, its emissions are relatively low for a small family estate. However, it's worth noting that the line up has a high number of diesel models, bringing the average down and giving buyers more choices of low-emission versions. Diesels typically produce less CO2 than petrol engines with similar power outputs. Eco-conscious buyers should consider the 1.7-litre diesel, which is one of the greenest models in the range. The range is also fairly economical, averaging 42 mpg.

Find the exact engine and CO2