Vauxhall Astra Hatchback (1998 - 2005) 2.0 Di Envoy 5d Owner Review

Would be considered a good workhorse, but its reliability is disappointing. Have had pretty of minor faults with it, as well as some serious ones - the ABS failed which requires a very expensive repair I've yet to do. Mechanical reliability certainly doesn't stand up to the reputation of a relatively faultless everyday car. I've spent quite a bit of money on repairs, but if you get a good one, servicing is cheap and parts aren't as expensive as VW; the MPG is disappointing considering most of its rivals get better MPG with more horsepower. Performance is a bit underwhelming - acceleration, especially in 1st and 2nd gear before the turbo kicks in is abysmal. Don't even attempt overtaking with the AC on or on uphill slopes. Generally struggles uphill unless you rev it. It's stable on the road with well-weighted steering, but pulling away in first gear can be awkward and shaky - particularly if you attempt to do it quickly. Overall - driving it is okay, but not great. Visibility is good for parking, but it's easy to misjudge its front length because of the somewhat lower seating position. The cabin is larger than most cars of that size, but if you like letting your seat back like me it completely obliterates the passenger space behind you. Front passenger space is awkward and you can't stretch your legs much. Shoulder room in the front is rather limited and the car is generally not well-suited for bigger drivers. Interior feels cheap, basic, boring, plasticky and flimsy - rattles a lot on bumpier roads. Seats are okay, but the lack of support means they're only good for shorter drives - otherwise, expect a back ache especially if you have spinal problems. It doesn't have many gadgets on it but at least it has aircon and front electric windows. Overall, it's a decent car to learn to drive in or if you just don't care. But some of its rivals, particularly Ford Focus and Golf mk4 outshine it in many aspects.