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Vauxhall Astra 2016 review

Hatchback Petrol

Vauxhall Astra 2016 — front three-quarter view

Overview

The 2016 Vauxhall Astra is the K generation — European Car of the Year 2016, built at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, and up to 200kg lighter than the Astra J it replaced. Launched in October 2015 from £15,295, the 2016 range ran Design, Tech Line, Energy, SRi and Elite (plus SRi Nav and Elite Nav), and our core car is the 1.4i Turbo 150PS in SRi trim — road-tested at £19,595 OTR in SRi Nav form, with the Elite at £20,695. This is the engine that defines the Astra K: a 1,399cc direct-injection turbo four with 150PS and 245Nm, good for 0–62mph in about 8.3 seconds and 134mph.

The numbers are strong for a 2016 family hatch: 51.4mpg combined on the NEDC test, 128g/km of CO2 (VED Band D, £110 a year), a 370-litre boot, a 48-litre tank and roughly 1,203kg on the scales. Kit was a class above: IntelliLux LED matrix headlights — a genuine first in the segment — OnStar with a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot from SRi, and a five-star Euro NCAP result from the 2015 test. One vital correction to a common listing error: Vauxhall's lifetime 100,000-mile warranty ENDED in January 2015, so a 2016 Astra carries the standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty. Any advert claiming otherwise is wrong.

The used-market watch list is specific. Manual cars suffer clutch judder and even pedals sticking to the floor — a hydraulic slave/master cylinder issue that prompted a Vauxhall recall campaign — so test the clutch bite carefully and repeatedly. Early six-speed automatics hesitate and jerk on shifts. Turbo boost-pressure faults and engine or gearbox oil leaks are flagged inspection points. None of this is terminal, but it is all negotiable: a 2016 1.4i Turbo SRi hatch changes hands at £5,595–£6,099, with the wider 2016 Astra market spanning £2,795–£7,995. Here's the contestable bit: the 1.4T 150 is the only Astra K engine worth seeking as a used buy — the 1.0 triple is too wheezy fully loaded and the 1.6 CDTi diesels are fleet-mileage cars with DPF baggage. Buy the turbo petrol, check the clutch like your money depends on it (it does), and you get a Car of the Year for supermini money.

UK price from: £19,595

Specifications

Engine	1.4L turbocharged petrol (1,399cc)
Power	150 PS (148 bhp)
Torque	245 Nm
0-62 mph	~8.3 seconds
Top speed	134 mph
Transmission	6-speed manual
Drive	Front-wheel drive
Fuel economy	51.4 mpg combined (NEDC-era)
CO2 emissions	128 g/km; VED Band D (£110/yr)
Boot space	370 litres (1,210L seats folded)
Kerb weight	~1,203 kg
Insurance group	17E
Euro NCAP	5 stars (2015 test)
Warranty	3 years / 60,000 miles (NOT lifetime)

Features

1.4-litre turbocharged petrol (150PS, 245Nm), 6-speed manual
~8.3-second 0–62mph, 134mph top speed
51.4mpg combined (NEDC-era), 128g/km CO2 — VED Band D (£110/yr)
370-litre boot (1,210L seats folded), 48-litre tank, ~1,203kg kerb weight
Trims: Design, Tech Line, Energy, SRi, Elite (+ Nav variants)
IntelliLux LED matrix headlights — class-first adaptive lighting
OnStar with 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and emergency response from SRi
Five-star Euro NCAP (2015 test); 3yr/60,000-mile warranty (NOT lifetime)

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (set)	£33.99	Pattern part; typical UK retail £28–£40
Oil filter	£9.99	Pattern part; typical UK retail £8–£12
Cabin pollen filter	£14.99	Pattern part; typical UK retail £12–£18
Front wiper blades (pair)	£19.99	Pattern part; typical UK retail £15–£25
12V battery (70Ah)	£99.99	Pattern part; typical UK retail £85–£120
Engine air filter	£14.99	Pattern part; typical UK retail £12–£18

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

European Car of the Year 2016 for £5,595–£6,099 used
Strong 150PS turbo performance with 51mpg official economy
IntelliLux matrix LEDs and OnStar — big-car tech in a family hatch
Up to 200kg lighter than the old Astra J; built at Ellesmere Port

Cons

Clutch judder and sticking pedals on manuals — check carefully (recall history)
Early automatics hesitate and jerk on shifts
Turbo boost faults and oil leaks are known inspection points
Lifetime-warranty claims on 2016 cars are WRONG — it's 3yr/60k miles

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Astra have Vauxhall's lifetime warranty?

No — and this is the single most common factual error in used adverts. Vauxhall's lifetime 100,000-mile warranty ended in January 2015, before the Astra K launched. A 2016 Astra carries the standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty when new. Any seller claiming lifetime cover on a 2016 car is mistaken (or worse).

What is the Astra K clutch judder problem?

Manual Astra Ks are widely reported to suffer clutch judder, and in some cases the clutch pedal sticks to the floor — a hydraulic slave/master cylinder issue that was subject to a Vauxhall recall campaign. On a test drive, work the clutch repeatedly from cold: feel for shudder on take-up and any change in pedal feel. Check the service history for recall work, and budget for a clutch if it has not been done.

Which 2016 Astra engine should I buy?

The 1.4i Turbo 150 petrol — it is the sweet spot of the range, with genuine pace (0–62mph in ~8.3 seconds) and 51.4mpg official economy. The 1.0 triple feels strained fully loaded, and the 1.6 CDTi diesels are ex-fleet cars that punish short-trip use with DPF trouble. Buy the turbo petrol with a manual gearbox.

What is the real-world mpg of the 1.4 Turbo 150?

The official NEDC figure is 51.4mpg combined. Owners typically see low-to-mid 40s in mixed driving and high 40s on a gentle motorway run. It is a perky engine that rewards a light right foot — drive it hard and you will see mid-30s.

How much is a 2016 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 Turbo worth?

Live dealer listings put 2016 1.4i Turbo SRi hatches at £5,595–£6,099, with the wider 2016 Astra market spanning £2,795–£7,995 depending on engine, trim and mileage. Cars with clutch recall work documented and full service history justify the top of the range.