The Vauxhall Astra J stands the test of time
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- Опубліковано 29 кві 2022
- A full review of the 6th generation Opel/Vauxhall Astra (2009 - 2015). An 'everyman' car that does a lot of things for a lot of people - what is this higher seller like on the roads, 10 years on?
Car on review spec: 2011 1.4 SRi petrol (non-turbo / naturally aspirated)
Also known as the Holden Astra.
#astraj #vauxhallastra #opelastra
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Vauxhall back in 2006 - 2013 actually made really good cars, that still only look 3 or 4 years old even when they're 14 years old. My Mum's Corsa runs so quietly it's like it's brand new, the seats are really comfy & it feels well built. I've never understood why people dismiss Vauxhall/Opel cars when Audi's for example have plastic interior trim peeling off at a similar age.
Vauxhall just assembled rebadged Opel's.
Vauxhall hasn't designed engineered or manufactured a vehicle independently since the original Viva.
@@williamegler8771 Er the Astra was until earlier in 2022 built in the UK as was the Combo van. Only the Corsa and Insignia are built in Germany.
@@williamegler8771 Think that's common knowledge, we use the terms Vauxhall and Opel pretty much interchangeably in the UK. I'm not sure why they kept the Vauxhall brand name in the UK, probably because just it was one that everyone is familiar with.
Me too - still got a 2011 Insignia estate, it's been an amazing car. I've driven several cars much newer than it and are supposedly more prestigious like Volvo estates, and they're inferior in my opinion. Even now, it's got some signs of wear and tear obviously but other than that is as good as new. Looks good inside and out, drives really well.
I've got a 14 plate elite 2.0cdti. Done almost 100k miles in 7 years. Brilliant car to drive and cannot fault it. 👌
my dad just bought a 2015 facelift version of this car. i was surprised how well the design has held up today, especially from the front. It’s quiet and great to drive
Another brilliant review from JJ always informative and interesting ❤️
Cheers Tony!
Nice to see a honest review of a opel/vauxhall…sick of hearing the same old crap about cheap plastic this and complete slating of the brand..I currently own a 13 reg astra elite 2.0l 165 bhp,full leather etc…..good on fuel,comfortable and enough power to surprise a few people,I love it but I don’t think I’ll be buying a Peugeot in vauxhall clothing in the future
I have the 1,4 turbo with 120 hp for 6 years now. I got it used back in 2017 and it is a 2012 model. Your review is really spot on about this car. It is a pleasant car to drive, really comfortable and trust worthy on the road. It is a heavy car so the 1.4 120 - 140 hp motors are just about right. The version you drive is a little underpowered. The only bad thing is the manual gearbox, it is not smooth enough and it can go wrong resulting a costly repair. Apart from that, it has a look that still looks nice today and on the road it is so much better than the new fiesta my wife got. Sure it is a different class but it still means something. Cruising at 100 - 140 kph is the sweet spot for this car, you can cover a distance and it won't tire you.
Fairly new subscriber here. I bought last year this Astra 2015 plate with over 84k. I was so impressed with the condition of it , both inside and out , very comfortable and nice to drive , that i was sold. Nearly one year later and with just under 90k , still feels as good as before. Agree with the engine 1.4 , not the fastest (1.6 not much better) , so you have to be patient 😅Overall a good affordable and reliable car. Keep up the good work 👍👍
Thanks, and good to have you aboard!
Nice video. Had a 1.6 petrol non turbo SRi Astra J for 4 yrs. Felt a bit heavy and sluggish for a 1.6, not an exciting drive but comfortable long-distance cruiser. Seats were very comfortable and driving position excellent and was well put together and never gave me any trouble. Interior did feel a bit more premium than some of its rivals. Mine was a pre registered car that I picked up for peanuts relative to list price and it turned out to be a good reliable buy. I liked it so much I traded it in for it's sportier GTC cousin which was equally comfortable with very similar interior and seats but was a much more engaging drive.
Thanks Friendly Horse UK, good to hear from you! Sounds like we're in agreement. I really want to try out a GTC at some point :)
@@JJonCars mines a 2017 , 1.4T (140) SRi. It's been a good car and while the engine is smooth , it's quite a big heavy car and the performance is more adequate than exciting. I wish I'd got the 1.6 petrol turbo. According to the brochure it does 0 to 60 in 9 seconds but it feels a bit slower than that in real life. The best thing about it is the handling and grip. It goes round corners like glue. Really well planted. Apparently the GTC has a completely different front suspension setup to the 5 door and has a hiper strut system taken from the Insignia vxr. You'd have to be a really bad driver to lose control of it. I stuck with the standard 18-inch wheels which give a better ride quality than the bigger 20 inchers they put on some models. It's surprisingly comfortable. Worst thing is the huge doors which means you can't park up against another car in a car park or you won't get in or out without putting your back out. I think I live a long way from you, on the south coast, otherwise you'd be welcome to try mine out.
Thanks for your reviews! I owned an Astra J 1.6 petrol for 3.5 years and currently own an Astra K 1.4T petrol. I find the engine on the K superior, probably helped out by the less weight. However, I found the Astra J to have better build quality overall. It just felt more solid in pretty much all respects. The seats were also more comfortable and supportive. it felt more planted on the motorway. I do miss the J in many areas but overall I prefer the interior and exterior styling and performance of the K.
I think the K seems like a case of two steps forward and one step back :)
How was your Astra J 1.6 on fuel ??
@@yusufknowsit7674 it was fine really. I'd get just over 40 MPG on the motorway,. About 38 in my daily driving
what RPM would you get on the astra J 1.6 at 70mph??
@@manveersingh1971 off the top of my head I can't remember exactly. Somewhere between 2,300-500
Another great review JJ👍
Thanks Stephen :)
Great review JJ(s)!
Cheers Gary!
Thanks for a video on quite literally the same car as mine, engine, trim, colour, alloys haha. Couple of things in favour of the 1.4, a lot less to go wrong than the turbo Astras, access is fantastic given the teeny block in a big engine bay, and it’s chain driven unlike the 1.6 and the diesels. Bought mine with higher mileage than yours as my budget was limited, but has been serviced on the button every year and hopefully will be reliable for a good while yet. Enjoyed the video 👍
Haha nice one Craig! You're totally right about the engine that it should be more reliable. Some of these modern turbo engines are not so great for reliability. I think as you've serviced it properly, it should go for many more miles. Happy motoring, and thanks :)
what was the mileage when you bought the car ? and whats the current mileage ? any issues so far ?thanks. I just bought one with 130k and it drives ok but had a exhaust leak minor in the front
@@salam7376 I bought it at 101,000 miles, it ran nearly perfectly other than one instance where a check engine light came up in heavy rain. Deleted it with a code reader and it never came back. Sadly a few months ago the car was written off in an accident, but I’m sure it would have carried on for a good few years yet.
Nice solid dependable car. Great review 👍👍
Cheers Nigel!
I have had 3 of these, 1.6 elite petrol, 1.6cdti gt tech line and I now have a 2.0cdti sri, great solid cars, mines in 119k and doesn't have any wear and tear except for the heated steering wheel
I own Opel Astra J 1.6 16V naturally aspirated gasoline engine, and also in sedan version for over a year. My Astra is 2015, last year before Astra K. Overall I am very happy with the car. Engine is sluggish and thirsty, but cheap maintanance, cheap parts, overall reliability, quite and refined engine, great equipment, very spacious and comfortable. I would always recommend Opel/Vauxhall Astra as a used car. I really can't complain about it. Trunk boot is really big 460 liters, rear seats has lot of space for knees, head etc. For drivers who are looking for a solid, well built and quiet relaxing family car, Astra J Sedan is pretty good car.
Thanks for the review! I have had my 2012 Opel Astra J for five years now and it has been pretty reliable since (now sitting at 147000km/91000 miles). I have the 1.4 turbo (140hp) and this engine fits the car perfectly in my opinion, especially since I do most of my driving on the autobahn. Maintenance wise there have been a few expensive repairs like the waterpump, or the manual gearbox, which started making noises at around 39000 miles. Apart from that I still like my Astra J and find it to be a rather handsome car, even today.
That's good, I'm hearing a lot of good stuff about the reliability of the Astra :)
Hey man, do you recommend it as a first car? I’m trying to save up for this car but I’m worried that it has reliability issues and that’s a big issue for a high school student like me because I’m not sure if I’ll be able to afford lot of repairs.
@@Fantomyy Hi , as this was and still is my first car, I would definitely recommend it. However be aware that with higher mileage and age there will be some more expensive repairs.My astra has about 180000 km now and it has been totally reliable but the 1.4 Turbo has a few annoying issues you will need to look out for, the cooling system in particular, which tends to always leak a little bit . and I have also had a oil leak which was rather expensive to fix. So you should have a few spare Euros available, and check the coolant level regularly, at least with the 1,4t :) apart from that I really still enjoy my astra
@dominikt4438 thx man I really appreciate it. I am hopefully planning to get one this summer to drive and have some fun with it. Reliability came to my mind because I met many guys around the same age as me, just owning a car cost them alot. When I saw this car I absolutely loved how it looked and the specs are just perfect for me.
@@dominikt4438 spot on. The cooling system's water pipes fail after the first 10 years and need replacement. Thats not a costly repair as they fail one at a time. The major cost is the manual transimition. A lot of these trans fail around 100.000 km and it would set you back some hundrends of euros. This transmition went to corsa's, alfa romeo's and other cars and all have a high fail rate.
A sweet Geek! Subscribed
Bought my astra J two weeks ago. Lovely little car to pop to work with.
Nice one, good to hear you like the car :)
Another enjoyable video JJ. Would certainly recommend test driving the Astra GTC. Had an SRi 1.4 Turbo petrol for a couple of years. Great build quality, extremely comfortable to drive and the handling was superb. Only downside were the enormous doors and it certainly was a heavy beast. Changed it last year for an Astra K 1.4 SRi petrol VX Line. Really happy with it and so much lighter to drive although build quality not so good in my opinion.
Cheers Edward! Would love to get a GTC on the channel one day.
I've owned a GTC VXR in Arden blue since 2018....I love it
I own a GTC. The only snag I find are the doors filling up with water. The lowest part of the doors are at the front but the drain holes are at the rear of the doors. This is true of the Astra as well (H, J and K).
I had thought of drilling holes in the front of the doors but I park it with the nose facing uphill on my drive, which helps.
great review ive got astra j 2.0 cdti elite 13 reg 165hp never let me down in 5 years great cars
That's a healthy amount of power, should help shift the car well. Good to hear it's been reliable :)
@@JJonCars I have the same one, same year.
They aren't as quick as you would think tbh. Decent when they get going. Lots of power on motorway.
But feel held back around town. Not particularly nippy but come alive over 60mph.
I have a Astra Active 2012 Limited Edition silver colour with 18 inch wheels black colour, original from factory, I would not change for a new car, I just love it. Got it with 8000 and after 7 years it is with 49000 so still after 12 years still driving great,
Got mine (11 plate 2.0cdti manual 5dr sri nav) in 2012 with 6k miles. Still going with 164k miles, one new clutch at 160k, one new fuel rail 140k and locking fuel cap. Other than that, tyres, servicing, brakes. Its still a great car, just have lots of stone chips from mostly motorway driving in 6th gear.
Impressive reliability :)
I had Astra J 1.6 SRI and I pretty much agree with your assessment. The 1.6 was slow and thirsty, which was probably down to the weight. But it handled and rode really well, just as good as Focus' I have driven. My biggest compliant was the physical size, it is huge and the shallow windows and fat bottom made it really difficult to park. Sadly I wrote it off but I can confirm it is very good in a crash.
I replaced it with a Mokka 1. 4 turbo 4x4 SE .I can imagine that engine would really suit the Astra J as it is a torquey punchy unit. My Mokka has the adaptive headlights with main beam assist and they are fabulous, particularly on dark country roads in North Yorkshire where I live. The superbly comfortable heated seats and steering wheel are lovely too. Only the small boot and road noise let's it down. The 18 inch wheels might be responsible for the latter however.
Great :) It's good to know that they are as safe as EuroNCAP said they were! I like the Mokka, it's a happy little car. And 4x4 and all that spec is quite rare.
best Astra J (retro-) review ever...EVER!!!!!
Thanks Basti! 😁
Thanks for another good video.👍I have owned two Astra Js, and I agree that the weight of the car makes it feel very well planted and gives it a good ride quality. The 1.6 turbo petrol engine gave decent but not exiting performance, but was a little thirsty. I think the 1.6 turbo was a good engine choice for a low mileage driver, with the purchase cost being less than any of the diesel variants. Given that, it's surprising how few they sold with this engine. I test drove the 2.0 diesel version and found that to be quick but too noisy.
Cheers David. I think the 1.6 turbo petrol would be my choice :)
@@JJonCars For me, the Astra K has the edge over the J.
I have also owned a K 1.4T 150, which was much livelier and more economical than the J 1.6T 180 (both petrol).
The K 1.6T 200 which you had must have been good fun to drive!
I do agree with all of this. I love my 2013 Sports Tourer. I only bought it because it came up locally and was cheap. It's taken me down to Spain and back three times, and has cost pennies to run day to day. Apart from a broken rear spring which came up on an MOT, the only money I've needed to spend has been on consumables. It isn't powerful, not with the 1.7 diesel, but it's economical and good for what it is, the torque is in the right place for overtaking. The handling is good, although it could do with a bit more feel. One surprising thing is the road-holding, and I noticed that often Top Gear would remark about the grip of their "Reasonably Priced Car" Astra J. If the mood takes you, you can really hustle it along. The original owner specced 17 inch wheels, and I've treated it to a set of Michelins all around. I've got a 2003 Cooper S as well, and of course that's much quicker and more agile, but in terms of sheer mechanical grip the Astra isn't far short,
Yeah, so, like I said, I love my Astra J
I'd forgotten that TG had one as the reasonably priced car! That generation of Cooper S is coming soon on the channel :)
Great review! I have had a 2011 1.6t Astra for four years now and I quite like it. It’s a great allrounder which drives well both on highways and in town. It’s a decent size, mine is fairly brisk and I love the bi-xenon headlamps, especially the curve feature. Looks great too, non-car people think it’s way younger than 13 years old.
I dislike the seat though, but I’m spoiled since my previous car was a SAAB. The Astra is also pretty heavy, so fuel consumption is only alright. Reliability so far has been average but on the whole I like it and plan on keeping it a few more years.
You've spoiled yourself with that comfy Saab seat haha.
Pretty cool to have bi-xenon headlights in an Astra J. Nice spec.
Have a 1.6t sidi 200hp GTC. 7 years old never gone wrong, nice to drive, decent power engine & pretty. Noice
Very nice! And I'm pleased to hear it's been reliable.
Recently bought a 62 plate SRI 1.6 petrol just over 50k mileage and well looked after. Had one as a courtesy car after somebody wrote off my old car (they forgot how to give way at a roundabout and crashed into the side of my old car). Was pretty impressed with the courtesy car Astra I had for a few weeks so I decided to go out and buy one. Decent car for a small motorway then into a town centre commute everyday. Don’t get me wrong they’re no Ferrari but I find the Astra Js tend to do their job well and are pretty comfortable for an everyday driver.
Funny how people seem to forget about the whole giving way at a roundabout thing 😂
That commute sounds exactly right for the car :)
How was your 1.6 on fuel ?
@@yusufknowsit7674 recently drove Southampton to Manchester. Each direction I had a full tank when I set off. Only just over half a tank used each direction. So not to bad at all.
I’ve got the SRi, 1.6 litre petrol version and honestly your review would be pretty much identical to yours JJ (apart from the performance mine can fly😅) I love everything about it but what I wish they would have done is make the general car care easier for example replacing headlights is a horror!😂😂 but honestly this is a spot on review mate!
Thanks Edy, glad you agree!
I have a 2015 astra J elite and its my first car and its wonderful, the elite version has power folding mirrors heated seats full leather full electric windows lumbar support ambient lighting its amazing. Great cruiser
Great first car 👍
I have a 2012 1,4T Astra J, been in my family since 2014 and I just bought it from my parents this year.
It's a great car, for its size it's surprisingly nice on the motorway as well due to the 6 speed manual, where the sixth speed let's you go quite fast without the engine getting loud. My previous car was a 2003 Golf with a 5 speed manual, it was not very nice on the motorway as at 120 kph the engine was running at 4000 RPM even in fifth. The Astra could do 4000 RPM at 120 in fourth, and it has two more gears after that! One thing to note about the sixth gear though is that you need to go quite fast before you can really use it, the national speed limit here is 80 kph and at that speed you really need to downshift into fifth in moderately steep uphills, which can be annoying. But at 100 or 120 kph the sixth gear is lovely.
It has had very few issues so far in its whole history, it had a major (1500€) transmission job done at 70k but that's about it. The only real problem, that seems to be common among these cars, is the seat heating mat breaking. The driver's seat mat was already replaced once in I believe 2017 and it's currently broken again, been for something like two years. It's not a big deal though since it still works, it just overheats on 3 bars and turns itself off in 5 or so minutes. But it heats just fine, I'm not going to get it replaced anytime soon as it is quite expensive and would probably break again in a few years.
Mine is also quite bare bones like yours in the video, it doesn't have automatic A/C or the fancier infotainment system, but it does have electric windows in the rear too. And, my favorite thing about it, the steering wheel heater! In cold Finnish winters it's a marvel, it actually heats the wheel super quickly, allowing you to drive it without gloves. If you turn it on when you start the car, by the time you're done scraping the ice off of it, the wheel is nice and warm already. And while I'm talking about cold winters, I do have to mention that it's great having a car that is reliable to start even in extremely cold temperatures. I've had to cold start it a couple of times without pre-heating the engine in temperatures of -30°C, and not once has it needed more than one attempt to start.
Overall I'm super happy with the car, the only cons I can think of are the seat heater issues, moderately high fuel consumption for its size when driving very short trips of 1-5km, it might consume up to 9 l/100km, and even on country road travel it can only go below 6 l/100km with the A/C off, so only in the winter. The sound system is also mediocre, if I recall correctly my parents had the speakers on it upgraded when they bought it in 2014 but it didn't help at all, the bottleneck seems to be the radio unit. I might look into changing it along with the infotainment system, but I haven't checked the prices, I'm not going to spend four figures on that.
Hey there I was lucky enough to get an Astra J 1.4 Turbo - 2014, with the 6 spd manual with 13000 km on it, from a dealer! Now 2years later and on 75000km, I agree that its a relaxing car, and yes the clutch I also find a bit stiff. Mine is the Essentia, so everything black no sliver highlights inside. Overall an amazing car!
Nice one, the 1.4T is a great choice of engine for the Astra. That's really low KMs. Has it been reliable up to 75000?
Got one now, and I love it. For this pensioner. A 2011 16. Petrol
Nice one Peter 👍
I've recently just purchased an Astra J. The 1.4 petrol turbo model on a 63 plate. My only gripe is the boot space and H/P which I miss from my 2010 model Santa Fe. But, the rest of the car I love. Having previously had 3 Astra H's and loved them. Then getting this J model, I'm smiling again
Nice to be back in a car you enjoy!
I have a 62 reg 1.7 cdti. Great car use it every day and tow a caravan on hols.
Great video JJ ! I had a Astra j 2.0 cdti SRi absolutely loved it I now have a astra k 1.4 150 elite, I would say the j felt that little more solid in its ride and perhaps had the slight edge on quality, for example my k has done 51,000 miles and already the leather is pealing off the top half of the steering wheel never experienced anything like that on the j, the k also seems a bit more rattly over bumps. But where the k wins some points back for me is in its handling and also it's styling it definitely looks a fair bit sharper in my opinion.
Thank you! I think it helped the solid feel that the J was heavier, where's the K is lighter and more nimble :)
I couldnt agree more with the entire review, its bang on the money. Mine is a 2112 - J model Astra 1.6 Estate (Tourer) too. Its never had an advisory on the MOT yet it has done 112,000. It is a heavy car but the steering and brake tech more than cover this. best brakes ever. Inside its a quality feel, what you would expect from a much more expensive car. I also have the 'liquid Platinam' dash and door trim. It has no sat nav so good job my phone does. The exterior is easy on the eye also. Since owning it Ive only bought a new ignition power pack, otherwise its been no problem at all, sweet sounding engine, though it needs another 200cc, faultless geerbox, smoot ride. Over all 9/10. Plus Vauxhall parts are common and reasonable. Class 12 insurance and £190 Road Tax. 45 mpg so fairly cheap to run for a big heavy car. Im usually lucky buying cars, and this one was defo no exception.
That's great, good to hear it has been reliable.
'Liquid Platinum', had no idea it was called that, probably a bit much as 'Silver' would have done but I do enjoy some of the colour names Vauxhall come out with - my Astras official colour was 'the Greyfather' haha.
Keep hold of it for as long as you can, as your luck for buying good cars might run out eventually (it did for me lol) 😄
I have just purchased my partner a 2015 2.0cdti sri with the nice vx line styling, plenty of power, we came from a pre facelift astra j 1.6 petrol and it was a struggle driving that thing up hills and on motorways
Very nice. I think the diesel engines are much better suited to this generation of Astra. Imagine what the 1.4 feels like haha
Hi I am looking to buy Astra. But confused between 1.4 and 1.6. can someone give good and bad about both engine. In terms of fuel consumption how much both cars can give. What is the used car fair price in market. When should we change timing kit in both engines
I regretfully am moving on my 2015 Astra J SRi 1.6 non turbo hatchback. I need an estate and more space so moving onto a K Sports Tourer.
Although the 1.6na is heavy and not the quickest, my goodness you have reliability in spades. That engine essentially dates back to the 90s so solid and parts a plenty. Super comfortable in SRi spec. Well equipped too.
Owned for 3 years and I have had Astras back to the Astra F, it was the best for me. Hope the K will be good to me……
You will find the K to be a bit more nimble and lighter on its feet. And I really like the Ks interior. Fingers crossed for you the reliability will be ok!
Visibility good?? I have one and the top eyeliner of the windscreen it too low. If you pull up to a traffic light too close, you have to bend down to see it. Anyone else think that the full steering lock is about half a turn short compared to other cars? I have to line the car up to do a u turn.
I’ve brought and sold over 20 of these Astra J’s common problems are BCM and steering motor which needs programming when replacing. But a good seller.
Nice one - that's good to know
a bit late to this review but here goes. bought an astra j 2.0 cdti 5 yrs ago and its at 115000 miles, been totally reliable just consumables and 2 rear springs, high 50's mpg and still very solid plenty of torque. its my workhorse car for commute, tip runs and shopping car parks but intend to keep it at long as it stays reliable. been told it is the best engine? had plenty of cars but this has been the best value for money by far.
Never too late to the reviews :) I'm always glad to hear about Vauxhall reliability - I think a lot of the time the cars that are unreliable have been run on a shoe-string and neglected. And that leads to people blaming the cars.
Can't say to whether it's the best engine, but it's definitely a well suited engine to this Astra - torquey big diesel to help move the extra weight and give you some fuel economy.
Quite late, but I bought a 2013 GTC two years ago and I loved it so much I bought a 2012 OPC this year because the 1.4LT didn't quite have enough poke. I was finding myself in sketchy situations without enough power on the highway.
They're both brilliant, i've had some dramas with the 1.4LT but it was just maintenance the previous owner didn't do and passed on to the next owner (New valve cover, new throttle manifold). The only issue it has now is a wiring harness problem where the start stop doesn't work and I get a U1516 error code, it yells at me to get it serviced every time I turn it on. Biggest issue with that is I can't figure it out on my own, no one on forums knows either and Holden themselves have absolutely zero clue too. My OPC has an issue with the F40 gearbox, second gear pops out. Its a common problem but one to be aware of and this ones start stop does actually work. Otherwise its in mechanically good shape. Probably needs a clutch tho.
The coupe feels really cool, has a real sports car vibe to the interior despite being a mid-range hatch. The GTC rides a bit high for my liking for such a low roofline, the OPC's seats fix that a fair bit. Its a wonderful highway cruiser, really comfortable with a decent ride. Chassis wise the thing that surprised me the most is that compared to a Holden Cruze of the same year the GTC's front end is so much more reactive to your inputs, it doesn't wash out anywhere near as much. Mid range torque one the 1.4LT is quite decent, initial pick up is a bit slow though, the 2.0LT in the OPC fixes all of that.
The GTC had a really easy engine to work on, I've done all the maintenance in the last two years myself. Very roomy to get tools in and around. Haven't had to do anything on the OPC yet. My GTC only has 75k km on it, with my OPC just ticking over 100k km. GTC has a crack all the way through the front facia that only really stands out on the silver bits but other than that wear in general is really really good, not even the soft touch plastics have rubbed off around the power window controls. One thing to keep in mind with the coupe style is that the doors are extremely wide, so getting in and out of tight spaces can be a bit of a bother.
All in all I'd highly recommend one of these as a budget "upgrade" car for people still driving things from the 00's. That said given the car market here "budget" might mean different things to different people but all in all, I'd buy these cars again. GTC will be going up for sale later this year.
Awesome. I have to say I'd not heard of the OPC - and its because here they're called VXR. I really do love a fast Vauxhall/Opel/Holden, they're such underrated cool cars and must be a huge difference coming from the 1.4T. Thanks for all the info :) I really want to get a GTC on here at some point.
@@JJonCars I already have an Evo so its not like Im unused to the speed lol, but it definitely has more poke than you'd expect. I just need to fix the transmission so I can finally actually give it the beans.
The other thing that was uncanny was that the OPC, despite stiffer suspension, generally rides better overall. Its something I noticed in the Toyota 86 as well, they're surprisingly pliable and then stiff when you want them to be.
Thanks for the review, question do all the models have parking reverse sensors?
No probs! They don't all have reversing sensors, that would have been an optional item :)
I have a 2011 2.0 CDTI 165bhp Elite, it has 95% of the extras available at the time including; Xenon adaptive headlights with curve control, satnav, heated leather seats, cruise control, welcome lighting, auto on/off headlights with auto dipping, automatic windscreen wipers with rainsense, adaptive radio volume, front and rear parking sensors and one or two things I can't recall. For the money they are a great car to drive.
Wow! I think that is quite possibly a very rare car to have all those options. Good to actually hear of one in the wild haha. An executive car without anyone knowing or realising :)
I recently got saloon one (2014 model, I'm second owner) with 1.6 (non turbo) petrol and the 6 speed auto. It feels heavy, relaxed, classy and quiet, if you stay on lower speeds. It feels out of place on the highway with 120-140 km/h where the wind noise it a lot and the engine just struggles to keep up with only 2 passengers and their luggage. But there isn't one journey I had with it that I'll describe as interesting. It gets from A to B in trying to be classy manner but forget about any excitement or feedback from the car. Also it eats a fuel like some warm hatch while being slower than your average econobox so if anyone is thinking about buying one and comes across this video, do keep that in mind and maybe get the 1.4T if you find one in good condition.
You've summed it up well there 👍
The thinking behind the dash backlighting is that red is supposed to to keep you more alert at night than other calmer colours.
Ah yes, perhaps it does. I also appreciate it as red is easier on the eyes in the dark (blue light is bad for the circadian rhythm and all that)
My 2011 J 1.4t is a hand-me-down from my mom with 55k miles and pretty much pristine, good feeling car and seems damn sturdy. The MPG for some reason is not very good, on 6th gear highway driving at 70mph i get roughly 34 uk mpg. Also on stock 16inch all seasons the car had pretty sluggish steering and bad wet stability, i got new 17inch rims and fresh set of michelin cc2’s and put in 15% air higher pressure then standard and that really transformed the car for better. It feels much lighter!
That does sound very low for a steady motorway run. I know the Astra is heavy but I'm sure you should get more than 34 if it was running right :)
Just got a 2.0 cdti and its really quick.
I cant get the menu up so it tells me digitally how fast im going . How do i get it up ?
Great review as always JJ. These astras are very nice cars from 2010 going forward I wasnt fan of the older one before this one it just looked very bland in my opinion. Do you know if these are reliable at all?
Cheers Dan! Agreed that this one is a better looker than the previous model. I believe they are reliable if looked after - main issue seems to be with the diesels and the DPF (which is the case for most modern diesels)
@@JJonCars Thanks for the info. I think alot of the reason why people go on about the DPF on diesel engines is because they don't build up the revs enough, they drive them like a petrol car and soot builds up in the DPF. If the revs are brought up in each gear it clears it out, theres no need to go to the highest gear as soon as possible. I didn't bring up the revs enough in my 1.6tdci focus and the engine started sound bad like it was choking so I took it out for a spin about 20 minutes or so with the revs fairly high and it fixed the problem straight away. Never had problem with the dpf in diesel
@@DJGamesHD True true! Diesels just need a good old 'Italian Tuneup' now and again :)
Just watching you work the gearstick there it looked like it just fell into place how you might like it to. I have a gtc and something that's always niggled me a lot of how it shifts. As you go into your desired gear notch you hit this wall of resistance you've got to push through. It's a brief thing but it just makes it feel like two thumps to getting into gear if you get what I mean. Did the astra you're driving feel that way at all?
That's interesting. You're right that it did feel pretty good - not putting up the resistance you mention. Perhaps it's the 5-speed, guessing your GTC is 6? The Astra K I had, had that feeling of a wall of resistance - only a little bit, but was a bit in contrast with the otherwise really good driving experience. Vauxhall gearboxes seem to be all over the place haha
@@JJonCars yeah it is the 6 being the 2.0 tdi. Yeah I think the gearboxes are nasty. I once had a mokka (awful car) as a hire car for a couple of weeks and that shifted like crap too. I really dislike the shape of the gearstick, it's okay when pushing it forwards but when you pull it into 2nd 4th and 6th the pointed end presses into your palm and just isn't a pleasurable feeling. Not to mention it's left standing to attention looking like a lass's vibrator
Wish they'd sort them out. Nice and slick like a Ford or vw and round as is the sensible shape for max comfort and usability
had a 1.6 astra j elite for a year and a bit was lush to drive but too slow for my liking was tagging it everywhere but wasn’t quick enough motorways were a dream thought (loved the cruise at 110🤣)
shame thought that bluetooth was an option on the elite considering it’s too spec
Ah yeah - just count yourself lucky you didn't have the 1.4 😄
I noticed that with the Elite trim on the K, they give you a few nice things, but then it's surprising what comes as an option.
To answer your question about the tech. The lights make driving at night an absolute pleasure compared to cars that do not have the same tech, being able to see into a corner and the high beam assist make a world of difference. I think there are more than six modes depending on the type of road and speed which are automaticaly selected to provide optimal vision at all times.
The model I have also has adaptive suspension which automatically changes from comfort to sport if driving input such as collision avoidence is used preventing body role and increasing stability and responsiveness.
And what about rust prevention off the Astra J, I drive a 2011 Astra and after 2 years it started to rust in the strangest places, no more Opel Astra for me, after 4 models of the Astra I'm tired of always to be confronted with rust.
Rust on all four doors at the cable penetrations and welds, water in the trunk right from the start, I had to drill holes in it to avoid having to keep removing water, and I was never able to figure out where it came from.
I have an Astra J 2011 with 160+km AT 1.6. It’s still a satisfying car to me (with a back electronic windows xD) and not thinking of upgrading. Yet, it needs to be periodically checked for common mechanical issues.
I’m planning of buying one Astra J 2011. What’re some common mechanical issues?
I currently have the 1.4 naturally aspirated 61plate astra J and it's been a solid car. Probably my favourite car to date. The issue next for me is....what to replace it with? A few miles yet as it's running at 65k but still slight issues are forming and it might be time to move on, but to what? Great review. I really enjoyed it.
Hey, thank you! At 65k miles it should have lots of life left yet, worth keeping hold of if you like the car. In a few years time there might be other options appearing in your budget too
As soon as I saw the turtle neck, I bought all 3 Astra Js in the area. Thank you sir.
Lol!
@@JJonCars Hi mate, I actually ended up buying this model / year Astra from my friend as my first car - 2.0 CDTI "elite" spec, leather seats etc, absolutely mint car ! Done 5,000 motorway miles in her already and has been a peach!
@@jakezxz1352 Ah nice one man! Great first car. Nice in Elite trim.
I Have Astra H from 2010, its 1.7cdti 101ps. Now has 612.000km and is still in good condition.

Wow! That 1.7 engine is legendary, starting out as an Isuzu engine. Impressive mileage. I am hoping to get an Astra H on the channel :)
You are right that 1.7 diesel engine was a Japanese Isuzu engine. Later diesel engines are Fiat design and unreliable
Currently have a 2012 1.6 non turbo Astra J. From my experience it’s a very nice car to drive but like you said it’s soooo heavy and ruins the experience a bit. Feel like I have to thrash it to gain any acceleration. Also I’ve had nothing but problems unfortunately. From gearbox to clutch to alternators to leaky engine but I know it’s more luck and how other people have treat it before me. In a way I’ll be glad to get rid of it but will miss it in another sense. Great review though defo had key points that us Astra drivers feel.
That is quite unlucky with the reliability, like you say perhaps it was someone who had the car before you. I had that spaceship looking Honda Civic, and everyone told me they're the most reliable cars ever.... well not mine, it had every problem under the sun 😂 Thanks James!
Yes my 1.7 CDTI is fine on the open road but around town I find it a bit cumbersome the steering/clutch and some days it runs better than others
This j series mk6 Astra was the best one made in my opinion
I would like you to do a review on the Chevrolet Cruze that's based on the Astra
I will if I can get hold of one :)
I just got myself an 2010 Astra j for just under 3k. Mileage: 75000. Pretty pricey but that’s how the market is at the moment. I agree the car is heavy, especially when making turns but gives it a more of a stable ride.
Yeah, the market... sucks. Still, that's a decent car for the money.
Yeh, I own a Astra elite 2015 plate. Very good car but a bit heavy. Great to drive very comfortable.
The buttons you can replace with a LED screen for android or Apple play ( Tesla screen ) 😅
Astra K is a pleasant car to drive too except for it's harsh ride over bumps with 17 inch wheels. Has the 2022 model fixed this????
I can't tell you about the latest 2022 model - I'm yet to drive one :)
Just bought one of these- the red very annoying! Also when fuel gage alerts you to low fuel, after a while it keeps flashing not telling you how much fuel exactly you have- by then hopefully you would have fuelled up. Otherwise can’t fault it really good car no problems at all! Just annoying back windows are manual. Keep up the good videos! 🙂👍
Haha, it's very RED in there isn't it. I actually filmed a bit talking about how I thought maybe red would be good for night driving, as red light is softer on the eyes and it won't wake you up for when you get home. Didn't make the cut, but it's an interesting thought 😂 The Mondeo I drove on the channel had this extremely BRIGHT screen between the dials, and I figured that would have the opposite affect. Something you just wouldn't consider!
Cheers Dee Dee! Enjoy the car
I’m planning of getting one. What’re some common mechanical issues?
I have the sport tourer with 1600 diesel engine £20 a year road tax i had it since 2014 and love driving it .
Brilliant, they're a bargain to tax!
Thanks for this review, thinking of buying one just like this but wanted to know about the motorway capabilities. Can it cope?
Yeah absolutely - only thing I would suggest is that if you're doing lots of motorway, get either a turbo petrol, or a diesel. Don't go for the 1.4 non-turbo petrol, and I think even the 1.6 non-turbo petrol is lacking punch for easy motorway driving.
Thanks great video!
@@CarlA-st9ep you're welcome Carl!
Had my 2.0 manual diesel hatch for 10 years and do mostly motorway or country road driving, it is very capable. 6k miles when I got it and now on 164k still going. I service every 10k miles.
I've a 2013 1.6 petrol 5 speed non turbo and it's great on motorways. The cruise control is great and aircon makes for pleasant long trips. Wish I still had my Astra GTE from the 90s.
Hi. Mines "Technical Grey". So to hear ur luck ran out on cars.
I have owed 2015 Astra j 1.6 diesel for twelve months now I am finding it to be very good it now has 44.000 miles on the clock I do not find the clutch to be heavy I went on 500 miles trip manly motor way it managed 66 mpg it was showing I had 250 miles range left in the tank the engine is very Quiet and powerful enough keep up with all the traffic the car is comfortable to ride in hopefully it will last my a long time 2024 update I have my astra now for 3y now it has now done 67.000 miles over the last 12 months I have at to pay for some repairs on was for new glow plugs plus new brake pads all around also the stop start has not worked for a few months a got my nephew to test it he is a machineic and has a fancy tester wich recommended a new battery I will probably replace before the winter comes also I have had Warter getting into the Spur wheel well wich I hope I have now fixed by putting selent around the grommets and Sponge seal of the boot light cluster fingers crossed 🤞
Cool, that's great fuel economy. Good long distance cruiser with great range. I think it will last you 👍
My 2013 2.0 cdti sri is now on 118k miles and has been super reliable. I am itching for a K 1.6T in Elite Nav though! Big cost to change and so many of them dont have parking sensors or LED lights though which is putting me off spending so much.
Yep 😄 my Elite Nav 1.6T didn't have parking sensors or the lights, and was missing a bunch of other stuff... but it did have heated seats front and rear and a heated steering wheel which was sooo nice. Maybe look for an 'Ultimate' but they are even more ££
@@JJonCars hoping for holy grail. 1.6T elite Nav with parking sensors and LED headlights. Oh and in the metallic blue colour. Wish me luck ha! So many people bought the elite navs and didn't even spec parking sensors. Makes me think it must be lease companies or something?
What other stuff was yours missing? Did you retrofit?
@@Leethemetalwarrior You're spot on about lease companies. Mine was leased so I had no options to spec anything. It's as though Vauxhall built a load of them and had to move them on as I had a really good 2 year deal. As it was lease I didn't retrofit anything. The estate I reviewed had a retrofitted official reversing camera though and I think it was quite affordable. Something worth looking into as I think a camera is always nicer than sensors
Good luck! 😄
Hi there.
My Astra J 2011 has 170.000 miles and drives without any faults or noisy sounds. I was thinking to buy a K one but then the question in my mind is why should I give up this car which I know so well and drives so great, to buy another one which will do exactly the same things...
Always the problem when you've got a good working car. Maybe wait until something big goes wrong with it... though by the sounds of it you might be waiting a while :)
i have a 62 Astra J 1.7cdti SRI, 6 speed, owned it for 6 years, approaching 90k. only issue ive ever had is the DPF.. but love the feel of the car, the steering and weight of the vehicle..
What's happened with the DPF on mine the light keeps coming on maybe once a month
I buy wynns dpf cleaner which is cheap works well
That's good - very reliable! (DPFs are the devil haha)
@@jazzydave8453 every now and again i have to drive on a motorway or an "A" road, in a lower gear so the revs go high and it clears out the DPF,
@@jazzydave8453 thank you, i will look into that product,
Hey new subscriber here. I passed my test 6 weeks ago and currently have a corss d 07 plate in an automatic. I'm wanting to upgrade after Christmas but I'm debating whether to go for the astra or astra gtc? Just looking for opinions? Thank you
Hi, congrats on passing your test!
It depends on a few things - the Astra GTC is essentially the more exciting sporty version of the Astra - it's probably got a bit less room in the back for passengers, and probably slightly less comfortable over speed bumps and pot holes (I say probably as I haven't driven a GTC). So if you want something that is more exciting to look at and drive, but less practical for every day use then I'd say the GTC is a good bet. Also as you're a new driver you should get insurance quotes on both cars as you might find the normal Astra hatchback will be cheaper to insure.
If you do go for one, come back and let me know!
Thank you.. After a sensible chat I have decided to add some upgrades to the corsa for now. The engine is reliable and may aswell get another year or so out of it
@@michealalockley530 probably the best financial decision. Looking for cars is fun anyway even if you decide not to go for it 👍
Oh I'm still looking. I'm just thinking also of the long term costs. I'm stuck on newer shape corsa, kia venga or yaris.. All have pros and cons
Had one of these for a couple of weeks as a stop gap wasn't to bad really because it was an ex cop car so quite looked after mechanically but looked like crap visually
Hahaha, used and abused by the rozzers.
Why is no one talking about the big blind spot in the drivers seat on the right hand side? It’s basically a big black part on the right hand side and it covers a lot of the window side so When turning right especially when going round the roundabout u cannot see very well at all and can easily hit anything if there was an obstruction, every review I’ve come across about the Astra J no one is talking about that, it’s my first time owning a car designed like this and I don’t know if many cars are the same?
Perhaps it's the sort of thing I'd have noticed if I'd had a few weeks driving it. Do you mean the 'A-pillar'? The pillar on the right of the windscreen? Modern cars do tend to suffer with thick A-pillars due to safety sadly. You get quite a few accidents, ironically, caused by people not being able to see.
I have a 2011 astra j that's done more miles than this one and still drives without any rattles or creeks.. its a nice drive always has been. Your centre console being cracked I suspect someone has tried to remove it and damaged it, mine is damaged at all and has done more miles... its been a low maintenance car and very simple to repair. Just 2 days ago I changed all the brake pads and despite this car having a electric parking brake ... changing the pads was very very quick and easy... changing the Cam belt is a little more difficult and I recommend buying the alighnment tool... other than that.... fantastic!
That's cool that it's easy to work on. To be fair I probably was being a bit harsh on the centre console, chances are you're right that someone must have broken it trying to remove it
I recently bought 1.7 cdti Astra j 6 speed manual with over 122000 miles. Quite a nippy car. I have the base model so it doesn’t even have alloy wheels still a great car nonetheless 👍
I’m planning of getting one. What’re some common mechanical issues?
I've just acquired an Astra J. Build quality is very good for a low price hatchback. Gearboxes both 5 and 6 speed seem to be a weak point on this model, so if you hear any whiny noises, avoid. It's a car with a split personality: You can see effort has gone into some areas like the interior, but things like the bodywork seem flimsy and cheap. Bumpers and their easily breakable fitting tabs especially.
I suppose they spent all their design money in a few places 😄
@@JJonCars Yep. It's very clever: spend the money where you can see and feel it, skimp on the stuff you can't see. Previous Astra models spread the money thinly everywhere. But at least on previous Astra models the bumper mounting tabs didn't break if you hit a fly...
i have the 1.4 on a 2010 plate i find it very slow but really good on fuel
I think they must have quite well engineered economical engines, as the extra weight you'd expect to hurt fuel economy, but it does seem ok 👍
What mpg with your 1.4
Got the 1.7 CDTI 2012 abs now 142000 miles had it 2 years still going strong but the revs hunt now and again when idling. I find the steering a bit heavy Just seems to run better some days than others but overall it has a big car feel. Cat can be a problem with these
I suppose that's not so bad for 142k miles :)
@@JJonCars having had three fiesta diesels all with over 150000 miles there was never a problem with the revs climbing up and down on idle it's only a small amount not all the time but infuriating.
@@jazzydave8453 The revs climbing up and down on idle is a very common problem on the 1.7 cdti. It's the SCV (Suction Control Valve) that goes bad. Fortunately it is not a very expensive repair. See if cleaning the scv is enough, if not buy the original Denso scv (DCRS301110) cost around €140. After replacing this part, the scv needs to be programmed at operating temperature if your instant fuel consumption shows 0.8-0.9 liters per hour instead of the correct values of 0.5-0.6 liters per hour. A local garage can to this. Watch this video for more information about the replacing of the SCV ua-cam.com/video/QuIt57Ueioo/v-deo.html
Hope this helps
I brought my astra j 1.6 turbo Sri in 2013. I still own it now. it had 7000 9n the clock and it's done 65000 now. I've been looking to change recently but I can't really find anything that's better... I looked at the later astra k but it felt like a downgraded low rent car.... inside it felt very. cheep.... but my car is still driving as good as the day I got it.so I'm happy to stick with it for another year...
Might as well stick with it - "if it ain't broke" :)
How is your 1.6 on fuel
@@yusufknowsit7674 I'm getting 32 to the gallon..can't seem to improve on that but I can make it worse lol..
I own a 2012 Astra 1.7 D SRI.
I bought it in 2014 with 30000 miles
Current mileage is 200250.
I intend to drive it into the ground.
That's mega mileage. Here's to another 100k!
That electronic parking brake would put me off, I wonder how reliable they've been in the Astra J of that age?
Had 2 Astra Js. One 5 door, one 3 door GTC. Never had a prob with it . Really like it . More space between seats and 2nd nature to me. In fact I specced it as an option on my 2nd one because they had gone back to the traditional handbrake as standard by then
I did do a little bit of film mentioning the electric handbrake, but it didn't make the cut. I do also wonder, though all I can say is - it worked OK in this car :)
@@JJonCars I've heard horror stories about them failing and obviously that's why Vauxhall stopped fitting them as standard on some Astra J models. All I can say is that I've had a combined 8 years of Astra J electronic handbrake and not had a single problem with it on either of my two cars. It took me a long while to get used to it and if I'm honest I would prefer a manual handbrake on my next car simply because it would seem to be one less thing that could go wrong, even tho it hasn't for me. But I like it, there's a bit more space and it looks and feels a bit more upmarket.
I chose the se spec purely to avoid the crappy electric handbrakes. Just extra problems and bills for zero benifit. I've never struggled to pull a handbrake so why fix what wasn't broken. I now know of 3 people who have had 500 pound bills because of hand break malfunctions making car a road block. Tow truck and diagnosed and your a few hundred before it's even fixed. Taxi drivers hate electric handbrakes. Nothing but problems.
As mine has done 142000 the electronic handbrake is fine the problem is remembering to use it, and knock it off quick when the lights change
I have an Astra J 1.4. 100k and it's reliable relative to the focus mk2.
i had a Astra K superior, i before that that one it was a 16v 1.8 and it was fantastic then i had this one a 1.6 j superior, and it was crap slow gutless drunk a lot fuel going along the motorway didn't even feel like i was doing 70 it felt more 50 mph i was glad to see the back of
Yep, they can definitely feel a bit slow. The weight doesn't help there
Purchased a astra j estate today 1.7 diesel
Nice, enjoy
I don t know why people hate it, this is such a nice car. Still looks modern. And they are so cheap now.
People just like to hate things don't they. Get on the bandwagon of 'this car is rubbish because someone else told me it was'
I bought a 2012 Astra 1.6 sri. It has 100k on the clock and it drives like a new car..
Hi, I am looking to buy Astra. I am confused between 1.4 and 1.6 engines. Which one is good in terms of fuel consumption and maintenance. Also please let me know the used Astra market price.
I own an Astra J Sport Tourer with a 2.0 CDTI engine. I've just had fun with the car from the first second until now. I've also driven newer vehicles like the Astra K and Opel Crossland, but so far none have been as good as the Astra J. The 2.0 diesel is just a bit noisy.
This Astra was so much better than the one after it.
In some ways I'd say yes, in other ways, I'd say no
Buy the 1.4t petrol as it suits the car perfectly and is uber reliable, like with all cars, avoid diesel, as they need constant maintenance, DPF filter headaches etc....
Totally 🙏
I've owned a 2.0 CDTi (165BHP) for 7 years now with over 92,000 miles on it. Never had any problems with it. The only let down is the 6 speed manual gearbox which feels notchy going back into 1st from bringing the car to a halt. The cupholder you tested isn't a cupholder; it's a recess for the ashtray/coin holder which is an option to purchase.
Nice, very reliable!
Ah, I was wondering what that was actually for - it kinda works as a bottle holder if needed, but that makes sense - cheers David
I have an Astra K 1.4T 150hp and I have the exact same ridge/resistance when trying to put the car back into first gear after coming to a stop.
The astra j was a million miles better then the previous one just a smaller insignia as for aiming for a better class of buyers that's why they binned the astra van shame i nearly forgot the best engine is 17 diesel an old Isuzu lump from years ago 👌👍👏
I need to drive an H! Ah yes, the sturdy old 1.7! Amazing how long that thing stayed in production.
Easy sub.
🙂
What did you have for lunch?
Can't remember haha