Overview

The Vauxhall Astra Mk7 is quickly becoming an attractive used car. When it was new, this generation of Astra was rather average in its class, but rapidly depreciating second hand values have increased its appeal tenfold. These days, Mk7 Astras are changing hands for around £5,000 – and you get a lot of car for that money. That makes it a great choice for families on tight budgets.

Its mechanicals look quite attractive on paper, too. The Mk7 was based on a platform that was around 200kg lighter than its predecessor’s which, at the time, made it one of the lightest cars in its class. That lightness made it feel nimble – and its slipperier aerodynamics helped improve fuel economy. But as we’ll explain below, it isn’t without its faults.

There are plenty of other used hatchbacks vying for your attention, too. The obvious choice is the Mk7 Volkswagen Golf, which is a little more premium than the Astra and far better built. Keen drivers should also consider the Mk3 Ford Focus. Some are starting to show signs of age, but it remains one of the best-driving family cars money can buy.

The Mk7 Astra was the last to be based on a General Motors platform. Vauxhall was bought by Peugeot/Citroen halfway through the car’s production cycle – and the next version of the car was designed on PSA’s common EMP2 architecture. You can read our full review of the Mk8 Vauxhall Astra here if you’re interested in learning how the car has evolved.

Vauxhall Astra Mk7 known faults and common problems

The Astra’s reliability record is a little patchy. Early cars suffered from lots of electrical faults and serious clutch issues. However, Vauxhall eventually managed to get its act together. Cars built from 2019 onwards seem to be more reliable.

Just beware of abused examples. The Astra was a popular choice for fleet drivers, who aren’t known for their mechanical sympathy. Be especially cautious of low-mileage ex-fleet cars. They could have been in an accident – and the fleet company might have repaired them on the cheap so they could quickly cut them loose. For that reason, make sure you always check your car’s history.

Buying guide

Common issues and what to look for if you’re looking at getting one

1. CLONKS COMING FROM SUSPENSION

The Mk7 Astra’s suspension is rather vocal. It’s known to creak and groan over bumps – and the fix can be quite invasive. Some cars were fitted with defective lower suspension arms with bushes that would separate from the metal and squeak over bumps or when turning the steering wheel. They’ll need to be replaced.

The drop links and suspension top mounts are also known to squeak. Again, the drop links will need to be replaced, but some owners have managed to fix the latter fault by removing the suspension struts and greasing the top mounts.

2. FLAT SPOT IN POWER BAND

The turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol Vauxhall Astra is known to have a dead spot in its power delivery at around 3,000rpm. If your car does this on the test drive, check whether its ECU is running on the latest software and make sure it was last serviced with genuine GM Dexos 1 Gen 2 oil. The engines are known to run poorly when filled with alternate oils.

3. LOSS OF POWER ON DIESEL MODELS

The 1.6-litre Astra diesel has its own set of engine issues. They’re easy to spot, too – the car will feel down on power and you’ll see an error message on the gauge cluster that reads: ‘engine power is reduced.’ This could be one of several problems including a clogged fuel filter, a blocked diesel particulate filter or (most commonly) a slipping clutch.

The latter issue might seem unrelated, but Vauxhall fitted a bad batch of clutches to early Mk7 Astras, most of which were replaced under warranty. The reduced engine power fault can be attributed to an electronic safety net that Vauxhall’s engineers built the Astra’s ECU which limits engine power if it senses the clutch is slipping to try and protect it from excessive wear.

4. RATTLING TIMING CHAIN

This issues also affects the Astra’s 1.6-litre diesel engine. Start the engine from cold and listen for rattles. If you can hear a loud chattering, it’s likely that your car’s timing chain, guides and tensioners are worn. Vauxhall fitted poor quality components to engine from factory, which are known to wear prematurely – and it’s an expensive fault to rectify because, to do it the right way, you’ll need to pay a garage to drop the engine out of the car. Our advice? Just walk away.

5. STICKING CLUTCH PEDAL

The Astra’s clutch commonly gets stuck on the floor, which means you can’t drive it. Vauxhall did issue a recall for the problem, which involved replacing the master cylinder, fluid reservoir and pipework. If your potential purchase has this problem, it might be worth contacting your local Vauxhall dealer and checking whether it had the recall work completed.

If not, you could take advantage of the situation and grab a bargain. First, chip the seller right back on the price because of the fault. Then, have the maintenance completed free of charge by Vauxhall.

6. DOORS HOLD WATER

This is a strange one. The Astra’s doors hold water. The drain holes don’t allow the water to escape unless the doors are open – and the problem is compounded if you park the car on a hill. The fix? Well, some owners set at their cars with a drill and some paint, adding in some extra drainage holes and covering them in paint to prevent rust. Vauxhall doesn’t recognise the issue.

7. TYRE PRESSURE MONITORING SENSORS

This is one of the Astra’s irritating electrical gremlins. Its tyre pressure monitoring sensors are known to fail and provide false readings. Some owners have fixed the problem by having the sensors reset at a main Vauxhall dealer, but the most reliable way of remedying the issue is to replace them.

8. INFOTAINMENT SCREEN PROBLEMS

Some early Astras’ infotainment systems are known to break. They can get stuck in update mode, which prevents you from accessing its functions. The only reliable fix for this seems to be to take the car to a Vauxhall dealer and have its technicians reset the unit. There’s also a more serious fault in which the unit becomes completely corrupted and needs to be replaced.

9. RATTLES IN THE CABIN

It seems not every Mk7 Astra was built to the same standard. Lots of owners complain about rattles in the cabin, coming from the glovebox, dashboard and headlining. A common culprit is the rain sensor mounted behind the rear-view mirror on the windscreen. Try pushing the cover. If the rattle stops, remove the cover and use a sausage-shaped bit of blue tac or putty to secure it in place.

10. FAULTY REAR INDICATORS

This is an intermittent fault, but the car should tell you about it. You’ll get an error message on the dashboard informing you that one of your rear indicators has blown. However, it might not be the bulb. There’s a known fault with the connections in the rear light housings. They aren’t that solid, which can burn out the earth connection. Thankfully, it’s a relatively easy job to replace the wire.

What models and trims can you buy?

Picking the correct specification for your Astra Mk7 can be a daunting task. Before the facelifted model arrived in 2019, there were no fewer than 10 models to choose from. You can browse the complete list of Astra trim-levels in our specifications section.

All you really need to know is that they’re all well-equipped. The top-spec Elite and Ultimate models added some nice features such as leather seat upholstery and climate control – but every version of the Astra is a perfectly comfortable place to be.

This Astra was the first Vauxhall to be available with the firm’s now defunct (and rather brilliant) OnStar telematics system, which included a concierge service at just a button press away. It was an excellent system but it was dropped in the facelift – a victim of the post-Peugeot/Citroen streamlining – and replaced by an optional e-call system.

The Astra is also available with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which makes connecting your device even easier. Another worthwhile upgrade to watch out for is Vauxhall’s IntelliLux LED matrix headlights, complete with a cornering function and automatic main beam.

Over the next few pages, we’ll review each aspect of the Mk7 Vauxhall Astra, considering its practicality, interior quality, driving experience and running costs. We’ll then offer our final verdict on the car and let you know whether it’s a worthwhile purchase. Click through the following pages to learn more.