Are Vauxhalls Good First Cars? (Adam, Corsa, Astra +2 More)
Vauxhall vehicles aren’t as reliable as their competitors.
But how do they fare in the other first car considerations?
Specific Vauxhall Models:
Let’s start with the smallest Vauxhall.
#1 Is a Vauxhall Adam a Good First Car?
The Vauxhall Adam is a three-door four-seat city car – larger than the Fiat 500 but shorter and wider than the Mini Cooper.
2019 was its final model.
It is a decent city car, but when judged against the competition, the Vauxhall Adam is a poor choice for a first car despite some positives:
- Incredibly cramped interior – the limited space cabin and boot render them impractical.
- Poor ride quality – stiff and uncomfortable at low and high speeds.
- Subpar fuel economy – averaging low-40s mpg in combined driving.
- Light handling – handy in town, but it lacks feedback.
- Mediocre safety rating – Euro NCAP rated it 4 out of 5 stars.
- Inexpensive to insure – the cheapest Vauxhall Adam to insure falls in group 2.
- Perfect size for a first car – practical for urban settings.
You should go for it if you like the design and can accept its shortcomings.
Alternative First Cars to the Vauxhall Adam
If you’re on the market for a city car, these are exciting options you should consider:
- MINI Hatch – fun to drive premium hatchback.
- Toyota Aygo – quirky looks.
- Hyundai i10 – low running costs and excellent value for money.
- Volkswagen Up! – roomy and premium cabin.
- Audi A1 – excellent quality overall, but more expensive than most competitors.
#2 Is a Vauxhall Corsa a Good First Car?
Superminis continue to dominate the list of best-selling cars in the UK, with plenty for you to choose from.
The Vauxhall Corsa is a competent four-door supermini and a good first car, although some rivals can do better:
- Average fuel economy – low-40s mpg average in real-world tests. But, the diesel engine can provide higher fuel efficiency.
- Relatively inexpensive to insure – the cheapest Corsa falls in group 10.
- Unimpressive safety ratings – the 4/5 stars leave room for improvement.
- Midpack boot space – 309 liter, but it pales in comparison to the Skoda Fabia’s class-leading 530L.
- Middling reliability – Vauxhalls consistently rank in the bottom half of reliability surveys.
- Ideal size for driving around town.
Alternative First Cars to the Vauxhall Corsa
Strong contenders in the crowded supermini segment include:
- Ford Fiesta
- Renault Clio
- Volkswagen Polo
- Skoda Fabia
- Toyota Yaris
- Peugeot 208
- Hyundai i20
- MINI 5-door
Let’s compare them in the essential first car aspects.
Table Guide:
- MPG: (UK) real-world test; combined driving; models averaged.
- Insurance Groups: 1 = cheapest, 50 = most expensive.
- Euro NCAP: 1/5 to 5/5 stars (latest test).
- Cabin/Boot Space: Generous, Average, Limited; segment relative.
- Ride Quality: Good, Average, or Poor.
| MPG | Insurance Groups | Euro NCAP | Cabin Space | Boot Space | Ride Quality | |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 42.7 | 10 – 23 | 4/5 | Average | Average (309L) | Average |
| Ford Fiesta | 45.0 | 2 – 30 | 5/5 | Average | Average (311L) | Good |
| Hyundai i20 | 47.3 | 12 – 16 | 4/5 | Generous | Generous (352L) | Average |
| MINI 5-door | 45.7 | 11 – 37 | 4/5 | Average | Limited (211L) | Good |
| Peugeot 208 | 52.7 | 12 – 25 | 4/5 | Average | Average (311L) | Average |
| Renault Clio | 50.6 | 3 – 29 | 5/5 | Average | Generous (391L) | Average |
| Skoda Fabia | 49.0 | 2 – 13 | 5/5 | Generous | Generous (530L) | Good |
| Toyota Yaris | 54.6 | 13 – 14 | 5/5 | Average | Limited (286L) | Good |
| Volkswagen Polo | 46.0 | 1 – 29 | 5/5 | Generous | Generous (351L) | Good |
The Ford Fiesta is one of the best first cars in the supermini class with superb handling and ride quality that’s agile at low speeds and remains stable in motorway driving.
Plus, it has an excellent safety rating, and the standard model is inexpensive to insure.
The Volkswagen Polo is equally impressive in the crucial first car aspects – it drives well, has impeccable safety, is cheap to insure, and offers a spacious cabin and storage room.
If you’re looking for the best first car in the supermini segment that’s inexpensive to run and cheaper than class leaders of comparable performance, look no further than the Skoda Fabia.
It does everything incredibly well, which includes boasting the ultra-generous 530 liters of boot space with the rear seats up.
#3 Is a Vauxhall Astra a Good First Car?
The Astra is a four-door hatchback that competes with the likes of Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, and some relative newcomers that continue to push the bar higher.
The Vauxhall Astra may not be the best in class, but it is an all-rounder and a good choice for a first car:
- Economical to run – averaging 46 mpg across models (based on real-world test). Diesels can return up to 80 mpg.
- Impeccable safety rating – Euro NCAP awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
- Inexpensive insurance – group 11 for the cheapest-specification Astra.
- Easy to park – the compact dimensions should make life easy for beginners.
- Impressive ride quality – excellent for short and long-distance driving.
- Average boot space – 370L is roomy, but the high load lip limits its ease of loading and unloading.
- Solid build quality – plus user-friendly design.
However, the Vauxhall Astra sheds value relatively quickly, so buying used is better than buying new.
Alternative First Cars to the Vauxhall Astra
There are plenty of options in the family hatchback segment:
- Volkswagen Golf
- Kia Ceed
- Ford Focus
- Mercedes-Benz A-class
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Corolla
- Mazda 3
- Skoda Octavia
Let’s see how they compare in the vital first car aspects.
Table Guide:
- MPG: (UK) real-world test; combined driving; models averaged.
- Insurance Groups: 1 = cheapest, 50 = most expensive.
- Euro NCAP: 1/5 to 5/5 stars (latest test).
- Cabin/Boot Space: Generous, Average, Limited; segment-relative.
- Ride Quality: Good, Average, or Poor.
| MPG | Insurance Groups | Euro NCAP | Cabin Space | Boot Space | Ride Quality | |
| Vauxhall Astra | 46.0 | 11 – 20 | 5/5 | Generous | Average (370L) | Good |
| Ford Focus | 45.5 | 8 – 19 | 5/5 | Generous | Limited (316L) | Good |
| Honda Civic | 45.0 | 15 – 41 | 5/5 | Generous | Generous (478L) | Good |
| Kia Ceed | 46.1 | 8 – 18 | 4/5 | Average | Average (390L) | Average |
| Mazda 3 | 44.6 | 15 – 23 | 5/5 | Average | Average (358L) | Good |
| Mercedes A-class | 45.4 | 15 – 24 | 5/5 | Average | Average (370L) | Good |
| Skoda Octavia | 50.0 | 12 – 25 | 5/5 | Generous | Generous (600L) | Good |
| Toyota Corolla | 56.4 | 14 – 21 | 5/5 | Average | Average (361L) | Good |
| Volkswagen Golf | 50.4 | 14 – 24 | 5/5 | Average | Average (381L) | Good |
The Honda Civic boasts class-leading cabin and boot space, except for the sloping roofline that limits headroom.
The Skoda Octavia has the largest boot of all competing hatchbacks and excellent ride quality and is an all-rounder and the ideal first car.
For the budget-conscious first-time buyer, the Kia Ceed is one of the cheapest to insure, and the brand provides an extended seven-year warranty.
If you want a fun-to-drive first car with a premium interior, choose the Mazda 3.
Opt for the Toyota Corolla if you want a family hatchback and the most fuel-efficient first car.
Otherwise, the Vauxhall Astra is still a solid all-rounder and a good choice for teen drivers.
#4 Is a Vauxhall Mokka a Good First Car?
The Mokka is Vauxhall’s entry-level small SUV, related to the Corsa supermini.
Overall, the Vauxhall Mokka is an average choice for a first car with mixed credentials:
- Excellent visibility – the higher-than-average seat height for small SUVs provides a good view of the road.
- Inexpensive to insure for an SUV – between insurance groups 13 and 20.
- Limited boot space – isn’t much more than the supermini Corsa, which is disappointing and compromises practicality.
- Mediocre safety ratings – 4/5 stars Euro NCAP rating.
- Easy to park for beginners – the elevated ride height and small-ish dimensions help.
- Good ride quality – suitable for short and long drives.
#5 Is a Vauxhall Insignia a Good First Car?
The Insignia is a large family car.
The generous amount of features at an affordable price represents good value for money.
But unless you need the generous room it offers, the Vauxhall Insignia is not a suitable first car as the large dimensions make it more challenging for new drivers to navigate in urban settings.
Plus, its subpar interior quality is far behind the competition.
Comparison: Best Vauxhall for a First Car
Table Guide:
- MPG: (UK) real-world test; combined driving; models averaged.
- Insurance Groups: 1 = cheapest, 50 = most expensive.
- Euro NCAP: 1/5 to 5/5 stars (latest test).
- Cabin/Boot Space: Generous, Average, Limited; segment-relative.
- Ride Quality: Good, Average, or Poor.
| MPG | Insurance Groups | Euro NCAP | Cabin Space | Boot Space | Ride Quality | |
| Vauxhall Adam | 41.6 | 2 – 15 | 4/5 | Limited | Limited (170L) | Poor |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 42.7 | 10 – 23 | 4/5 | Limited | Average (309L) | Average |
| Vauxhall Astra | 46.0 | 11 – 20 | 5/5 | Generous | Average (370L) | Good |
| Vauxhall Mokka | 51.4 | 13 – 20 | 4/5 | Average | Limited (350L) | Average |
| Vauxhall Insignia | 39.8 | 13 – 30 | 5/5 | Generous | Generous (490L) | Good |
When measured against their respective competitors, the Astra hatchback is the better Vauxhall for first-time buyers.
But if you want a smaller car, opt for the Vauxhall Corsa.
Outside these two, the first car options within the Vauxhall family are unimpressive.
Always do your research, inspect, and test drive before buying.
References:
https://www.vauxhall.co.uk/index.html
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-10313891/Britains-reliable-cars-REVEALED.html
