Vauxhall Astra Hatchback (98-05) - Review

Review by Parkers on
The Astra MK IV was the car that signalled that Vauxhall (and European sister Opel) was once again serious about car building. The MK III was a disappointment: the engineering was mediocre, the suspension was soggy and the car simply didn’t suit pot-holed, bumpy UK roads. And by the mid-nineties its styling looked dated. Lotus helped tune the suspension and chassis and turned it into more of a driver’s car; the styling was far sharper and safety was – at the time – among the best in class.
4 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 are competitive to please fleet users. Depreciation steep when new, but reasonable afterwards, 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

£1,427 - £2,557 *

Diesel

£1,002 - £1,526 *

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

10,000 miles.

Warranty

Mechanical one year, bodywork 12 years.

Road tax (12 months)

£30.00 - £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
    118
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
    214
  • 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 is an environmentally friendly choice for green buyers. With an average of 160 g/km CO2 across the range, its emissions are relatively low for a small family hatchback. 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