2 years later, here's what I think of the Vauxhall Astra (Full review)

[@simonwallis9520]

We have got this exact colour and specification. Ours is the 1.4 Turbo which still feels rapid, great acceleration with good torque. The interior is amazing... lovely heated leather seats, dual zone climate control, 4 one touch windows. My two daughters love putting the heated rear seats on. Auto lights, auto wipers, cruise, it has an amazing equipment level. But best of all it feels and looks very well put together... the exterior colour is stunning and contrasts very well with the black leather. Loads of thoughtful touches too.... A very happy owner!

[@JJonCars]

It's quite a light car - a lot lighter than the previous Astra, so the 1.4T with 150bhp will still feel nice and quick I can only imagine :) Glad you like the car!

[@simonwallis9520]

@@JJonCars Yes, even with the 1.4 you have to watch your licence !

[@francopretorius8584]

how reliable is it , any major repairs ? i just bought a 1.0t today

[@nkutotv3261]

@@francopretorius8584I’m looking to buy a 1.6 in the coming days

[@bobsbits8562]

Absolute brilliant review. Answered all my queries. Many thanks

[@JJonCars]

Cheers Bob! :)

[@ericlove9611]

Excellent video. I've the same model on a 68 plate and have covered 17k miles as well. My experiences mirror yours exactly, especially comfort level on longer journeys due to the firm leather seats, and stiff suspension. When purchased from the local Vauxhall Dealership I was told that the Elite Nav was quite a rarity, and on my travels I've only seen one other, a black one, identified by the twin pipes when he overtook and drove along ahead of me. With a light right foot I can easily achieve 42mpg on a tank, recorded on trip meter A, but overall consumption is around 37 to 38mpg on trip meter B. Unfortunately at my age, 66 and retired, it's brought out a bit of the, "boy racer" of my youth, in me, and I have to watch the speedo when overtaking on decent A roads as excessive speed is reached rather rapidly, without even needing to drop a gear. All in all the best Astra ever produced imo, and I've had a few since the 80's lol.

[@JJonCars]

Cheers Eric, good to hear someone agreeing about the seats! Yeah, they are definitely rare with the 1.6 engine, hardly seen any others. That's the thing, you've got be careful with that power :)

[@LeeC71]

I have the 1.4 turbo elite. Absolutely love it 👌

[@mickadatwist1620]

Those leather seats are the best ones I ever sat in. And I had many cars before.

[@jacklilley7999]

Just bought as Astra and picking up Thursday after watching this video and Carwow

[@JJonCars]

Excellent, you should enjoy the car :)

[@dimension4919]

If I have to be honest I did the same after watching those two videos...

[@tapen678s6]

I bought the J estate and very upset now gas guzzler

[@eddiejones.redvees]

I bought a 65 reg j 1.6 diesel Astra last year with 42.000 miles I traded my 1.4 tdi polo after 13 years and 100.3000 miles I’m loving my Astra having the extra room is good also the engine is a lot smoother with the extra cylinder the mpg is about the same has the polo I like Diesel engines because of the torque also the is no road tax to pay on my car

[@JD-xt7jz]

Bought the Astra 1.4T Griffin. What a great car to drive. Interior is very plush too great car all round

[@scottallan6622]

First time watching one of your reviews . Brilliant review and hardly any waffle . 👌👌👌

[@JJonCars]

Cheers Scott, glad to hear it! :)

[@lindsaymann5383]

Good review, one of the best I've seen in terms of everyday what-I-need-to-know. Thanks.

[@JJonCars]

Thank you, glad it was helpful 👍

[@pete0121588]

Not having keyless go is a plus point with how many keyless go cars that are being stolen.

[@JJonCars]

Very true 👍

[@pictlandpickers1171]

If you're going to steal a car a potentially do prison time then said car is not going to be an astra!

[@pete0121588]

@@pictlandpickers1171 a neighbour had his Astra stolen and I’ve had a focus stolen, both keyless start. If anyone thinks thieves go for upmarket cars then they aren’t living in the real world. Most are stolen to commit robberies or drug runs in so the more inconspicuous the better.

[@pictlandpickers1171]

@@pete0121588 I suppose a free cars a free car, but I'm talking from a higher realm. Btw sounds like you live in a scummy area.

[@pete0121588]

@@pictlandpickers1171There’s never any crime when not living in the real world, you must be so lucky or oblivious to your surroundings.

[@x28gsd]

It's a hidden gem this car. I've just bought the 200 elite version and it shifts. Best spec car for the money 👍

[@JJonCars]

Absolutely the best spec, but then I'm a bit bias :)

[@mwkoskamp1]

Vauxhall (Opel) had problems of loosing money and never wriing black figures. The Astra K is actually the last real GM Vauxhall they made after the PSA (Stellantis) takeover. It seems they did a great effort pushing out the best real Vauxhall in the end. Owners of other Vauxhall models with the 1.2 puretech motor from PSA Stellantis are crying in the corner over the cam belt issues....

[@arcadesunday4592]

I personally love the K (looks, specifications, etc). I'm considering the 1.0T model, as I spend most of my driving time at low speed / city speeds. I'm currently driving the J 1.4T - which, honestly I've enjoyed a lot, but the K seems to be that much more refined, so for me would be a great upgrade. Thanks for the 2 year owner review.

[@JJonCars]

The best thing about the K over the J, is that it is lighter! It makes such a difference to performance, handling and economy :) Thanks for watching!

[@superqunt5191]

Did you get the 1.0L in the end? I recently sold mine and I somehow found myself on this video missing it. I like yourself had a 1.4 J Sri before hand so was sceptical if the 1.0L would feel sluggish. It from the first drive blew me away with the refinement and how the boost really does allow it to complete if not outperform some of its larger engine counterparts, nippy little thing when it wants, took me a while as the gear ratios were quite different as the 3 cylinder really doesn’t favour the lower end of the Rev range. The performance and the digital screen compared to the old analogue looking thing in the J really set the K apart for me. Got rid at 91k, and she was going strong. Wasn’t the prettiest at that point but overall it’s a car that I can say will be missed. Style performance mpg and function all in a Rishi approved ULEZ free package.

[@arcadesunday4592]

@superqunt5191 hi again! No, I didn't make the change due to financial constraints, but do still love my J, even though it's getting older, but still feels good on the road. It's payed off now too, so the monthly fee is going into a slush fund for the K (or perhaps the new Mokka!! 🤔) ... Thanks for the response.

[@arcadesunday4592]

@JJonCars Yes, I did feel the lightness during my test drive (stepping out of an Astra J GTC at the time, however) but I kind of felt that the newer vehicle I test drove (the K Sport Auto) might not be as planted as the J, and (I felt) that the GTC was more convincing off the line (ie: accelerated faster). I'd LOVE to drive another K (more long term) to see what it feels like, but I'm sure it's worth it. Even the 1l 3-pot (Eco) model. I may Still pick up a high spec K (now that they're getting older / cheaper) but the J... still going strong. (My J is 2010 model. Date of post: June 2023).

[@lloydblakey]

2018 1.6T Petrol Elite Nav Black Absolutely love it, only had it since start of the year 15K miles when I got it, on 17K now. Drive sensibly and it’s a pleasure to drive, but can be heavy right foot and bring a smile to your face also 🏎😂 Wish it had reverse camera as standard on this model, never knew I needed the heated steering wheel but love it, great informative video as usual, keep up the good work 👍

[@JJonCars]

Agreed, reversing camera is probably the thing it is missing most! I think every car should have a heated steering wheel 🙂 Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@mikec3767]

Join the Astra K group on Facebook, there’s a company on there that retro fits parking cameras and sensors for £99

[@uzijn]

​@@mikec3767 What is the company called and where are they based?

[@mikec3767]

@@uzijn if you search intellilink mods on Facebook they’ll pop up, they don’t just do parking cameras they do other things too. Based on blyth I believe

[@redcross1956]

i have the exact same model in silver, it will be 3 years old this Sept very pleased with it.

[@JJonCars]

Glad you like it!

[@raymondhunt6109]

Nice review, just found your videos a refreshing change from the usual reviews that they always compare the cars to a VW Golf. Underrated car the Astra the 1.6 seems quick, the one I'd go for.

[@JJonCars]

The 1.6 is highly recommended, at least for anyone of the petrolhead persuasion. Thanks! :)

[@Thomas-wm8fu]

I have bought a 2019 1.6 Turbo Elite nav with 8,000 on the clock and it is brill and it can shift. Runs like a dream on shell v-power

[@ebayresllerben8018]

Got the same car love it 1.6 turbo 197 bhp 300 torque Lovely car and fast

[@GillyEd72]

Great review I bought in Feb a 68 plate 1.6t astra, I agree having driven the 1.4t then the 1.6t it made sense to buy the 1.6. And what a brilliant piece of kit, people can't believe how fast it is....a real sleeper. Thanks again for a great review.

[@JJonCars]

Thanks man! :) Good to hear from another 1.6t owner!

[@petermcalary3291]

Please warn everyone you can, the PCV valve will fail and cost you a fortune. It can’t be serviced.

[@Hitman-yr9ve]

Very interesting video I must say. I've got 2016 Elite Astra K (bought it almost two years ago here in Poland for approx. 8.000 pounds). I drive Sports Tourer version with 1.6CDTi 160PS, so bi-turbo. The feeling of driving is super nice. The car is dynamic and yet incredibly fuel effective (around 60-65 mpg on daily basis). Also, the infotainment system is still fresh after those 6 years. My car has got ventilated seats and it's really helpful here in Poland during hot summer days. Although, front headlight with matrix LEDs add the most value to the whole car. They might not be as advanced as matrix LED lights used in newer cars (new Astra L, Golf 8, Insignia, and I don't even mention Mercedes), but they still offer great visibility while driving at night. My car drove total 205k km (127k miles). I drove about 35k km of it (22k miles). And yes, the car has got some minor disadvantages: seats are hard indeed, there is lack of washer fluid indicator, the rear blinkers are just bulbs and not LEDs, same with internal lighting - just yellow bulbs. Even front fog lights are ugly yellow bulbs. I think I don't have to say how there look paired with so advanced and white headlights on the car... Moreover, mask holder is not pneumatic and there isn't any lighting on feet, even in Elite (top) version. For me those are just minor issues. More important things are to me are: safety, ergononomic and good looking interior and exterior, fuel efficiency, reliability and technologies which support the driver. I put in any of these 5 out of 5 mark and the little issues mentioned above make it 5- (5 with minus). I wouldn't switch to anything soon because summing up safety, technologies, looks and ergonomic with reliability win with any other similar car, especially in the price range. I definitely LOVE my car and I would definitely buy it again! Quick message to any of you who'd like to consider buying it: just try out the seats and judge for yourself. Other than than, you will be happy. Just pick the motor you want and avoid everything except maybe 1.4 petrol non-turbo 100PS. For me, 1.6CDTi 160PS is sweet spot. Also, cars with highest tier equipments (Elite) are usually worth your money. On top of that, Astra offered plenty of addons above Elite version and you usually won't overpay for couple of these like in premium cars. Those include AGR seats with massage and ventilation, LED Matrix headlights and few more. Cheers and I wish to you JJ and all your fans Happy New 2023 Year! Wish you all the best and thank you for the video :)

[@JJonCars]

Czesc Hitman, thanks for your great comment. It's making me miss my Astra 1.6. They are really really great value cars, fun to drive and can be had with some excellent technology. Happy New Year, thanks for watching!

[@frankmunster6483]

I‘m also driving the 1.6 Astra K with 200hp, i turned 18 half a year ago and it’s my first car. Drove it 7.8k kilometres now and never had any problems with it. The fuel consumption outclasses most of my friends even tho they drive cars with half the power of mine. It’s really efficient and just a fun car in general. Good video, greetings from Germany !

[@JJonCars]

What a brilliant first car! Is the insurance expensive?

[@frankmunster6483]

@@JJonCars it’s is registered as a business car on my moms name to cut the cost drastically. I think I pay around 1.400€ a year for an allround insurance pack. It would be around 2.800€+ if I did it solely on my name due to the horsepower and other aspects. Btw. I can’t complain about the carseats. I got the AGR seat pack in that car and they are one of the most comfortable car seats I have ever sat in. You have to sacrifice the leather optic for some fibre seats but if they’d make these as normal office chairs, he’ll id buy one instantly!

[@imhotrichandsexy7499]

well if you are 18 its not really fair to give reviews since everybody will always love their first car, come back when you had like 5-6 cars in few years, then you are much more capable of leaving reviews about cars

[@Casavult]

I miss my 2018 Astra Elite Premium 1.4T. What an amazing car that was. Efficient, decent punch for a 1.4 Turbo and the handling was great.

[@buzypea2]

Great video. I’m on my 2nd Astra K 1.6 Turbo Elite Nav. Covered 25k miles in my first one and currently on 36k in my current one. Superb cars, I really love them, a real wolf in sheep’s clothing. While the seats are quite hard I’ve never found them uncomfortable. Did an 8 hour drive once up to the Lake District and seats were fine for me and my passengers. Not sure I would totally agree with you on the steering, it feels a bit numb in my opinion. It doesn’t really weight up when pushing on into a corner though it does go exactly where you point it.

[@JJonCars]

Definitely a Q-car/sleeper, apart from those two exhausts there's nothing to give it away. I guess we can't expect too much from a family hatchback, I think it's the accuracy of the steering that I enjoy as you're right, it doesn't really weight up in the corners - remains light and grandma friendly. Thanks for watching!

[@mrskeltal3281]

@@JJonCars does the elite have a sport button like the sri? that's supposed to firm up the steering a bit

[@JJonCars]

@@mrskeltal3281 No sport button on the Elite unfortunately!

[@mrskeltal3281]

@@JJonCars Fair enough. Think I'd still have the Elite if it was me. Also I agree the hatchback looks better than the last model, but the estate is pretty ugly where as the J sports tourer is quite handsome! Yes I own a J estate :D

[@JJonCars]

@@mrskeltal3281 I actually agree with you there too - the K estate is quite strange looking, especially the way the roof at the rear is styled!

[@jamesthorley4442]

I have had the 1.4 2016 model for about a year now, love it

[@JJonCars]

Nice one 👍

[@segapc1994]

Great video, you've actually got me interested in one of these for my e46 replacement!

[@JJonCars]

Thanks Blondie! Maybe it's time for an upgrade. Though I do like an E46 I must say.

[@samgale3664]

Used to have an E46 and I loved it to pieces, but it was getting old. Replaced with the Astra 3.5 years ago and do not regret it!

[@Nickjones-i3e]

I’ve got an elite 1.6t and I’ve had the chrome window trim covered in black gloss wrap . As the car is metallic black it now looks very stealthy . It goes really nice with the 18 diamond cut alloys with black inserts which is very rare . Love the car .

[@JJonCars]

Nice, those wheels sound superb.

[@TrueHistoryAustralia]

Great video and a fantastic car. I bought a new 1.4T Auto last year - sold as a Holden in Australia. Incredible value for 9,800 gbp on road. So much fun to drive, simple and functional. Eats up the kms and fantastic for car camping as well. Thanks for the Astra content.

[@JJonCars]

Thanks! Nice to hear from a Holden owner! Glad you like the car - they really are good value for money :)

[@TrueHistoryAustralia]

@@JJonCars I have returned to this video after putting another 10k or-so miles on my 1.4T. Your observations of the car remain very true. I have since fitted a roof rack and basket to mine, using the car to camp and tour long distance across Australia. It is superbly comfortable and really fun to drive, still! I have taken it many a time on dirt roads in the outback and it makes me feel a bit like Ken Block. It demonstrates incredible handling and traction despite the very harsh conditions. I am tempted to make a video similar to yours as a 'love letter' to the Astra, as they can no longer be found in Australia. Best wishes.

[@JJonCars]

@@TrueHistoryAustralia fantastic. Always good to know I'm not talking absolute rubbish :) Go for it man, I'd watch it!

[@JJonCars]

@@TrueHistoryAustralia one day I will have to that tour across Aus too :)

[@amanaxus]

I bought my Astra K 2 weeks ago (2019 1.2 130) and I have fallen in love :)

[@lindaj5492]

Still driving my 2005 Astra 1.6L Club (bought 15 years ago as ex-demo with 1000m on clock, now 123000), with stalk cruise & dial climate control. No touch screen / USB / satnav (I use iPhone with Apple maps). Love it for all the reasons you give; still runs sweet as a nut. Only just thinking of changing because of age & growing maintenance or replacement costs (exhaust / tie rods). Started looking at other makes (Peugeot, Mazda, Hyundai) - but your review is making me think of looking for another Astra from 2018/19!

[@JJonCars]

Oh nice one Linda, it sounds like a good survivor. I was speaking to someone with an '04 Astra the other day, 200k on the clock (although he's a mechanic so he's kept it going beyond it's reasonable life expectancy lol) The new Astra is certainly worth considering!

[@juansanchez7784]

Hi great review I’m buying a 1.0 SRI Nav from Eden Vauxhall car sales, 2016 57000 miles, for £7500 is a 2 owner car & a full years warranty, I need the 1.0 for where I live in London & for the fuel economy as I be doing quite a lot of long journeys, your review was really great 👍 cheers

[@JJonCars]

They're great value for money. I don't think the 1.0 will be underpowered, it's a light car so should be fine :) Thanks!

[@martinreavey8419]

Just bought the 1.5 turbo diesel. Drove it from Newcastle to Edinburgh. And No problem whatever putting my foot down and overtaking. Seats seem ok to me. Overall very happy. Considering I've had Honda Civics for the last twenty years. Yes very Happy. Nice looking car as well

[@hoggsuk]

great video, ive got a 2015 1.6 cdti sri, i got it from the dealers it was the demo car so got it at reduced price with 2000 miles on it, ive had it 5 yrs now and im keeping it, just had a stage 1 remap on it and its a lot quicker and better on fuel, ive just driven from lockerbie to windermere 77 mile and used 1/8th of a tank, brilliant, its got 16000 miles on the clock now i dont really go far, i go to london sometimes in it to see family and i can get there on about 1/2 a tank, i had the astra j before 1.7 cdti and that was slower and used more fuel, but this one is much better all round, handling is spot on and like you say road noise was a thing so ive swapped for michelin tyres and there a lot better. the other reason im keeping it is 0 road tax,

[@JJonCars]

Brilliant Tony, sounds pretty much perfect. Good to hear that the quieter tyres do make a difference!

[@Paul9443]

I have the 2016 elite 1.6L cdti in bronze , it's absolutely astonishing. I love it.

[@JJonCars]

Excellent, glad you like the car!

[@seangranger9999]

Have a 2019 1.6 sport plus.. brilliant car.. and the seats are in massage sport version... thus have settings to cushion. Well made vehicle and awesome to drive... good video and simple thoughts make for a easy review..

[@JJonCars]

Very nice, I saw in the manual that you could get massage seats, very fancy for a car like the Astra! Thanks :)

[@SolarRobbert]

Just paid the advanced payment for 2016 1.6 Diesel. Thanks for the valuable review... really love your videos...

[@JJonCars]

Thank you, glad to help!

[@Shaibuli]

I agree with everything in the video! It's a very nice car for the most part. I drive a high spec ("Innovation") Opel Astra 2018 here in Finland and there seem to be some peculiar differences in trim levels. Mine has parking camera and front and rear parking sensors, which work excelently. However, in the video you have this small, but usefull looking storage compartment under the AC controls, where I have this tiny, basically useless ledge. Other things I've found the car is weirdly lacking are also a light in the glovebox (there really physically isn't one) and sunglass holder above drivers door, where there is this ready-looking blank spot in the rooflining. My previous Chevy Cruze (basically a low spec Astra J) had both of those features. More weak points are that the dipstick is really hard to read, at least on the 1.4T and the mirrors can not be set to auto-fold, but can be folded electrically manually (whats up with that?!). My Astra also has this front emergency collition detection system and you can see the distance to the car in front of you in the dash, so it feels kind of cheaped out that I still have regular cruise control, and not one that would adjust the cars speed based on the driver on the front. Oh and I have premium cloth seats and a sensitive bum and I've yet to have any issues, so it might be that the leather seats are just a lot stiffer :)

[@JJonCars]

It does seem like they were doing a lot of cost cutting! I think they were removing things that you wouldn't notice on your test drive, things that you'd only notice after owning the car for a while, and by then it's too late haha, like the lack of a sensor for low washer fluid. It took me a while to figure out even how to power-fold the mirrors, and I was very surprised you couldn't get them to fold in when you lock the car! surely this would be a simple thing for them to have included. It seems as though it's just the leather seats that are quite hard as I've heard from several people that the cloth seats are quite comfortable :) Thanks for the great comment and thanks for watching

[@Kit_Marron]

I went from a J to the K - and also miss the glasses holder above the drivers door!

[@Shaibuli]

@@Kit_Marron It's definitely a weird thing to omit, especially since the roof lining looks like there should be something there. I store my sunglasses in the pretty small elbow rest thingy, and it's not fun at all :(

[@Kit_Marron]

@@Shaibuli I have multiple glasses, sun, yellow, polarising, distance, and they are everywhere! Quick online check indicates all on sale clip to the sun visor -which would get in the way most of the time! My 'elbow' rest has my carefully coiled android auto cable - and a collection of used face masks! Needs a rethink + maybe use something on the passenger seat pocket. Life's so hard!

[@graemeguthrie2054]

Great video I own 68 plate 1.4 T VX line Sri. Far too many letters! Almost three years of owning now mine was as ex demo car it's been great. Only issue is radio is poor. I'm told due to being a Nav model antenna is heated screen. I bought this as I used to drive these Astras every day in diesel variant at work and they covered 30k miles a year and hardly ever went wrong. Compared to my last VW ownership it's been great I decided to go cheaper! My VW was regularly in the garage this Astra is not the same and I highly recommended them.

[@reggierizaev]

Very nice review! You voice is making me calm.

[@JJonCars]

Thanks :)

[@MrBlackspoon]

Nice, just bought my first car, a 2016 opel astra sports courer business+. With I kid you not 200k km's driven. Brought it to a garage that my father goes to the past 30 years and he checked the car from bottom to top and said the car is in top condition and he could see it was taken care of perfectly. Driving with it since a few days ago and its a smooth drive.

[@JJonCars]

Nice first car :)

[@gazmar3638]

Have a 2017 1.0 litre petrol turbo Elite hatch, same colour. Drives like a dream. My front seats have full ergonomic feature, this allows for small changes to seat and lumbar regions via small elec buttons. Only has 5 gears due to small engine and feels like you need a sixth gear on motorways. Boot not that deep due to spare wheel, could remove and use wheel inflator kit instead to increase.

[@JJonCars]

Nice one. I'd stick with the spare wheel if I had one, as the inflator kits are not good to the tyres/rims when you use them!

[@Mattijs89]

So... I've been looking at several videos about this Astra and found out that it's very reliable and that the 1.6 Turbo is driving really.... REALLY well, so I'll be looking at one next Saturday and after watching several videos (including yours), I think this is the perfect car for us / me. Will definitely give you an update about what I found of it and if it has enough space to be a family car (1 child). Thanks for this great review!

[@JJonCars]

That's great. The 1.6 turbo is definitely the one to have if you have a bit of an interest in cars! Good luck in your hunt for the right one :)

[@williamclayton6597]

I’ve got a 1.6 Turbo as well. This is the perfect review, compliments all the things I enjoy about it and also spot on with the few niggles. Only thing to add is that I get closer to 35 mpg, so it’s relatively thirsty. Also looking at its American/Chinese counterpart the Buick version, I definitely prefer some of the styling choices made for those markets and it would’ve been nice to have some of the trim options available for the Vauxhall version. All in all I couldn’t be happier with my Astra! Currently on 29000 miles

[@JJonCars]

You probably enjoy the power a little more than I did :) I have a relatively light right foot I think. But I did seem to get 40mpg pretty much whatever I was doing. I quite like the look of the Buick models too. Glad you like the car, and the review! 😄

[@originalno1087]

​@@JJonCarswow you should get cheaper insurance with that type of driving. Maybe i need to get a full service and tune because i cant get near that in my 1.4 Maybe its because I'm a londoner 😂😂 Sadiq khan is killing us down here Lez Ulez Cycle lanes bus gates timed road closures Bus lanes no left turn no right turn no parking 20mph. Also the soon to come pay per mile. im lucky if i get 10 MPG some days. Oops started to rant GREAT DRIVING I SALUTE👊🏿😎👊🏿

[@leemilan5693]

I have the 1.4 turbo nav sri auto 2016 and love the car, fast for 1.4 and 47mpg normal driving seats are cloth and comfy even on long run. tyres are noisy but will change to cut road noise, otherwise well pleased, great content keep up the good work. Lee

[@JJonCars]

I've heard from a few people the cloth seats are quite comfortable, so with the new tyres you should have a really good all-round car. Thanks! :)

[@davidellis1079]

Surprised the tyres are noisy, what size wheels are you running? My Sri has the standard 17 inch wheels and the road noise level is OK.

[@leemilan5693]

@@davidellis1079 wheels are standard 17" but cheap tyres that was on when I purchased the car, didn't realise until after otherwise would have asked to change them, but I'm changing to good brand tyres very soon.

[@johnnyvxr]

I've had the 1.4t auto elite for just about two years and love it, had nearly every astra over the years, as you can tell by name and picture, the j was horrendous even my j vxr felt heavy and not very exciting, and a j 2.0 diesel, just too bland to look at and drive. The k is miles ahead in looks and feel, and I do find the seats comfortable. Had a six hour drive to wales last year and no issues. And agree android auto is a great feature. Great review 👍

[@JJonCars]

Very much agreed, the K is leagues ahead of the J. I once had a 1.4 non-turbo petrol J as a hire car and it was hilariously underpowered! Thanks!

[@JJonCars]

Also just a shame there isn't a K VXR! That would be so good!

[@johnwalton5771]

I have had this exact car for 2 years now and have no real complaints, I really like it still and don't plan on getting rid of it any time soon. My clutch pedal gets stuck down just above the bite point from time to time and I have to pop in back up with the top of my foot, but have been told this is quite a common fault with the K and is expensive to repair. Keen to hear if anyone else has had this issue and what they have done to resolve it!

[@JJonCars]

That's quite a weird problem! I haven't heard anyone else mention in the comments yet. Cheers for watching John and good to hear you like the car otherwise.

[@withpikachu2402]

I had rented two and both had the same problem. One had to be towed. I can't imagine owning one. It is a safety issue, if can't get car into gear because of clutch. Imagine breaking down in the place where can't stop.

[@Geoff-m4z]

Drove my J model into the ground couple days ago. Just purchased a used 1.6i Turbo SRi 18 reg with 40k miles at an absolute steal. Collecting it in a few days, very excited about it. Looks like there are massive improvements to the J

[@nclflyer8197]

I have the Elite Nav Diesel 1.6 TDi. 18” alloys. Winter pack, self park, reverse cam. Absolutely love it. I’ve been looking for a newer car and nothing can match the spec. Lovely car.

[@JJonCars]

They are really good value for the spec you get!

[@chrisbrown4158]

Bought a 67 plate 1.6 cdti 136 Sri tourer in February. My experience so far is it’s well screwed together, economical, handles well and is practical, although I must admit the omission of baggage hooks in the boot as standard is a bit annoying. Like yourself I’ve got a weekend motor, but that only gets used in the summer when the weather is kinder and the salt is no longer being spread

[@JJonCars]

Agreed about the baggage hooks, they can't cost much to put in so it's surprising they didn't bother!

[@OrenXoom]

6000km on my 1.4turbo Astra Innovation got it on Christmas Day 2020...Superbly well made German car;) Super nice review keep it up...yak yak yeah:)

[@JJonCars]

Nice Christmas present! German car, but built in the UK or Poland ;) Thanks!

[@OrenXoom]

True..👌🏼

[@mikeowen1192]

Great review I have had Vauxhall's astra hatch Vectra which I sold with 190'000 no problems very reliable and comfortable always petrol made the mistake of buying Audi Audi A 4 18 tfsi black edition sluggish heavy on fuel and had electric problems now gone back to a astra love it don't believe what these so called expert reveawers write they seem to love knocking Vauxhall's I agree about the seats on some models not all to sum up they are under rated

[@JJonCars]

Cheers Mike. I don't get why Vauxhall have a bad rep with the reviewers either!

[@craigt1324]

Great video. I've got a 68 plate 1.6T SRi NAv vx-line. I got it in 2019 at 1 year old and it only had 12k on the clock. Compared to the Elite it's a lot lighter car, feels it anyway. I've done 10k in the 4 years I've had it and apart from general wear and tear items such as tyres, brakes etc, not had to spend any money on it, 100% reliable. It's a proper sleeper, 3rd gear pulls like a train!

[@JJonCars]

I suspect that the 1.6T is the most reliable Astra. Some of the smaller engines are a bit more stressed, and diesel engines tend to have their own issues regardless of manufacturer. I do miss the performance of that car!

[@draz1000]

I got a 1.4turbo SRI around a week ago now and I've really liked it so far! Really fun car to drive.

[@fandangololo1855]

Nice videos. I drive a 1.4 turbo petrol sri 2018 and if I press the sport button the car really performs, fast and responsive with all the power available with very little lag, not to mention the sports steering on the sri is very good and precise.

[@JJonCars]

Thanks! The steering is almost my favourite thing about the Astra I think!

[@nicholaswilce5742]

1.4l turbo 2017 owner, fantastic car, insane how good the turbo works. Agreed with the hard seats. Couldn’t recommend more

[@samgale3664]

I have had my 2016 (66) Astra SRI Nav 1.0 turbo for 3.5 years and covered 82,600 miles. It’s been brilliant. Comfortable, fun to drive and surprisingly sprightly for the smallest engine option. So far I’ve had no just wear and tear brakes and tyres etc. Never thought I’d love it as much as I do! Will be interesting to see how many miles I get out of it.

[@JJonCars]

Amazing the performance they can get from these smaller engine sizes. I think you should get a lot more miles out of it yet - it sounds to me like the petrol models are more reliable than the diesel ones

[@stuartholmes9471]

We have just purchased 70reg car 1.2 turbo runs lovely n smooth we traded in a j model which we had, had 7yrs which had been no trouble over that time.

[@grahamconnolly3241]

Hello just having a recap about the Astra I bought one in March 2017 it was 6 months old with 3,000 miles. It was the Elite Nav with all the trimmings and it has the 134bhp diesel engine. 71/2 years later on I still have the vehicle, I use it for my long runs it now has 32,000 miles on the clock. My only sad point about the car is that they did a recall about the noisy timing chain on start up but I never saw it, it is a little noisy on start but soon quietens down. I believe you can upgrade these cars with a ecu upgrade to 166bhp a friend of mine had this done and it transformed the car. On a steady drive I can get 80+ mpg and my mate has seen 85 mpg on a very very steady. everyday running is in the 65+ mpg region. Vauxhall are still after me to have the emissions upgrade don't have this at any price. Try and find one that has not had it done as it does not do the engine any favours, to find out just check with a dealer to see if it has done. Otherwise a great vehicle I have the sports tourer what more can you want space, speed and economy.

[@MrPaulyoung210]

I've just bought a 2017 1.4T 16V 150 SRI VX-LINE after watching this video and seeing your comment about steering clear of the non turbo engines 👍🏻

[@JJonCars]

Good man, 150 is plenty of power in a light car like the Astra. Enjoy!

[@visune1178]

Great Review.. I have just bought a 2017 1.4 SRI Turbo Nav.. its only got 17k on the clock and is a beautiful thing to drive.. cloth seats as im not keen on leather but looking to find some decent seat covers to.. being disabled and having a corsa before.. I can say i love Vauxhall and this Astra is so comfy and handles great xxx

[@JJonCars]

nice low miles! Good call on the seats, I find the cloth ones much more comfortable :) Glad to hear you like the car!

[@Rovanite]

Great review! I bought a 1.4T Elite Nav 2016 (black) last week which only had 22k miles on it. It's still very early days, but so far I'm very pleased with my purchase. With that said reversing is a bit annoying with the blind spots but overall it drives really well. Love the interior, it's really put together well. I haven't noticed the seat being uncomfortable, but the longest drives I've done so far was only an hour, so maybe it would be worse if I was in there longer. Great car though!

[@JJonCars]

Not everyone I've heard from finds the leather seats uncomfortable - some do, some don't, so you might be alright :) It's a great car anyway, enjoy!

[@davidellis1079]

Good choice, excellent engine.

[@originalno1087]

Hopefully you will have no issues with infotainment system double clutch or engine oil tray. Good luck

[@Rovanite]

@@originalno1087 Cheers! Unfortunately the infotainment screen has started to glitch. Apparently it's an issue with 2016/17 models. It still works though and resolves after a minute or two, some days its fine. Not too worried at the moment, but it shouldn't be too difficult to replace. Other than that all good :)

[@originalno1087]

@@Rovanitehate to be the bearer of bad news the unit even on ebay 2nd hand is upwards of £400 annoying as along with the new shape they changed the system and not alot about 2nd hand and they holding price. However i will keep my eye out. Like you i like my Astranomical ride. Lol

[@focusmove9245]

Qualtiy honest review. Thanks keep it up

[@JJonCars]

Thank you!

[@sonofodin5514]

Is a 2019 still worth buying today? Are they good reliable cars?

[@ianpurvis]

Got a 1.6 cdti,brilliant,can't fault it,fast and very frugal,don't find the seats too hard,and done a few 350 plus mile journeys in it,enjoyed your video 11.40

[@JJonCars]

Thanks Ian 👍

[@jamesphilipson1289]

In case anyone is interested, the blank top button on the left side of the steering wheel is the Adaptive Cruise Control which evidently isn't spec'd here. Total game changer that system so look out for that button being present when browsing cars if you want it

[@vkgiotis]

I have a Holden Astra 1.6 T, 2018 (6sp manual transmission). I've done 30k Km. I bought mine here in Aus for $24k Aud or $14K GBP brand new. It was a bargain. The Astra did not sell very well here in Aus because at the time the Holden Brand (which has now shut down) had a bad reputation. However, as think that I have the ability to see a great product even from average companies (i.e.Holden in this case); I agree with you this is a great machine for the money. Moreover, I agree, the little Astra is quite fast and handles quite well as a road car (for track use I'd recommend upgrading brakes and suspension). Also for the output the engine is quite fuel efficiency both in the city and the motorway. Regarding, comfort I find that it's good. Reliability is excellent too. The only negative comment that I have; is that due to the high performance the car goes through tyres very quickly.

[@JJonCars]

That really is a bargain :) I didn't realise Holden had a bad rep before it shut down. It's a shame all the same, similar to if the Vauxhall brand disappeared here. They don't have a bad rep as such but they are definitely known as cheaper cars. As you say, the Astra is a great product from such a company! Thanks for watching!

[@vkgiotis]

@@JJonCars You are welcome and thx for your great content!

[@anthonydeare7660]

I have the 1.4 SRI Turbo, had it 5 years now done 21000 and still drives/feels like new. no rattles/creaks and not a single problem. much better than my previous car Ford Focus

[@JJonCars]

Good to hear someone with same experience as me - very good build quality for sure.

[@alexkapinga2024]

1.4 Elite NAV Turbo Petrol, Great car! One thing about the engine.... it doesn't like regular unleaded (like E10) So whenever I top up, I have to look for a station that sells E5 petrol with a higher RON number (Octane number) like "Tesco Momentum 99" which is 99 RON. This is nothing to do with the new E10 rollout but more to do with the engine. If you use petrol with a lower octane rating like regular E10 unleaded (95 RON) The fuel is not stable enough for the high pressure environment of this particular engine. IT EVEN SUGGESTS IN THE VEHICLE'S MANUAL THAT HIGHER OCTANE FUEL IS PREFERRED. While you can still use regular petrol, the problem is when you're trying to accelerate e.g. when going up a ramp to merge onto a highway, the engine will start to stutter and make a loud clicking noise. This phenomenon is called LSPI or Low Speed Pre-Ignition where, due to the higher cylinder pressure under acceleration and while the turbo is boosting, the fuel ignites before the spark plug fires. This can eventually cause damage to engine components and generally feels horrible when it happens. To avoid this, look out for fuel that says 97 or 99 RON next to it. You can usually find it at petrol stations which give you more than 1 option for Unleaded. Most of the time it will be the E5 and they give it names like "Momentum" or "Ultimate" It is also recommended to use "Dexos 1 Generation 2" Engine Oil at service. Do these things and all will be fine. The manufacturer knows about this LSPI issue (I think it is inherent in small turbocharged engines like the 1.4 Turbo found in Astras like mine) The car community also know about this and a lot of owners of this car have pointed out this same thing. I even read that manufacturers program their car's ECU to detect an LSPI event and adjust certain engine parameters like ignition etc. in order to arrest the LSPI event. If this is the case, I think I can feel this happening when my engine does it. It feels like the car briefly reduces engine power to stop the LSPI when it happens but I'm not sure. Just thought I'd share this and hopefully save others from having to spend hours on google, puzzling over this strange thing that happens when they are driving. Other than this, I absolutely love my Astra. It is a great car! If anyone knows more about this and thinks I might have given any wrong information, please reply and correct any of my errors, Thanks!

[@JJonCars]

Interesting stuff Alex. I have heard about LSPI issues with the Astra (and other cars), but not had any issues myself. With the 1.6 I noticed they recommended the higher octane in the manual, so I tried a couple of tanks of it but it didn't appear to make any difference - no improved performance or economy, and I hadn't noticed with 95 RON any weird power loss or hesitance issues. Perhaps the 1.4 is more prone to the issue due to its smaller capacity.

[@Vellinga94]

I just bought one today, and I didn't feel it (the stuttering) on the testdrive, but after a longer drive I definitely felt it. Feels like I bought a broken car now. Are you sure Premium fuel and the other oil helps the problem?

[@yowhaatsup]

Do the 2019 1.4t have the lspi issues

[@alexkeel5121]

I bought this 2017 Astra K estate 1.6 diesel at the end of 2018 and I'm still very pleased with it. It has a spacious boot and lots of head and leg room for the rear seat passengers. Thankfully I don't have leather seats (too slippery for my liking). I find the (cloth) seats in my car very comfortable (well shaped and firm) and I have no problem in driving 4 hours or more without feeling the need to stop. This is by far the best Astra I've had (out of 4 models) and I hope to get another 7 or 8 years out of it.

[@shoaibahmed1618]

I'm looking to buy one and I'm seeing people say pistons are a common problem. Have you had any? Or are there any other problems?

[@alexkeel5121]

So far I've had no engine trouble at all. I bring it in for a service once a year and that's all.@@shoaibahmed1618

[@fn9six]

I've had the 1.4t elite for 5 months and it has the bells and whistles. There is a lot of road noise but I don't mind it. Its very quick, I have to watch my speed constantly😂

[@JJonCars]

Nice. I suspected that the 1.4T would feel quick too :)

[@originalno1087]

The 1.4 holds its own however read my post for what to watch out for. Happy driving😂

[@originalno1087]

Three problems with my 2017 astra after warranty ran out. Its fittex with double clutch system clutch peddle keeps sticking in the down position and even when parked for a while when i get in its already in the down position and i have to pump the clutch after lifting it back up for it to work as it should until it stays down again. I have been told to keep doing this until clutch has gone becasuse its very expensive to change the clutch. As i can still drive it and the clutch itself still good its a pain tho. 2. The plastic under tray located under the engine has become warped because of all them sleeping policemen on roads now days and even at slow speeds the noise it makes is embarrasing i am so tempted to take it off completely. 3. There is a problem with the infortainment system which many people are having an issue with after 3/5 years or after warranty has finished, wauxhall want an arm or a leg to fix easily could cost £500 to a £1k to fix properly. Unless you are persistent they will try to fob you off to the makers intellilink who will pass you back to vauxhall. Intellilink an american company have had a class action suit against them in the us for the same sytems issue and have replaced or fixed the systems free of charge. No such luck over here. Vauxhall are aware of this but unless you have bought thier costly extended warranty like me you have to put up with a dodgy black or flickering screen no good for sat nav or trying to change channels on radio. The last 30 years i have only bought Astras, this is the first time i am regretting it. Trying to see if i can get a 2nd hand touch screen and engine oil tray, then wait till clutch gets worse to get back to being happy with my Astra. You have been warned😢😢

[@spit421]

Nice review, I had a 136ps 1.6 diesel with the auto DSG on a 66 plate for just over two years as a company car and did 86k from the 20k it started at. I consistently achieved 60+mpg with a boot full of tools. Was a design model that had been upspeced to the bigger engine and auto box and I found the seats ok and I liked it a lot., (I now have a Hyundai hybrid that’s great on fuel but has a terrible build quality) I have just bought a 1.4 150ps auto elite Nav tourer on a late 68 plate, this does have the leather seats and they are indeed noticeably hard compared to the cloth I had in the hatchback and after a lot of different company cars it the only model I have since looked to buy.

[@JJonCars]

Thanks! Interesting that the Hyundai build quality feels worse. But then the Astra did feel really well put together to me. 66mpg would be pretty nice right now with those fuel prices!

[@michealalockley530]

Did you have any problems with the auto gearbox. I'm a new driver and debating between an astra and yaris hybrid

[@robertbaldwin177]

Have a 2017, 1.4T Elite Nav Sports Tourer (estate) Auto. Owned it 3 years and 21,000 miles now. No issues, well made, no rattles, pulls well, smooth 6 speed auto, swallows people and luggage, hard to fault it really, just doesn't look as good in estate guise IMO. If I crashed it tomorrow I'd buy another one though. Will the newer models under PSA/Stellantis compare as well to these end of the line GM ones?

[@JJonCars]

Problem with the new generation cars is they're all alike. Be it the Astra, or Peugeots or Citroens etc

[@1d2a3d4d5i6o]

I have the 1.6CDTI Elite Nav tourer 2016 with now 17,000 miles. bought it 3 months old with 3,600 miles. I bought this car as my touring car, for a couple of reasons 1. it does not have keyless entry, who in their right mind wants a car that can be stolen in 3 minutes. 2. It comes with a spare wheel. Who in their right mind wants to be stuck by the side of the road waiting for a breakdown vehicle to take you to an expensive tyre shop, that's if ones open, Driving on the M6 on Sunday the number of shredded tyres we counted must have been over 30 both cars and commercials. It seems on these smart motorways the safest thing to do if you get a flat is to carry on driving on it. On a visit to France a couple of years ago the car averaged around 72 mpg on a 1,500mile trip. I read up about the engine before I bought the car Renault were pushing it saying it was a state of the art engine the DPF filter is bolted to the manifold that helps prevent blockage as it warms up quick unlike other cars that block the DPF easily, The Range Rover EVOQUE being one because it was based on the old freelander chassis the DPF had to be put a long way from the engine. We are a 2 car family I have just ordered a new seat Leon as our run around petrol, of course!!. I love my Astra Tourer and cannot see a vehicle to replace it. When I fill up the tank it gives me a mileage reading of nearly 700 miles. I photograph the trip meter if I get a good read out , my best is on a 64.7 mile run at an average speed of 42.9 mph it read 78.1 mpg. (photo to prove it) I know these figures are approximate but it's not bad. Has anyone done any better.

[@JJonCars]

I completely agree with you on smart motorways, they are really scarily dangerous - I'd really not want to break down on one. The lack of spare wheel is also irritating, but a common thing these days. Mine just came with that sealant goop that ruins the tyre. That is some really impressive MPG! From my experience of getting 40mpg, the car trip computer was only out by 1, so it's probably quite accurate.

[@davewilson5463]

Great review I pick mine up weekend black one 👍👍

[@JJonCars]

Cheers Dave, enjoy the car!

[@davewilson5463]

Well picked car up a WOW cannot believe how quick it is absolutely love it 👍

[@minorearthmajorsky1476]

Great long term, review we had an Astra k similar to yours but black and it’s the 1.4 turbo it was great sadly we had to sell it because the clutch kept sticking which my mother didn’t like

[@JJonCars]

Thanks! That's a shame about the clutch. Interesting to hear about any issues these have as mine has been faultless

[@minorearthmajorsky1476]

@@JJonCars ours also had a creaky door arm, passenger side, which was a bit shoddy apart form that build quality was good, I wonder if you could update ur software to the latest one

[@minorearthmajorsky1476]

@@JJonCars the glovebox was huge of course, then again this is the only British built Vauxhall so they can choose to move the fusebox to the right and give us more space, I fear now the Astra might be built elsewhere the new generation would have a smaller one

[@JJonCars]

That's an interesting point about the glovebox I'd not considered. It remains be seen whether the new ownership of Vauxhall can mean good cars - I think this model of Astra will be the last 'true Astra' as the next ones will be Peugeots underneath! It's hard to keep track now though as Stellantis now owns Peugeot 😂

[@minorearthmajorsky1476]

@@JJonCars yes also meant to say fuse box to the right not glovebox*

[@51applesauce]

I own a 2016 tourer sports 1600 and your right about the seats they cause backache ! I now have thick foam cushion on the seat and a thinner one on the back for comfort otherwise a superb car xx

[@bastih.3236]

Thx for doing the two years "in depth" review. I'm owning the Astra K Facelift 147 HP, 225 Nm 3 Cylinder Petrol. Fuel consumption is between 40 to 48 miles per gallon. But first things first. I can totally agree to all you've said. The loudness level while driving at higher speeds really bothers me. My Astra "Ultimate" Trim (german market) comes with 18 " Alu wheels and Michelin tires. Crazy thing: I'm also familiar with the Astra K Diesel (driving them in my job frequently) and those never came up with this annoying roadnoise neither do they have that gearbox shifting issue which is obviously a persistent "problem" even to the facelifted installment of this car. And, suprisingly: those Diesel Astras came with the lower trim fabric seats which were a lot more comfortable than the leather/alcantara ones in my top level trim. It's quite disapointing for I took that experience at work for reference when making my buying decision. But don't get me wrong. All in all it's a pretty well build car with a pretty stylish in- and exterior. Got mine for round about 22.000 EUR and 4500 km with the new digital cockpit, revised front camera, matrix LED headlights, rear camera, semi autonomous parking assistent aaaand...that goddam heated backseats ;-))) I can't think of any other brand that offers such value for money. At least not until you are willing to drive a Dacia Sandero...but it's delaaaayed...anyway...greetings from Germany!!!!

[@JJonCars]

That's really interesting - I wonder then is it the higher specification cars that are louder at speed? Could be the sportier tyres they use. I did wonder if the cloth seats would be more comfortable. So it seems as though if you buy a high spec car you lose out on comfort and refinement, should be the other way around! I've seen one or two Ultimate spec here in the UK, they look really good, especially those alloy wheels. Thanks for the great comment!

[@yatese122]

I had one of these cars brand new loved it so much as so when I had to give it back I got another one

[@aaaaplay]

I just sold my 2017 Holden Astra RS-V (1.6T), I put 85,000km's (52,000 miles) on it. It was a great car, very spacious and surprisingly powerful. The only two things that went wrong was the Camshaft Seal and a coolant pipe leak, both were replaced under warranty. I replaced it with a Skoda Kamiq.

[@JJonCars]

Nice to hear about a Holden version, cheers for watching!

[@shaneharris2497]

that would be a downgrade with its 1.0 litre motor

[@aaaaplay]

@@shaneharris2497 I had the 1.5L Skoda Kamiq with the 110tsi.

[@meganjones7505]

Another great video 👍🏻

[@JJonCars]

Thanks! :)

[@TheLordcruiser]

I have the same car ( 1.6 ctdi) Elite trim, absolutely a wonderful car ❤️✌️,

[@JJonCars]

Glad you like it too :)

[@heyhey3887]

I remember having one of these as a company car and it was surprisingly quick! Although Vauxhall always struggle with torque steer. Lots of power but lacks refinement

[@peteg8920]

Thanks for a great review. You get to hear so much negative critic about Vauxhall/Opel its nice to hear someone who thinks they are a good buy. I live in Sweden and am looking to buy a Astra tourer k 1.6 turbo. I noticed that you can get them here with so called sport seats that are supposed to be ergonomically designed for comfort. They ought to be a better choice than the regular ones.

[@JJonCars]

Oh nice, the 1.6T Tourer would be a nice fast and practical car. I'd like the try the ergonomic seats out. Just seems like the leather ones are the uncomfortable ones (for me at least) Hopefully there will be a review soon(ish) of the sports tourer on this very channel :)

[@peteg8920]

@@JJonCars Look forward to it. I'm considering an automatic as they seem to have chosen a traditional 6 speed torque converter transmission.

[@StephenRandall-x6s]

Just commented on your Astra j video, this car has a few things that are lower quality/design from the Astra j, yes the leather seats in Elite are rock hard, the switch gear is cheaper(especially wiper/indicator stalks feel flimsy) heater controls straight out of the Peugeot parts bin as are the window switches. The boot not as practical as the car battery and one fuse box is under the boot carpet so no spare wheel well or storage I believe that if you wanted a spare wheel you had to buy a special shelf for it to sit underneath on top of the original carpet so therefore reducing boot space as the "floor" is now higher up! The rear seat bench sits at some strange steep angle so anyone with mobility issues may struggle to get out of it. No glove box light in any model I think. Even on the lower spec cars with smaller wheels and tyres the ride is still fidgety and firm. Think some earlier cars had issues with heated seat pads failing and engine issues on the smaller units to do with oil cons/spark plugs melting and piston issues.. Probably a result of turbo charging a tiny engine with smaller sumps etc and making them run alot hotter..

[@truthseeker8483]

Sound proofing the boot and under the bonnet makes it a sweet cruiser.......I love my 1.4T Auto..the engine is the best I have experienced in any car

[@JJonCars]

Yep definitely needs some sound proofing!

[@Sveinbeard]

Great review. I have that exact car though a 2018 model, bought second hand six months ago. I agree with everything you have said, apart from the uncomfortable seat. I don't find it that bad, and it does have adjustable lumbar support. My previous car was an Audi A4 2.4 sport, big and heavy. The Astra would eat for dinner in a race. All in all, a great car. I never set out to buy an Astra, I wanted an Audi A3 sportback. But having test driven the Astra, purely out of curiosity, it won...and several thousand pounds cheaper than a comparable A3.

[@JJonCars]

Thanks! :) You're not alone in the seats comfort, I think I have a 'special' back 😂 Glad you like the car though. I don't have the car anymore (it was on lease), and I do miss it. But I will hopefully be getting another one on the channel soon!

[@lowtonmatt6121]

Cracking video pal. Agree with you about the seats JJ. All Vauxhall seats that I've sat in over the last few years have seemed uncomfortable to me. One of the reasons I ditched my Insignia was because my back couldn't handle it!

[@JJonCars]

Thanks Matt! Strange they just can't seem to make a decent seat!

[@FireHawkGaming]

The newer ones carried over from PSA group are lovely though... did a 48 hour test drive in a Mokka E with the plush leather seats, did A LOT of driving in the car in the not quite 48 hours, covered about 200 miles in it (sorry Vauxhall... it had 100 miles on the clock when I picked it up!) and no issues with the seat at all!

[@superdario2425]

I seem to remember when I viewed one of these at launch, one of the options was some ergonomic seats, designed by some chiropractor or something! Wonder if thats why the standard seats were uncomfortable? Great review btw. I really like these but went for a Giulietta in the end.

[@jamessalmons3551]

@@superdario2425 AGR

[@originalno1087]

I have no problem with seats its just i keep hitting my head getting in and out the car.😅

[@MaxMustermann-ub9ih]

My Astra is also an 1.6 Turbo which is now 6 years old with 84000 km. I am very happy with the car. My only fault was the cracked diaphragm in the valve cover and a fault code from the right LED headlight. It was fixed by an software update. I missed the red ambient light from the Astra J around the gear frame, so I installed it and a illuminated glove compartment too. The maximum Power is reached at 4500rpm, maximum torque at 2000rpm.

[@JJonCars]

That's very reliable! Good work on the glovebox light, funny that Opel/Vauxhall got rid of that

[@kerryhughesgillard9906]

Just bought a astra k elite absolutely love it although I've only had it a week very comfortable I've got the 1.4 150bhp version very responsive more than fast enough for me not really had a chance to measure the fuel economy but the trip computer is saying 45mpg which I'm quite happy with, all in all very happy customer. I should point I previously had a astra j 2.0 cdti Sri which I loved but I think the k is a step up and as you say the handling is a real delight

[@JJonCars]

Brilliant. It's all in the lightness of the K vs the J, better economy, performance and handling. 150hp will still feel nice in that car :)

[@justinepalmer2519]

I have the Vauxhall Astra Sri Turbo 1.4 - not quite as nice a spec as yours, but most of them. I really love my car! Has the sporty feel to it.

[@norosoros891]

Thanks for a very indepth review I've just bought this car

[@JJonCars]

You're welcome. Enjoy the car :)

[@andycapewell498]

Hi I have a 68 plate 1.4 elite nav 150bhp same colour shame it doesn’t have parking sensors or reversing camera as it’s one of the higher spec models. Overall a fantastic car.

[@JJonCars]

Sounds identical (apart from -200cc). Bet the 1.4t is pretty pokey anyway!

[@MrPjred66]

Got some parking sensors on my 68 elite 1.6 turbo ...makes a big difference .

[@Clarkkentuk6]

I love my Astra K 1.6T Amazing spec, but like you said, it's a shame there isn't a rear parking camera and a 'Heated Windscreen', which is fitted to my son's Corsa SRi! Another niggle is that the electric folding door mirrors, dont fold automatically when you lock the car, you have to push a button, which is a pain, when you need to open the door onto a main road. I think Vauxhall are getting rid of (or already have) the 1.6T 200hp engine, which is a real shame! It's a powerful car!

[@JJonCars]

Yes, the folding door mirrors confused/annoyed me enough to make a separate video on them 😂 One thing about getting out into traffic though, what I do is get out the car and press the button before I shut the door - the button still works after the key is removed. Shame about the engine but I suppose they're using Peugeot-Citroen units now!

[@scottamartin2518]

Thank you for your 2-year ownership review! I own the 2017 model (bought new) which is very similar in many ways to the one you're driving in the video and I'm seriously considering buying the 2019 model because I'm not thrilled with the changes they made with the 2020 and 2021 models. As for the seats, they aren't bad, maybe a bit firm as you say, but I'm not used to plush, luxury car seats either. I *think* most sporty cars (and the Astra isn't exactly in this category!) have firm, less cushiony seats. But they say this 2016-2019 range Astra is quite good in every aspect. Thanks again!

[@JJonCars]

Thanks Scott! Yes the 2017 and '19 will be very similar. I guess only worth upgrading if you've done a lot of miles and want something lower mileage, or you want to get a higher trim level/different engine, otherwise you may as well stick with the 2017 :) It's particularly the leather seats that are firm, but plenty of people seem to get on with them ok, so could just be me 😄. Thanks for watching!

[@deltoid4]

I enjoyed the video. I have the 1.6 SRI version 197bhp. My car is black and when detailed up, looks beautiful. I've had compliments from passengers about the interior of my car. As for performance it gets a great reaction from any person in the passenger seat when I press sport mode and accelerate. Its fast enough to hold a head to a seat, but I find it very safe feeling. I have been looking at the possibility of stage 1 maps to the car, which can offer more performance in excess of 220bhp maybe a touch more and a decent amount more of torque. Its my favourite car I've ever owned. And affordable, compared to one of the big 4 car companies as I call them like (Audi,Bmw,Mercedes,Volkswagen) I find for a similar performance car you will pay an extra £100-£200 per month more. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a fun but safe car.

[@tomdodson6293]

Only thing that’s held me back from remapping mine is the m32 box is rated to 320 nm and stock 1.6t is pretty much on the limit of that :/ did you get it mapped?? Be interested to know if you had any issues or not like

[@FilipinoCzechfamily]

Hello JJ, I am a small youtuber, qnd I found your channel while searching a car to buy. I am living here in Manchester, UK. I am planning to buy a car (Astra) my budget is 14k. Any advice? Much appreciated.

[@JJonCars]

Hello fellow 'tuber :) I am in Derbyshire so not far from you. 14k is a really great budget for an Astra. I would recommend a 1.4T petrol Astra, 2019 model, and if you can, go for a high specification like SRi or Elite. The mileage will be low, 10,000 or 15,000 maybe and should have at least one service in the history book but ideally 2. And then I think you will have a very nice car! Let me know how you get on or if you have any more questions.

[@FilipinoCzechfamily]

@@JJonCars Wow. Thank you. I did not expect your reply to be honest. Hihi. Thank you for your help.

[@andywallace56]

Nice video and have to say your review is an honest one. I'm a December 2018 1.6T 200hp owner (from new) and have nothing but praise to lash on this car (except one point which I'll mention below.) I got mine pre registered and only paid 15K for it. If ordering one to spec it would have been 24K+ as advertised. Yes, it has some minor annoyances such as the windscreen washer capacity and lack of warning when empty, but that's all it is, a small annoyance. You build up a 'spidey sense', if you like, as to when it needs a refill. Performance-wise, its great and it does get you out of some tight spots quite easily. The ride IMO is impressive and the seats in mine are the same design but cloth covered. I find the comfort in the car is okay once you get your bum in the right position. I don't have the heated seat function you have in the Elite and find the cushioning quite soft so perhaps the leather covering, combined with the components of the heating element, is creating the extra firmness in yours. I would be happy to take mine on a long road trip. It's more comfortable than the previous SRi's I've owned. Regardless it's a car guaranteed to put a smile on your face each time you drive it. There's only one real issue I have with it: Turbo lag is terrible at times. For a short time the lag causes a whoosh feeling on the acceleration, but eventually sorts itself out, after a few miles of driving. It does irk me sometimes but other than that no other complaint. The dealer offered to trade me a new 1.4T on year 2 (2020) with cash back too, but I couldn't honestly downgrade to the smaller engine, so declined the offer. Still glad I did and I stand by my choice. I like the power of the 1.6T. I felt the 1.4T would just make me drive the car more aggressively to maintain the great feeling the 1.6 gives, which I know it could never. I do love the model, styling and drive. All-in-all a great car.

[@JJonCars]

I think you're right about the seats, and about the turbo lag! Though the lag didn't tend to bother me, except the time I got back into it after driving a Tesla Model S.... then it felt incredibly laggy haha. Absolutely the right choice, stick with that 1.6, it's the best engine in the Astra!

[@rael1999]

Thanks for the review JJ, much appreciated. It's got a lot going for it for the price. As I'm looking for a car at the moment I was really on board until you started to talk about comfort. Such a shame because let's face it for most people that's quite important especially on long journeys. I've never been a fan of totally leather seats anyway and it's something I know something about, as I've worked in the leather industry all my life. The amount of coating they have to put on automotive leather to make it pass all the high spec tests, like rub fastness etc means there is leather there, but you're not sat on it. Subsequently you tend to sweat in them in the summer and unless you have heated seats they're cold in winter. Mercedes (Oh and Volvo) seems to be one of the only manufactures to get it right using a mix of leather and fabric in their high specs cars. Perhaps the fabric seats in the Astra are better, have you ever tried them ? Some of the most comfy seats I've ever had in my cars over the years have been Renault, but you just can't buy a regular one that's a few years old with any poke in them any more. They're all nought to 60 mph in a lunch break. Another thing I find astonishing about the Astra is that even in the top spec you don't get front and rear parking sensors. Someone needs to drag them into the 21st Century.

[@JJonCars]

I've heard good things about the fabric seats, I think it might just be the leather ones that are uncomfortable (at least to me, and a few others have agreed, though not everyone, some people do actually like them!) Also with the highest spec Astra you can get these 'AGR' seats which are supposed to be very ergonomic and adjustable (and possibly therefore more comfortable). So I'd definitely not discount the Astra just yet. I'd agree about Mercedes and Volvo too. They do seem to do the best job with leather seats. I wonder if you might know - I have this suspicion that for more budget cars, like the Astra, the leather seats are made firm in order to protect the leather from being stretched and going saggy etc, that way the leather can be of a lower quality. Just a bit of a theory I have haha. Cheers for watching Rael!

[@rael1999]

@@JJonCars ...To be honest JJ I don't think that's the case. A lot of car upholstery, especially in the low and mid range cars will be made on lower quality hides, simply because of what I said about this this type of leather getting more coats of finish. This in itself firms the leather up and in general there'll be no problems with stretch. You can get problems with cracking of the leather and the finish, but that's only if the tanner doesn't get the tanning or finishing right, but that's rare these days. If anything the more softer, stretchy leather will go into the higher class cars where they're more likely to use nappa leather, but again it shouldn't be too much of a problem. As a finish designer myself who worked on leather for shoes, leathergoods and sports leathers it was frustrating watching them focus more and more on physical properties rather than the tactile more luxurious side in automotive leather. No doubt it will be some bloody committee somewhere asking for greater and greater physical properties which dictates what surface coatings you put on it. I'm not surprised that more and more synthetic leather copies are being used these days as you can't tell the bloody difference. You'll notice that they've even started perforating the leather in order to try and wick the sweat away when it's hot, that's because you're basically sitting on an almost plastic surface. Leather could be really beautiful and soft in cars if they finished it a lot more sympathetically. Yes it would mark and scratch easier, but it wouldn't half be more comfortable to sit in. Thanks for the heads up on the AGR seats, I did notice that there were more ergonomic seats in the higher range cars and in fabric too.

[@JJonCars]

@@rael1999 Well that's all fascinating stuff, thank you for sharing! The perforated leather is something I'd noticed but not thought too much about - though it to me does take away from the whole point of having a leather interior and the classy old school look. Modern leather doesn't really smell like leather either which is always a shame.

[@rael1999]

You're welcome JJ. Back in the day cars like the MG , Jag , Rolls Royce etc. used vegetable tanned leather which is a complete different ball game to chrome tanned, which is used in the majority of cars today. When you use to walk into a cobblers to get your shoes resoled that was the classic leather smell you'd get hitting you, because it was used for sole leather and still is today. Veg leather though comes with its issues. Lightfastness, cracking and fogging but you get that lovely smell and it ages beautifully. You see this in the classic old gentleman's 'club chairs' that it was used in. Royals Royce have actually gone back to using Veg leather in their cars because of the character and smell it brings not to mention the environmental angle, with it being less harmful to the environment.

[@excellentokeyexcellentokey3252]

Great car, I have Astra K turbo 2016 model with over 90k kilometres still no issues, the stability on highway is excellent 👌

[@JJonCars]

Oh that's good to hear that you've had no issues 👍

[@geow6100]

Watching 2024, I’ve had sri 1.4 turbo 2016 from new, only done 12500 still a great car to drive.

[@Ekz369]

Got an Astra k 1.4 turbo in black it's a pleasure to drive. I do agree with the cabin noise I'll be changing tyres in the summer hopefully that will help.

[@JJonCars]

Should definitely help!

[@jonsadventures4949]

I've averaged just over 40mpg over 10,000 miles since the end of January (2021) in my 2017 1.4T 150 SRI vx-line, great car love it. When you want to put your foot down it's great but it's also great utility wise, had 15 boxes of laminate floor in the back AND still had the power to overtake trucks.

[@JJonCars]

It's definitely a good all-rounder!

[@davidatherton7530]

15 plts I don't think so lol

[@NUMBRESOLD]

Did your piston break yet?

[@progbl]

Very good review. There is a misconception about Opel cars, this is my experience. I had the Opel Astra G 1.6 petrol with 650k kilometers on the clock, and later (still) H 1.8 petrol with 315k km (atm) on the clock. Both I used for my work thus the high mileage. I have to say those are good cars, cheap to maintain and to run since I fitted both with LPG. Never had any major issues with them. No car is perfect but for the for all the abuse I put them through, Astra G when I sold it it was still running great... H astra as well.... But I maintain my cars regularly. To be perfectly honest there was only one thing that annoyed me Is that both at some time started to loose oil.... More or less but this is common problem with I believe all petrol Opels of that era. Now slowly I'm looking into buying a younger car and of course it's going to be Astra K 1.6 with 200 BHP but sports tourer and the highest trim level innovation. Some would say big and ugly. Well I want the extra power and extra boot space. I'm 44 so I don't care anymore what other people think. I truly like it, and you can't beat the practicality of a estate car. I'm not going to use it for work like G and H, I'm going to enjoy this one. I hope 15k€ or so is going to be enough for a decent one with low mileage. Cheers everyone

[@JJonCars]

Thank you! I think a lot of Opel/Vauxhall unreliability is because people don't look after them because they are 'cheap cars'. So people don't service them and then they break, like any car would! You've reminded me of a quote I like: "When you’re 20, you care what everyone thinks, when you’re 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks and when you’re 60 - you realise no one was ever thinking about you in the first place" The Astra K with 200 bhp is an excellent car, you won't be disappointed I'm sure.