Volkswagen Golf vs Vauxhall Astra
Figures updated
The Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra are two of the UK's most popular family hatchbacks. We compare the Mk8 (2020–) Golf and the Astra L (2022–) on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 1,463,998 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Volkswagen Golf for the better MOT record and more performance, or the Vauxhall Astra for the lower price and the bigger boot.
- The Vauxhall Astra is the cheapest to buy new: from £27,495, £1,545 less than the Volkswagen Golf.
- The Vauxhall Astra has the biggest boot: 422 litres, 41 more than the Volkswagen Golf.
- Euro NCAP safety: Volkswagen Golf 5 stars (2019), Vauxhall Astra 4 stars (2022). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- The Volkswagen Golf has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Vauxhall Astra fails its MOT about 25% more often.
- Running costs are close: the petrol versions cost within £21 a year of each other to fuel at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the exhaust and emissions on a Vauxhall Astra: it fails on them 1.4 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Volkswagen GolfMk8 (2020–), 5-door hatchback | Vauxhall AstraAstra L (2022–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £29,040 to £48,380October 2026 price list | £27,495 to £33,995May 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 381 litres / 1,237 | 422 litres / 1,339 (best) |
| Length | 4,282mm | 4,374mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,789mm | 1,859mm |
| Height | 1,483mm | 1,441mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 115–333 PS (best) | 130–195 PS |
| 0–62mph | 4.6–10.2 sec (best) | 7.6–9.7 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2019) | ★★★★★ (2022) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Electric, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 34.0–64.2 mpg | 45.0–62.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 6–189 g/km | 43–142 g/km |
| Electric range | – | 237–267 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £1,118 (52.3 mpg) | £1,097 (53.3 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,102 (61.4 mpg) | – |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,102 (diesel) | £548 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 124Well above average (best) | 99Average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 25.1% (best) | 33.8% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.5% (best) | 12.4% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 12.0% (best) | 17.9% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 21.9% (best) | 32.8% |
| Most common MOT fault | Coil spring (2.5% of tests) | Coil spring (5.1% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Exhaust and emissions (1.4×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 839,338 | 624,660 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family hatchback | Family hatchback |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,600 | 8,000 |
| On sale | 2020 on | 2022 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Volkswagen Golf or the Vauxhall Astra more reliable?
The Volkswagen Golf. Like for like on age and mileage, the Vauxhall Astra fails its MOT about 25% more often (reliability scores 124 and 99, where 100 is average). 25.1% of Volkswagen Golfs and 33.8% of Vauxhall Astras failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Volkswagen Golf or the Vauxhall Astra?
The Vauxhall Astra is 92mm longer (4,374mm against 4,282mm). The Vauxhall Astra has the bigger boot: 422 litres against 381.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Volkswagen Golf or the Vauxhall Astra?
The Vauxhall Astra: new prices start at £27,495, £1,545 less than the Volkswagen Golf (from £29,040). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Volkswagen Golf or the Vauxhall Astra?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £21 a year of each other at 7,500 miles, using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Volkswagen Golf or the Vauxhall Astra?
Euro NCAP gave the Volkswagen Golf 5 stars (2019) and the Vauxhall Astra 4 stars (2022). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Volkswagen Golf or the Vauxhall Astra?
Pick the Volkswagen Golf for the better MOT record and more performance, or the Vauxhall Astra for the lower price and the bigger boot. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.