The Vauxhall/Opel Astra K (B16 generation) marks a major turning point for the manufacturer. Voted 2016 European Car of the Year, it corrects the main flaw of its predecessor (the Astra J) by shedding up to 200 kg thanks to General Motors' new D2XX platform. More compact on the outside but more spacious on the inside, it introduced unprecedented technologies for the segment at the time, such as IntelliLux LED matrix headlights and AGR ergonomic seats. The 2019 facelift brought a whole new range of 3-cylinder engines (petrol and diesel) from GM development (and not PSA, despite the takeover of Opel/Vauxhall by PSA in 2017). It is a well-balanced, dynamic, and frugal compact car, but its mechanical reliability, particularly on certain pre-facelift diesels and petrols, requires increased vigi
The Vauxhall/Opel Astra K is a car full of intrinsic qualities: it is lightweight, pleasant to drive, very well equipped, and frugal. However, the reliability record is tarnished by costly design flaws. If you are looking for a diesel, the 1.6 CDTi is a risky bet due to its poorly placed timing chain and fragile clutch release bearing; favor a model whose chain has already been replaced with an invoice, or opt for the post-2019 1.5 Diesel. In petrol, avoid the 1.4 Turbos that have not been scrupulously maintained with Dexos 1 Gen 2 oil. The 1.0 Turbo (pre-2019) or 1.2 Turbo (post-2019) versions are the safest choices for peace of mind.