Vauxhall Astra (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 2,970 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£1,630

£136/month

MOT Pass Rate

93%

Excellent

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 5-15

1199cc Petrol

Great Choice

93% pass rate, £1,630/year to run. 11 points above average.

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Petrol1199cc5 years old2,970 tests27k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1199cc)

~50 mpg

£1,175

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,630

Per month£136/mo

Per week£31/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

93% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 11 points above the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the Vauxhall brand average of 84%.

93% of MOT tests on Vauxhall Astras from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 2,970 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 27,427 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models1451st of 3,336(top half)

Rank among Vauxhall models107th of 870(top 13%)

vs average of all models+11%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average+1%(92% avg)

vs Vauxhall average+9%(84% avg)

Mileage Analysis

27,427

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 Vauxhall Astra had 27,427 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.

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Vauxhall Astra by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	93%	2,970	27,427 mi
2020	92%	4,475	26,991 mi
2019	89%	33,060	42,098 mi
2018	87%	51,686	52,807 mi
2017	87%	75,171	60,945 mi
2016	85%	92,988	67,472 mi
2015	80%	81,105	75,336 mi
2014	79%	90,897	83,696 mi
2013	79%	101,969	92,423 mi
2012	78%	91,949	99,582 mi
2011	76%	80,762	103,274 mi
2010	74%	92,611	101,930 mi
2009	72%	70,480	103,723 mi
2008	72%	73,447	110,589 mi
2007	71%	71,923	112,772 mi
2006	70%	44,771	110,721 mi
2005	69%	29,377	109,353 mi
2004	71%	15,813	105,208 mi
2003	72%	13,965	107,198 mi
2002	69%	10,704	106,657 mi
2001	71%	5,902	102,050 mi
2000	70%	3,065	102,733 mi
1999	69%	3,316	102,882 mi
1998	70%	1,873	95,727 mi
1997	71%	1,790	90,370 mi
1996	72%	988	94,211 mi
1995	74%	1,055	96,905 mi
1994	77%	750	95,369 mi
1993	77%	540	96,579 mi
1992	84%	207	90,202 mi
1991	89%	290	82,574 mi
1990	86%	293	81,120 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Ford Fiesta

2019 · 998cc Petrol

£1,630/year

91%

-2%

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

-1%

Vauxhall Corsa

2019 · 1398cc Petrol

£2,003/year

88%

-5%

Nissan Qashqai

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,853/year

93%

same

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About the 2021 Vauxhall Astra

The 2021 Vauxhall Astra is a city car. Our records list a 1199cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 2,970 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. Among all models from 2021, the average MOT pass rate is 92%, and this model beats that benchmark.

With an average of 27,427 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Vauxhall Astra owners cover more miles than the average driver.

2021 Vauxhall Astra Fuel Costs

The modest 1199cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,175 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 Vauxhall Astra?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,630 (£136/month), broken down as £1,175 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 93% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

Vauxhall Astra Reliability Trend

Newer Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 6 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2021 Vauxhall Astra

At 5 years old, the Vauxhall Astra offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 Vauxhall Astra stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Vauxhall Astra(2021)	93%	£1,175	£200	Grp 5-15	£1,630
Ford Fiesta(2019)	91%	£1,175	£200	Grp 1-8	£1,630same
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853+£223
Vauxhall Corsa(2019)	88%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,003+£373
Nissan Qashqai(2020)	93%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853+£223

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 Vauxhall Astra

Is the 2021 Vauxhall Astra reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 93% of MOT tests on 2021 Vauxhall Astras ended in a pass, from 2,970 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 11 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 Vauxhall Astra cost to run?

Our estimate is £1,630 a year (£136 a month): £1,175 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £200 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 Vauxhall Astra?

93% of 2,970 MOT tests on the 2021 Vauxhall Astra ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 1451st of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (top half).

Which year Vauxhall Astra has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 Vauxhall Astra has the highest MOT pass rate at 93% and the 1999 the lowest at 69%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2021 Vauxhall Astra?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 Vauxhall Astra is 27,427 miles, which is above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.