Most owners should find Vauxhall Astra VXR running costs reasonable. Service intervals are wide, its fuel economy is similar to its rivals and the bill for road tax won’t break the bank. If you use its performance to the fullest extent however then expect to pay out a substantial amount for fuel, tyres and braking components. That’s particularly worth bearing in mind and researching if you intend to take the car on a track regularly.

Decent tyres will not come cheap and using budget tyres on a VXR is not a sensible idea as they will dramatically harm the car’s performance and handling capabilities. You’ll also want to service it more often if you go racing regularly. Lastly, do get an insurance quote before you buy the car. The cost of the policy may turn out to be quite expensive so it’s worth checking beforehand.

Vauxhall Astra VXR emissions won’t be the primary concern for many buyers. Fortunately, CO2 emissions of 189g/km mean that owners won’t pay too dearly for road tax. Showroom tax will be relatively costly but given the performance on offer it’s hard to complain. Claimed average fuel consumption is an acceptable 34.9mpg, although it’s likely you’ll return in the mid-twenties in daily use.

A start/stop system helps improve economy and emissions, putting the VXR on a par with its rivals in the efficiency stakes.

Vauxhalls, on the whole, tend to be reliable and suffer only from minor faults and issues. Many of the parts in the Astra VXR are well-proven and have been comprehensively tested, so there shouldn’t be any major mechanical issues. The interior feels relatively robust and the materials hard-wearing. Vauxhall also put the Astra’s powerful engine through an intense testing period at the Nürburgring race circuit to ensure that it remains reliable, even in arduous conditions.

Because of this, buyers shouldn’t expect many issues with Vauxhall Astra VXR reliability. Do bear in mind that if the car is driven hard then wear and tear on the brakes, clutch and tyres could be significant.