Comparison · family hatchbacks
Volkswagen Golf vs Vauxhall Astra: which is more reliable?
The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 98 for the Vauxhall Astra, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,500,310 real MOT tests in 2024.
Volkswagen Golf
Vauxhall Astra
By age
MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).
| Age at test | Volkswagen Golf | Vauxhall Astra |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 104Above average | 99About average |
| 6–9 years | 109Well above average | 98About average |
| 10–14 years | 109Well above average | 100About average |
| 15+ years | 101About average | 94Below average |
Year by year
Share that passed first time, same registration year.
| Year | Volkswagen Golf | Vauxhall Astra |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90.1% | 87.5% |
| 2020 | 91.0% | 86.3% |
| 2019 | 88.7% | 84.0% |
| 2018 | 87.0% | 80.8% |
| 2017 | 85.8% | 79.7% |
| 2016 | 85.0% | 76.5% |
| 2015 | 82.7% | 69.6% |
| 2014 | 79.4% | 67.4% |
| 2013 | 76.3% | 66.9% |
| 2012 | 68.4% | 65.2% |
| 2011 | 64.8% | 62.2% |
| 2010 | 62.4% | 59.4% |
| 2009 | 62.5% | 55.9% |
| 2008 | 59.7% | 54.6% |
| 2007 | 57.6% | 53.5% |
| 2006 | 54.7% | 51.8% |
| 2005 | 54.5% | 52.2% |
| 2004 | 51.0% | 53.9% |
| 2003 | 56.9% | 55.8% |
| 2002 | 56.8% | 53.1% |
| 2001 | 55.7% | 56.3% |
| 2000 | 56.3% | 56.3% |
| 1999 | 56.0% | 52.9% |
| 1998 | 59.5% | 56.3% |
| 1997 | 65.0% | 60.8% |
| 1996 | 63.4% | 62.5% |
| 1995 | 65.7% | 64.3% |
| 1994 | 67.3% | 65.5% |
| 1993 | 68.7% | 71.5% |
| 1991 | 73.5% | 86.9% |
| 1990 | 67.7% | 85.3% |
Problem areas
Failure items per 100 tests.
| Area | Volkswagen Golf | Vauxhall Astra |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & electrics | 11.0 | 17.8 |
| Suspension | 11.3 | 13.8 |
| Brakes | 9.9 | 13.9 |
| Tyres | 7.5 | 8.9 |
| Emissions & leaks | 4.2 | 7.0 |
| Body & chassis | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors) | 3.4 | 5.8 |
| Steering | 1.0 | 1.1 |
Volkswagen Golf: top failures
Vauxhall Astra: top failures
Questions
Which is more reliable, the Volkswagen Golf or the Vauxhall Astra?
The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 98 for the Vauxhall Astra, comparing each with cars of the same age.
Which years of the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra can be compared?
Both were tested for 31 registration years (1990–2021). The Volkswagen Golf had the higher pass rate in 26 of them and the Vauxhall Astra in 5.
What fails most on each?
Volkswagen Golf: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Vauxhall Astra: coil spring: fractured or broken; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick.