Most likely the best review on the Astra. One thing that tryout forgot to mention is that the window controls double up as an adjuster for the heads up display
Saw one for first time recently in the flesh on the road, it’s nice to see it still has proper buttons instead of in the distracting screen as found on many new cars.
Not like matt on Carwow he just throws it on the ground 🤣 great review I am a Toyota driver last years 30 but I really like this new Astra I saw one parked on our road a few days ago in this colour very impressed.
It was made in the UK but it wasn't a Vauxhall design. Vauxhall vehicles are just production line variations of the equivalent Opel. Vauxhall hasn't designed a vehicle independently of Opel since the original Viva.
I know this is nerdy, but the heated steering wheel won’t operate if the recorded air temp is above 20 degrees and I noticed the display was showing 25. Beautiful car though. I’m swapping my Mercedes A Class for an Astra GS Auto. Yes, really! 😎
I really enjoyed watching this review; it was meticulous and engaging as always. Though it's been a year since its publication, I'm curious about how it compares to the Seat Leon. While the Leon may be a bit outdated and lacking in technology compared to the Astra, I'm particularly interested in how they stack up in terms of power and handling
I really like you Videos, especially about the fuel economy and interior quality. I really would like to see the Honda Jazz hybrid and the Hyundai i20 mild hybrid on your channel. Keep on !
I'm really impressed how the "budget hatch" manufactures have upped their game, the new Styling of the Golf and the Astra, specially the interior, looks miles more premium than just a few years ago Now this can even compete with a premium brand like BMW 1 series or a Mercedes A class!
I've had 3 Astras in my life and all suffered with gearbox trouble and crank case compression - I for one will never buy another Astra as long as I live!
Another good and helpful review. I probably should have watched this video before I made my recent purchase but £ for £ I think I made the right choice with my Corsa Ultimate. The Astra was just a little too rich for my savings. I think I'd be happy with either model though.
Still running mine , 20 yrs old now ( 02 plate ) never let me down and ultra cheap for replacement parts. Been a fantastic workhorse, reliable and so easy to drive and honestly wouldn't know what to get if I had to replace it.
I'm on and off with the piano black plastic. My car has a lot of it and it looks excellent in certain light when clean, but can be easily scratched over time.
I think it looks good, but I don't think it's worth the effort needed to prevent damage. There are other materials that can look good but last a long time.
Vauxhall have been doing a great job with the styling recently, the Mokka is probably one of the best looking cars on the road, up there with the Ioniq 5. The only thing that would put me off getting one is the fact they're now basically a Peugeot/Citroen, which means French electrics (an old stereotype I know, but stereotypes are there for a reason!) I'd probably give it a few more years before I'd really consider getting one, just to see how they are.
The Puretech 110 and the manual versions of the Puretech 130 and BlueHDi 130 are offered in the new Astra’s sister car the Peugeot 308 MK3 in Continental Europe. Quite strange for Stellantis to not sell the Peugeot 308 MK3 with the manual in the UK, but at least we get them in the Vauxhall Astra.
@@RichardFanders you are exactly right in my eyes to. My dad works for Peugeot atm. After being in the new 208, 308, 2008 and 3008. You can just tell they are changing their brand image, again. Must admit I am quite impressed with their new cars, so much so I’m going to buy one. Despite mocking them for all these years
@@alexthomas446 Perhaps, but Opel's Matrix lights in Astra are significantly more advanced and expensive than the simpler in DS4 and 308... And 308 have regular light bulbs... in reverse light and fog lights, the experience is cheap in comparison to the Astra.
@@Djeseret it is, I fully agree. However, both companies need to differentiate their products in some ways. They both use near enough the same engines, chassis and floor plan as the old 308. It’s like the Vauxhall is offered with a 6 speed manual, whereas the Peugeot isn’t. Both the 308 and Astra are great cars, they just have different features to adhere to their target audience.
i have a 2019 69 plate SRI VX-Line and i love it. But i took a test drive in this new Astra a few months ago and to be honest mine feels better to drive than the new 8th Gen. i have been a Vauxhall driver for the last 30 years and have had cars like Cavs and Astras in all that time but i will not be getting this 8th Gen.
Sheep in wolf's clothing. Seen a boyracer in one, he displayed the typical Vauxhall understeer. That said, in murder all black, it did look menacing (at first).
The only thing I'm not sold on is the fact the sunroof is mandatory for the Ultimate. It's optional on the GS model, so I'm not sure why they couldn't do that for the Ultimate too.
dose anyone know what special seats Vauxhall made for back issues, someone once told me but forgot been a while since looking for another car and without knowing id not even think buying a Vauxhall, would need to be in a Vauxhall Corsa tho as i like small light weight cars. certain seat type Vauxhall made unsure what name is for it so when i look for cars i can make sure it has them before any test drive, Vauxhall seats so bad in all them ive been it horrid back pain even only after 20 mins so i cannot even consider a Vauxhall Corsa without knowing and even then i may hire one for a day and do long drive to make sure. biggest issue with brand is seats made to hurt you unnecessary but now they french things may get better, my dad had zxara from 2000 best seats in any car i ever been in and back pain not so much issue even long trips and my back far worse since those times so finding a reliable car with few extras like cruise control and lightweight small car and with seats not going to punish you it not easy
He said in the video that theres an estate version which has a bigger boot. I presume the one hes driving in this video is more of a hatchback style size?
"the rear looks almost identical to the latest VW Golf" - It is caused by VW has copied Opel design since 1997... and since 2010 they have become increasingly more scandalous in their stealing - as example it was Opel who invented the opening of the boot by pressing or liftingt the emblem in 1994 - which everyone now believes is an invention of VW...
@@Djeseret No, I disagree with you on this. Back in the 90's the Opel/Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf looked nothing like each other! They couldn't have looked more different. I always thought the previous Astra (7th generation) looked very like the current Ford Focus. So Opel/Vauxhall have gone from copying the look of Ford, to aping VW styling. It's not very imaginative or innovative is it?!!
@@robtyman4281 You are wrong, it's not that they looked the same 1997, but that they took the very idea... of the design and technology from Opel and masked it... by making their own... version, you need more in depth knowledge to know this. And Astra came in autumn 2015 and current Focus in 2019 so what you say is impossible... Also Ford's design director Martin Smith 2004 was originally Opel's head of design... he continued to make the same designs for Ford as he had done for Opel - there you have the similarity further back - it's the same... person who made both... but Opel was first.
To test performance without driving in Sport mode is strange... the instruments change to red in Sport (has been around since 2009). Cooling of glove box was actually invented... by Opel in 1988, The manual transmission is better, significantly faster performance.
I don't use sports mode because it makes the throttle too sensitive but good point, as it's an automatic maybe I should have used sports mode in case it changed the gears differently.
The Piano black trim to Many reflections from it i will be staying with my 2015 1.6 diesel Astra also its 60 mpg average I Could not live without it is also the first car I have Own with cruise control I find it to be a bit unsafe and I hardly use it
I have the new Corsa f Sri premium mine is 2nd from top of the range. it has the same toys as your Astra apart from 5/6 things. It’s worth buying a new shape corsa to be honest.
I just traded my Corsa SRi for an Astra PHEV. The Corsa has no where near as many features. No folding mirrors, no heated seats/steering wheel, no adaptive cruise control, no reversing camera, I could go on.
How did you find the BSM? Usually with Stellantis the system comes on too late..much prefer long distance warning.Can you confirm if the Start/Stop feature can be permanently disabled? Thanks for the great review. I hope you get a chance to review the Astra 1.5 diesel.
I don't remember the BSM, I don't think I ever got a warning. I don't think there is a way to permanently disable stop start, usually there isn't unless you have the right software, plug in with a computer and really know what you're going.
fantastic review buddy. (different to your driving instructor role fella lol ) if you had to choose m8 would you choose this or the ford focus st line x ? i know this has a hell of a lot more features but does this justify getting over the ford m8 . im disabled driver and due to change my car in july so any opinions would be greatly appreciated bud. regards : karl.
Thank you. I haven't driven the latest focus so I can't comment. In this class though, I would probably choose a Mazda 3 if I wanted manual and a Corolla if I wanted auto.
Richard. Dealer group announces second showroom closure in a fortnight as boss again hits out at manufacturers chasing online sales Underwoods Vauxhall Colchester to close down after 25 years in business Managing director Gerry Wiggins said the decision was ‘not one of Underwoods’ making’ and blamed a desire to chase online sales over physical retailers.
and that gearbox is from Opel, not from PSA and it's one of the world's best in feel and function - listen to the review here, it's the same Engine and gearbox. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bvwTFUg08KI.html
I think that I would have a mazda 3 over the new astra I'm not a fan of new design or the piano black plastic that scratches by touching it or cleaning it
Come to think of it, I do say the two words in exactly the same way. But I think everyone else around me does also which is probably where I got it from.
I like the Insignia grandsport better. 3 cylinders get faster worn. Not a good thing for the customer. Most cars get destroyed due to the climate hoax.
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. .. the 1% don't want the serfs to travel more than 5miles from their 300ft hones... and you will be "working" from home ... stock up with food ..
Gawd, what a wandering old woman nattter‐natter review. At one point (I baled afer a few minutes) I half expected you to include your Nan's knitting pattern. Cut!
I like the exterior styling of the Astra, the rear looks similar to the new golfs. Imo, manufacturers need to keep these little 3 pot turbo engines in superminis, turbo lag in combination with the poor stop start system isn’t a great combo and most of the time is false economy though seemed to be quite economical on your drive, probably as the car isn’t that heavy. Maybe the manual version is less of a dull drive too?
Have to say that this looks fantastic - I like the subtle nod to the mk1. Vauxhall/Opel are definitely on a bit of a roll at the moment. I’d prefer a base model without all of the gizmos though, most of which are not needed.
I have the new 308, all the interior fitting, switches, handles, cupholders etc etc are carried over to this from the 308 There is no Opel /Vauxhall 😮DNA in this, shame really. Just badge engineering
Call me crazy, but both the shape of headlights and grill (with the badge) remind me a lot of my 1995 Opel Astra Caravan (Estate, in the UK). I'm not looking to replace it anytime soon (neither can afford to do so) but if I were in the market for a new car, I'd seriously consider this one - albeit with manual gearbox. Definitely not a fan of the scratch-prone piano black finishing, though. Thanks for your review, it was the most detailed I've seen so far 👍
i feel the Kia Picanto what you tested was quicker of the line to 60mph even tho on paper its slower. what is wrong all the car makers and auto, i only buy car with a key to start and no stop and start, and true manual, only add on i would like is cruise control everything else not really needed and adds weight , last gen Kia Picanto sp prev one from what you tested only 850kg min weight and comes with a 1.2 same engine what in my slightly more heavy i20 1045kg and that goes well for engine size, never an issue getting up to speed and 2 and 3rd will easy get you up to most uk speed limits so lighter Kia Picanto same engine but 850kg but tank fuel 895kg it be fun car to drive
