Holden Astra BK

Wish I drove off a cliff drowsy after work – Anyone ever tried fixing a rear mount/bush I had to do all 3 as they were all finished but the rear one particularly made me want to hang from the garage after 3 months of going in and out of sphycosis es and thats coming off the back of a PCV/ rocker cover bill is rather pogo stick it to work (less head aches) Show details

Diagnostics very poor - 6 yrs and continues unresolved – 3 mths ago my review titled “Road Side assistance at Glen Waverley, Vic” of Marshall Batteries was posted when my car lost power and stopped …The rep tested the battery and found that it was actually okay. Only charged a call out fee! Being a qualified mechanic he suggested getting it serviced being a possible mechanical or electronic issue. … Read more

Came as no big surprise to me. I have flagged the short power losses experienced with the Holden Astra on every single service since I bought it in 2016!!! Car would stop responding to the accelerator and resume functioning normally only after switching off and re-starting.

The service team repeatedly said they couldn’t replicate the issue when their mechanic drove it for many kms; therefore couldn’t escalate the issue to Holden without it being experienced themselves. After the Marshall battery check up incident the service that ensued threw up an error code However it apparently did not indicate the exact computer system in the car, that generated it. All systems were reset to factory settings and the car returned. A month later in Nov a symbol appeared which I have now been informed is for the engine. I assumed it was a service symbol and ignored it for a month until a week ago it reappeared. Took the car back in for a check … Another error code was identified but … wellll …since the symbol had disappeared and the issue could not be identified or replicated NOTHING COULD BE DONE. Next time the symbol appears I am to keep the car running and get it to the service team asap.

I had written to the customer service team I October got one response and then the sound of silence. Also no response to my email to [Name Removed] at Patterson Chenney Group.

Very disappointed as I considered the Astra a good car and Patterson Chenney an honest and reliable group

Renewed my joy of driving – I bought The Holden RS-V pretty much on a whim from a car yard . No professional inspection or any thing sensible like that . I really rolled the dice but it was less than 40% of it's RRP when new and less than 3 years old with 19000km on it . I know Astras have a fairly bad rep and Holden have shut up shop , Corona has hit and Holden just has… Read more

awful resale value . I was looking for a bargain and I reckon I found it . I've only owned it for 2 months so it's early days but so far it is a whole lot of fun , So much fun that I fear for my licence . It handles great , right up until your at about 8/10th where cornering gets a bit Squirrely as the torque stear and overzealous traction control seem to fight each other to make things less than perfect . Don't get me wrong compared to other hatches at the current S/H price it is miles ahead . My last couple of cars were Land Yachts and most small cars do my head in with constant stearing adjustment needed to just stay between the lines . The Astra while no luxobarge still feels very sure footed and solidly planted to the road The gadgetry is great but on a cold morning I need to hit the steering wheel warmer , Seat warmer , Manually bring out the mirrors , Front max air vent to defrost the windscreen , rear demister , front wipers , rear wipers and then disengage the Auto stop start (annoying) and Collision detection (beeps like crazy reversing out my drive) . I use Android Auto and that needs a couple of extra button taps on my phone to get that working correctly on each start up as well . If it wasn't so much fun to drive I'd probably just call it a day and call in sick . On the plus side at least the engine gets to warm up before hitting the road . Fuel economy is under 8l/100km in regular peak hour to and from work but it does require 95octane . Considering the very usable torque and power from the 1.6t motor I don't begrudge the pricier fuel like I thought I would . I truly feel for those that bought these new as resale is abysmal but in the S/H market IMHO it is quite good value for money .

Astra La Vista Baby – Our 2018 Holden Astra Sportwagon is a replacement for a 13 year old V6 petrol SUV. It comes with a turbo charged 4 cylinder 1.4 litre engine that is as economical as it is powerful. Suburban driving returns 6.8 litres per 100km with the car being used every day as a family workhorse. Clocking over 500 km per week it is easy to drive due to its… Read more

low centre of gravity and six speed auto gearbox, which has a " Sport " mode. Rear load space ( with seats down ) is over 1600 litres and by any measure this is HUGE. Four tie down hooks keep Charlie the Labrador well away from where he wants to sit - the front of the car . Loads of safety equipment including Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist along with six airbags give this car a five star safety rating. The wipers and headlights are both automatic and as with most new cars rear vision is not great but this is negated with standard equipped Rear Sensors and Reverse Camera The tech savvy in your family will love the infotainment set up with Digital Radio and includes Apple Car Play & Android Auto. A very stylish car with Alloy wheels and rear spoiler as standard. A side on view shows lines similar to a well known european brand ( poss BMW ? ) From new it comes with a 5 year unlimited km warranty and capped price servicing. Road side assist is for 1 year but extends to 5 years if serviced at a Holden dealership. Due to it being classed a " small " vehicle, insurance and registrations costs are lower.

Best points are its outstanding fuel economy , rear load space and overall low running costs.

It could do with rear vents for the air cond and rear cup holders.

Nice car to drive but ages quickly – Looked at the then new 2017 RS but a good trade which meant the RS-V was on offer so went with it. The first 4 years were great. A smooth ride around town with plenty of stop even more go. Fuel wandered between 6.5 and 7.5. We have persistent issue with a front panel just below the headlight popping but otherwise no issues. All was good until… Read more

somebody turned right from the left lane colliding on the front left wheel and drove the car onto the gutter on the right side. $15K worth of damage (close to right-off) but they fixed it over a 3 month period. Now seems OK but that panel still pops. Fuel costs are not helping my like for the car (around $120 a tank) as it does require 95 octane and bad or cheaper fuel makes it cough. Would I buy it again, yes but the world has moved on and hybrids and EV's seem to be the order of the day now.

Excellent car! Can't believe it's being discontinued – Purchased this car as a second family car and could not be happier. It is used daily on the freeway, has ample power and is very sturdy. The room in the back was important to us also, and it's fantastic. The aircon is also excellent in the back. The appleplay is great for my daughter who is on her P's. In fact, if this car was not discontinued, my… Read more

daughter would purchase one for herself. We service this car 6 monthly and there have been no issues.

Excellent hatch highly recommended – Bought this Astra in February 2020 after owning ST Fiesta, Honda Civic hatch x 2, Focus, Nissan Maxima, Kia Cerato, I am extremely happy with this car, very solid European feel, quiet, enough power, not one issue after 8000ks, love this car, fun to drive, comfortable, reverse camera could be better. Show details

Unreliable – Car was serviced to book by previous owner, then same by myself. Engine died 3 months out of warranty due to now well known LSPI issue, thanks to poor calibration and construction. $3500 for engine rebuild. Oil spec change, bearing and piston change. Holden refused to help out. Now, a recall for an oil change and re-flash issued to cure… Read more

“rough running” that resembles the exact same symptoms as when the number one piston broke due to LSPI. Worst car I’ve ever purchased.

Don’t buy one faulty design and will fail – At 61k and bad servicing by Holden Coffs Harbour the PCV Valve failed and my sump negative pressurised causing the plastic rocker cover to split under enormous pressure. The result is replacing the rocker cover and the seal and also the PCV Valve under it at a cost to me of $700 plus three hrs labour totalling $1300..I would recommend anyone that… Read more

has an Astra get rid of it while they can because it’s a design fault and will fail around 60-80k. Good luck with dealing with Holden.

Good little car. Plenty of power and decent fuel economy – Had our 2017 Astra since new. 150,000km so far. After the 150,000kms service it developed a PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) issue. This is a $2000 dollar repair!!!! GM developed a rocker cover that has this valve integrated into it!!! Very expensive repair. In most other vehicles this is a $300 fix. Have heard this can be an issue from 50,000km!! Not happy GM Engineers!! Show details

I love it – Excellent car, after 150k Kilometers 0 problems. Even though its small 1.4L engine, it is powerful and efficient. I would get a brand new if Holden still in operation. All the services have been done in Holden, in all this time I have just changed the front break pads, battery still been the original. It is a really reliable car. Show details

First small car, fun to drive – My Astra is a 2020 RS Black Edition. Packed with features, this car is a delight to drive. Smooth, quiet, beautiful ride, and performance in the warm hatch category. I've driven most of the Astras competition which are very good, but this cars European roots certainly shine through. So glad to have purchased one of these cars at a fabulous end… Read more

of Holden in Australia price. Having driven large cars all my life, I didn't want to downsize to a buzz box. The 1.6 litre turbo in this car is a little pocket rocket, I love it.

My ownership experience – Was the owner of a red 2017 Astra r+ Auto . Bought with 6,500 kays on it from a private seller. I like the design, build and features for the price. Thats where the good points end. I was very disappointed on such a new car the amount of rattles coming from interior trims coming from the dash, door area and seatbelt area. As I put more Kays on it… Read more

I noticed how soft the paint was with many stone chips. I even had one on the roof!. I had engine problems when going up hills a clicking sound happen like the sound of a piece of tin in a coke can rattling and loose power for a moment or to. The transmission wasnt very smooth you could hear it clunk into second gear and would jolt. 1 year and 20,000km later I decided to trade it in for a older car and lost money as these Astra do not hold there value at all.

Nice drive – Purchased new in April 2018 for just over 20 thou. for the R+. Has done over 30,000 Kims now. This car has been quite reliable and economical. Plenty of go in the 1.4 Ltd donk. Has excellent handling and good onboard tech. Although the forward collision alert seems to come on at odd times. But very comfortable car to drive. Well worth the purchase price. Show details

ASTRA PROBLEMS – I have had noting but problems with my BK Astra Has only done 25,000 klms. Water level topped up at every service, Blind spot mirrors warning coming on together, Vibration on gear changes ,Irregular gear changes, Red warning light keeps coming on for no reason. Evaporative solenoid replaced. Never will I buy another Astra/ Holden Show details

Back up service under warranty is disgusting – Our Astra with less than 60 000kms on the clock and still under new car warranty had an orange light pop up saying ESC on the dash. So I rang Col Crawford who were great. I got the car in straight away only to be told that the car needed pistons and rings. Not a problem, I understand that, but the problem is that it took me 4 phone calls, an hour… Read more

of my time each time and threatening that my solicitor said to send them the bills for a hire car to finally get a replacement car while they try and find pistons which they have no time frame on. Be wary if you plan on buying a Holden.

Good car but not without quality niggles – Have had a 2018 Astra R+ hatchback for under 2 years with 11k kms on the clock so far. Pros- it’s a drives like a dream with excellent ride, handling with decent power and kit. Good value for money Cons- very bad paint quality, chips very easily, almost as if they used crayons for paint. Headlights are extremely inadequate out of the city or on… Read more

dark unlit roads The placement of the reverse camera and the resolution are causes for limited utility

Great little run around – The Astra RSV is comfy, stylish and has great features. The Adaptive Cruise Control has failed numerous times and the Bendigo dealership was unable to detect the problem. The features are lacking compared to our Calais V - no front camera, no windscreen display projection and manual seat adjustments. Overall, a good car but getting faults fixed is proving to be a problem. Show details

Excellent small car – We chose the Astra RSV 1.6 turbo Terrific car for our small family and recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable performer. It’s fuel economy around town with Aircon on is about 7L/100km and is quite easy to drive with minimal road noise. Holden have completed the first two services so far without anything extra needing to be fixed.  Show details

Best car we've owned – We purchased this Astra after having a TS hatch from new in 2005 and needed to update. After looking at the options, we decided to purchase the RSV with touring pack. This included the sun roof and the adaptive cruse control. (couldn't justify the expense for the innovations pack for LED headlights) The must have was the adaptive cruse control.… Read more

This car is brilliant in features, performance and reliability, it is a real testament to the Opel brand and to the Holden team that tweaked it for the Australian conditions. I did research the vehicle on overseas forum sites before purchase and from what I was reading, the 1.6 L is the pick of the motors. The only thing I can say against this car is the paint is quite soft and chips easily. If I had know this when purchasing I would have got a clear wrap on the vehicle at delivery and then had nothing to complain about. After saying that I would not hesitate in re-investing in the same vehicle given the time over.

Astra must mean a Star – My Astra Hatchback 2016 is one of a kind and I seriously rarely have seen another pass me. The sat nav is not great to use in a hurry. Twirling the dial back and forth and over and over for each letter is very tiresome. I end up using my Google Map app on my phone. Side vision is limited, but the electrics have not let me down more than once. Warranty covered that sad little affair. ( Whatever a broken front camera is, it stopped working)  Show details

A real surprise! Great value, comfortable and fun to drive – Had never considered an Astra but when my circumstances changed from driving 20kms return to work, to 170kms, I needed a small efficient and comfortable vehicle. 3 months and 13000kms later, couldn’t be happier. Quiet, comfortable and great on fuel (averaging 6.3l mixed city and HW). Fantastic stereo- sound connectivity and simplicity is amazing.… Read more

aircon, heated seats and steering wheel all work great. Car feels solid and well made, soft touch materials and well fitted panels. Safety gear works well and not at all intrusive like a lot of other manufacturers offerings. Engine is sporty and has fantastic flexibility due to the torque in the lower revs and between 0-100kmph is very quick. Loses a little steam higher in the revs but only an issue when going very quickly. handling very good when needed but ride is still supple enough for day to day driving, heaps of room for 4 adults and boot is a reasonable size. Love the remote starting, never knew what I was missing until I had it! Start the car on the way out to the car and nice and cool when I get inside.

Negatives- factory tyres ordinary, and gearbox can be a little clumsy at low speeds. Leather seats although comfy and supportive, feel is a little plastic and cheap. Engine is great however can be harsh and noisy above 4500 revs. Due to the low down power is does torque steer when giving it the beans. All in all small issues but nothing is perfect!

In summary, if your after a well sorted small car with all the bells and whistles with plenty of grunt, without the pricetag of the other manufacturers top spec offerings, give the Holden a go. Great deals currently from holden, very underrated and highly recommended for a great all round commuting, family and surprisingly fun vehicle.

Great buy – Hadn't considered one as a bit dearer than others in category. But on seeing a low km demo for $20K i had a look. Very impressed with the value and features of r+ . Drive much better than the cerato sport and i30. Cheaper too. Engine doesn't struggle on hills like the i30 or cerato. Hardly any cabin noise. 5 years warranty and 3yrs servicing… Read more

included.

The car has a surprising amount of kick when you want to overtake. Can only dream about the extra grunt in the 1.6 turbo on the RS.

Safety features are cool. Lane keep assist feature is a treat.

Currently about 8.6l per 100km. But I am driving it in alot of stop start traffic and short trips.

Plenty of leg room for rear passengers.

Steering wheel feels good and the car really handles the bends and corners well.

Back seats fold pretty flat making it handy for longer loads.

so far am very happy with the amount of features and quality of the car. Especially at only $20k.

Dream Car – Good for nothing. 5 weeks after I bought this car it broke down. That was one sure sign of it being a lemon. Test drive and yep, very impressed. Steering was so easy, seats comfy, spacious, all the bells and whistles except for inbuilt maps, but can get the current up-to-date maps from my mobile phone via usb cable, and that works great.  Show details

Terrible – Good for nothing. 5 weeks after I bought this car it broke down. That was one sure sign of it being a lemon. Second sign was when I took it for its first 6 monthly warranty service, and got told repairs would cost $880. ??? Apparently what needed to be replaced was not covered by the warranty. How convenient. Somebody told me the Astra and the… Read more

Holden Viva have same engine types. I will know to stay away from both in the future.

Please note: All the positive reviews you see, are written by Holden dealers. Customers will never have anything good to say about a Holden.

Dream Car – Oh wow, I so love my new Astra. Replaced my 2004 Astra, was so happy with the old car decided to stick with Astra. Looked at a few new ones, and fell in love with this sleek black 4 door hatch back, was a demo model. Test drive and yep, very impressed. Steering was so easy, seats comfy, spacious, all the bells and whistles except for inbuilt… Read more

maps, but can get the current up-to-date maps from my mobile phone via usb cable, and that works great. Sensors here there and everywhere, so many features, still learning them. My son informed me the Sport setting/button works well. Real good on fuel consumption.

Great low down grunt and good looking to boot – Good value top of the range hatch. Plenty of power and smart traditional automatic. Handles great around the Adelaide Hills and also on the open road. Fantastic technology with DAB radio, Android Auto, Apple Carplay, self parking, heated seats.......... We found the seats in the R and RS too tight with the side bolsters however the RS-V with… Read more

leather have a wider seat base and are very comfortable.

The lumbar support adjusts vertically and horizontally.

The only downside so far is it requires 95RON as a minimum.

Simplicity at its finest! – Astra la vista baby. Yes, tested here is the 2017 Holden Astra R manual, the newest iteration of the Astra family launched in Australian showrooms in November 2016. Starting with design, Astra has always been a good-looking car and this generation is no different. In base model ‘R’ form, Astra really looks quite the package. In a former nod to… Read more

its predecessor, Astra retains its symmetrical oval headlights with a nice touch of DRL’s (daytime running lamps). On the road, the DRL’s really set the Astra apart from the competition making it quite a head turner.

Side on, Astra really looks the part thanks in construction to the D-Pillar design. The D-Pillar design joins with the C-Pillar window creating an uncommon execution not seen on many cars in its segment. On paper and through photos, the design can look odd and not well executed. But in the metal, the design emphasises Astra’s athletic and svelte European lines perfectly.

At the rear, Astra design brings quite a masculine design to the table. In base model R, Astra really looks the business with its Alfa Romeo-esque taillight design and over layer of dark tint, creating an imposing and ‘boss’ look to the design. Dressed in ‘Absolute Red’, Astra really brings a cohesive and exciting design to the table.

On the road, Astra is quite the nimble little car. In base ‘R’ format, Astra comes equipped with a 1.4-litre turbo engine comprising of 110kW at 5000rpm and 245NM at 2000rpm (240NM Auto). The engine was previously seen on its predecessor ‘Cruze’ nameplate. Where Cruze stumbled, Astra succeeds with a 100kg+ loss over Cruze scaling in at 1283kg, transforming the engine and meaning Astra is a hoot to drive around town, with steady power and good acceleration surge to keep most A to B drives fun and exciting. 0-100km sits at around the low 7 to high 8 mark, meaning Astra is swift enough to navigate fast paced freeways and roads without hesitation. How’s that translate to economy? Thought you’d never ask. With a 1.4-litre turbo engine and 1283kg of metal to move, Astra is quite efficient. Around town and with a heavy foot, Astra will sit on around 7.0-8.0L/100km. Highway is Astra’s strongpoint with the engine sitting comfortably just below 2000rpm in sixth gear, bringing a fuel efficient 5.0-5.5L/100km to the table. For the record, my personal best on economy was 4.9L/100km.

The one downfall with the 1.4 turbo engine is well the engine itself. Although good on paper, Astra’s engine can feel quite asthmatic and sluggish to navigate. For a quick runabout, it’s sufficient but for a driver with a desire for a more enthusiastic drive it suffers. But wait. Hit the ‘Sports’ mode button on hand and Astra transforms completely. With the aid of a six-speed manual transmission on board and ‘Sports’ mode applied, Astra presents slick gear changes and tighter gear ratios which transforms Astra’s road manner and behaviourism from being a biggest loser contestant chugging on donuts to being ‘the Rock’ within seconds, with a more composed and focused drive while putting a smile on your face.

With a blend of European and Aussie Holden engineers kicking in, Astra’s steering is enticing, with a more involved steer tackling corners while remaining quite neutral on normal roads. Riding on 17-inch wheels, Astra owns the road feeling extremely glued and composed on all surfaces. Refinement levels are outstanding with minimal amounts of noise intruding into the cabin and whisper quiet, even on freeways. Suspension is quite firm and even with a decent sized pothole at hand, Astra feels composed without frail.

Inside the Astra, the cabin is simple yet well executed. Getting in the driver seats, the 7” MyLink infotainment touchscreen system awaits. Sitting flush in the centre console, it hosts all your entertainment purposes including Bluetooth, radio, DAB, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and a reversing camera. Digital radio works a breeze and Bluetooth connectivity is the best connection I’ve experienced in a car so far. Touchscreen commands are quite concise also aided by the mounted steering controls. Vision in Astra is acceptable, but the D-pillar design can intrude with rear visibility, so the included reversing camera isn’t a bad feature to use.

Storage in Astra is an interesting topic. Besides the driver seat, sits a centre storage compartment for storing items such as keys, wallets and sunnies. Oddly though, the compartment stores a USB port and no AUX input. And even stranger, you can pull the centre storage cover forward to rest your arm on while driving but can’t open it in this mode. Door storage is adequate with 1-litre bottles sitting comfortably and a driver’s storage tray for coins and gum is a nice feature touch too. The oddest storage quirk Astra has is a 15cm slit that sits below the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning controls) in the centre console. Although Holden doesn’t state its official use, its big enough to fit a smart phone and erm, sit awkwardly. In all its quirkiness, the space could be better utilised for a centre storage holder instead.

Driver and passenger seat are firm and supportive while remaining comfortable on short to medium runs while rear seats are supportive enough for passengers. All interior and driver dials are easy on the eye and HVAC controls below the centre touchscreen are easy to navigate. Fit and finish on Astra is brilliant and the piano black finish on the dash (a haven for dust), is quite classy, making Astra’s interior more premium then the price suggests.

Overall, the Holden Astra R is quite an irresistible package. Aided by a handsome exterior, snazzy interior and a sporty engine, Astra fits the bills for most individuals. Add in an affordable price tag, strong dealer backup and support, Astra is hard to ignore.

Pretty good – The engine is little small, but pretty economic. The interior are really good. I am very enjoy when I drive the car. Nothing have problem. It is a good first car. I guess. I would recommend this car probably. Running cost is not too high. The reliability is good. I guess I would have this car for a while.  Show details

Great value – The driving experience is smooth and fun. Hardly can hear any noise while driving. The insulation does a fantastic job. The ergonomics is perfect for a first car buyer like me. However, lots of cheap plastic in the cabin which makes the quality a bit nasty. Overall a very good first car.  Show details

Great car. Love it! – Nice smooth drive, really love its fuel efficiency. Yes to take it for a country trip but can’t wait to go do. Apple Car Play very handy and heaps of information comes from the onboard computer. No regrets at all about my purchase. Will buy an Astra again once my 5-year warranty runs out.  Show details

Good ride for the price – The astra 1.4 sports hatch is comfortable to drive with an average economy which should be better. In saying this it looks good and well featured for the cost. The integrated handsfree works well and tends to fade a bit with varying noise levels. Overall with a 7 year new car warranty I can't complain  Show details

Excellent!! – Fantastic car. I purchased the RSV with touring pack. Comes with a huge amount of features, drives like it's on rails and the 1.6 turbo is just perfect. I love the remote start and parking assist. The car needs no extras other than mats and tinting. Oh and it looks great!  Show details