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Skoda Octavia vs Vauxhall Astra: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Skoda Octavia does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.3 percentage points ahead of the Vauxhall Astra on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 83,050 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict; the common faults below cover the rest.

Quick answer

On the MOT measure the Skoda Octavia comes out 3.3 percentage points further above the national rate for cars of its age than the Vauxhall Astra.

  • Choose the Octavia if boot space matters most: Skoda lists the current Octavia Estate at 640 litres with the seats up and 1,700 with them folded.
  • Choose the Astra if you want the wider choice: it is one of the ten most traded used cars in the UK, and there are more than twice as many on the road to shop from.
  • Many of the searches for this pair say "estate". Both makers sell one: Skoda calls it the Octavia Estate, Vauxhall the Astra Sports Tourer. The MOT figures on this page cover every body style.
Skoda Octavia and Vauxhall Astra side by side
At a glanceOctaviaAstra
First-time MOT pass rateagainst the national rate for cars of the same age80.5%+2.4 points72.5%-0.9 points
Cars licensed in the UKend of June 2026, all generations (DfT/DVLA)219,126527,023
Typical asking price on Autozamiddle 80% and medianSee the model guide£4,395–£8,668, median £6,190Vauxhall Astra cars registered 2015–2021; 29 October 2026
Best yearsfrom our model guides2023, 20242020, 2021

Cars licensed for the road in the UK at the end of June 2026, every generation, counting cars taxed or exempt and not those declared off the road (SORN). The MOT is one measure: it checks safety and emissions items and not the engine, clutch or gearbox. Asking prices are dealers’ asking prices, not sale prices.

Where the Octavia stands out

  • Boot space is the Octavia Estate’s calling card: 640 litres seats up and 1,700 seats folded in the current car (Skoda UK).
  • Our guide describes the newest generation as Golf substance with Skoda value: a bigger boot at a lower price than the Golf.
  • Best-resolved years in our guide are 2023 and 2024.

Where the Astra stands out

  • Far more on the road than the Octavia, so more cars to choose from and compare.
  • A roomy, well-priced family hatchback, in the words of our guide; the smaller turbo petrols have low running costs and the 1.6 CDTi diesel is quoted at up to 62 mpg.
  • The 2020 to 2021 facelift cars are the best-resolved Astras in our guide. Vauxhall also sells the Sports Tourer estate: it says up to 1,634 litres of space in the current car.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Skoda Octavia
Pass rate80.5%
Age-matched national78.1%
Difference+2.4
Tests20,737
Vauxhall Astra
Pass rate72.5%
Age-matched national73.4%
Difference-0.9
Tests62,313

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Skoda Octavias registered 2005–2022 and Vauxhall Astras registered 2001–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Skoda Octavia

Mk4, 2020+ · compact family hatch and estate (saloon-shaped hatch)

The Mk4 Skoda Octavia (2020+) shares the VW Golf Mk8 platform — including its early infotainment software bugs (resolved in 2023+ updates). The e-TEC 48V mild-hybrid starter generator has occasional faults, and the DSG differs by engine: dry-clutch DQ200 on e-TEC petrols, wet-clutch on 2.0 TDI and vRS. Best-buy: 2023+. Worst: 2020–2022 infotainment.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2024/017recall
    On certain vehicles with electromechanical brake servo and DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) of a limited production period there is a possibility that a heat protection mat was incorrectly fitted. In individual cases the brake fluid reservoir can melt and cause a brake fluid leak into the engine compartment.
    15,729 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 4 May 2020 and 14 November 2023
    Large recall — 15,729 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Mk4 infotainment softwaremoderate
    Touchscreen freezes; haptic-touch climate slider non-responsive; CarPlay drops
    2020–2022 · Free under software update
    Check: Confirm software version updated to ME3.2 or later.
  • eTSI 48V starter generatorminor
    Stop-start unavailable; "mild hybrid" warning
    2020+ eTSI variants · £800–£1,200 unit replacement
    Check: Test stop-start engagement once warm.
  • DSG gearbox — which one depends on the engineminor
    Hesitation or judder pulling away in slow traffic
    All DSG Mk4. The 1.0 and 1.5 e-TEC mild hybrids use the 7-speed dry-clutch DQ200; the 2.0 TDI, the vRS and the iV plug-in hybrid use wet-clutch gearboxes · Wet-clutch gearboxes have a scheduled gearbox oil change; the dry-clutch DQ200 has none · Wet-clutch DSG oil service £350–£500
    Check: Confirm which gearbox the car has from its engine. On a wet-clutch car, the service history should show the scheduled DSG oil change; on an e-TEC car with the DQ200 there is no scheduled gearbox oil service, so do not expect one. Pull away uphill from a standstill to provoke any judder.
Typical asking price:
not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:
49–57 mpg 2.0 TDI; 42–47 mpg 1.5 TSI
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:
2023, 2024
Years to avoid:
2020, 2021, 2022
Used Skoda Octavias for saleFull Octavia fault guideUsed Skodas

Also compare:

Vauxhall Astra

Mk7 / K (2015-2021) · A C-segment family hatchback (with an Astra Sports Tourer estate variant), sold in the UK against rivals such as the Ford Focus, VW Golf and SEAT Leon.

The Vauxhall Astra Mk7 (K), sold in the UK from 2015 to 2021, is an affordable, roomy family hatchback whose reliability depends on engine and build year, because the 2019 facelift brought new engines. On pre-facelift 2015–2018 cars, listen for timing-chain rattle on a cold start (1.4 Turbo and 1.6 CDTi). Best buy: 2020–2021. Worst: 2016–2017.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2018/332recall
    Reduction in braking power where the brake pedal is applied slowly and constantly
    37,167 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 23 March 2015 and 14 August 2018
    Large recall — 37,167 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Clutch & dual-mass flywheel wear (1.4 Turbo petrol, manual, pre-facelift)major
    Slipping clutch, a high or vague biting point, and difficulty selecting gears. A small number of cars have also been reported with the clutch pedal sticking to the floor after being pressed, and owners have separately reported a buzzing/vibration noise from the clutch slave cylinder pipe, most noticeable around 3,000-3,500rpm.
    2016-2019 (1.4 Turbo petrol, manual gearbox) · Premature dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear is typically reported from around 40,000-60,000 miles, though isolated cases of much earlier clutch failure have appeared on owner forums, so don't assume low mileage rules it out. · Roughly £500-£900 for a clutch kit and dual-mass flywheel replacement at an independent garage
    Check: Test drive uphill and in stop-start traffic: feel for clutch slip under load, a biting point that has crept high, or notchy gear selection. Listen for buzzing/vibration from the transmission tunnel around 3,000rpm, and ask whether the clutch pedal has ever stuck down.
  • Timing chain wear (1.4 Turbo petrol)critical
    A rattling or tapping noise from the engine on cold start-up that fades once oil pressure builds, caused by a stretched timing chain or worn tensioner/guides. In more advanced cases a chain guide can crack, and if ignored the chain can eventually jump timing and cause serious engine damage.
    2016-2019 (1.4 Turbo petrol) · Cold-start rattle is most commonly reported from around 50,000-70,000 miles onward, although a handful of much lower-mileage cases have also been reported. · Around £600-£1,200 depending on how accessible the chain is, more if a broken guide or tensioner has caused secondary damage
    Check: Start the engine from cold, ideally with the bonnet up, and listen for a rattle in the first few seconds that quietens as oil pressure builds. Ask for any evidence of chain, tensioner or guide work in the service history.
  • Timing chain tensioner failure (1.6 CDTi diesel)critical
    A persistent rattle on every cold start caused by a tensioner design that lacks a gasket, letting oil drain out overnight; the resulting daily rattle gradually stretches and wears the chain. Left unaddressed, this can progress to the chain jumping timing or, in the worst case, snapping.
    2015-2018 (1.6 CDTi diesel) · Rattle typically starts to appear from around 60,000-90,000 miles, and can progress to a genuine chain failure risk beyond 100,000 miles if it's never investigated. · Roughly £800-£1,500 or more for a chain and tensioner replacement; substantially higher if the engine has suffered internal damage from a jumped or broken chain
    Check: Listen for a rattle on cold start that's present every single morning rather than a one-off noise. Ask specifically whether the timing chain and tensioner have been replaced, and treat a high-mileage 1.6 CDTi with no record of this work with caution.
Typical asking price:
£4,395–£8,668, median £6,190 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
1.0 Turbo (105PS): 44–49 mpg. 1.2 Turbo: 42–47 mpg. 1.6 CDTi diesel: 55–62 mpg. 1.4 Turbo SRi: 38–43 mpg.
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2020, 2021
Years to avoid:
2016, 2017
Used Vauxhall Astras for saleFull Astra fault guideUsed Vauxhalls

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Skoda Octavia

Good for: Practical family buyers wanting Golf substance with Skoda value — bigger boot, lower price.

Less good for: Buyers without tolerance for early Mk4 infotainment quirks.

Vauxhall Astra

Good for: Buyers wanting a roomy, well-priced family hatch with genuinely low running costs on the smaller turbo petrols. The 2020–2021 facelift is the best-resolved version.

Less good for: Anyone considering the 1.4 Turbo SRi without confirmed timing-chain service history, or an early 2015–2016 car with a patchy record — both carry the highest risk of an expensive fault.

Octavia Estate or Astra Sports Tourer?

A lot of people searching this pair mean the estates. Skoda sells the Octavia as a hatchback and as the Octavia Estate; Vauxhall sells the Astra as a hatchback and as the Astra Sports Tourer. The DVSA records behind the MOT table above do not split hatchbacks from estates, so its figures describe each model as a whole.

On load space the makers’ own current figures are close. Skoda UK lists the Octavia Estate at 640 litres with the rear seats up and 1,700 litres with them folded. Vauxhall UK says the Astra Sports Tourer offers up to 1,634 litres. Those are figures for the current new cars, measured the maker’s way, and most used estates on sale are earlier generations with different numbers, so check the figure for the year and version you are looking at.

Whichever you prefer, see the actual estate with the seats folded, a child seat fitted and your own luggage before you decide: the figure for the year and version in front of you is the one that counts.

Sources for the figures in this section

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Skoda Octavia or the Vauxhall Astra?
On the MOT measure, the Skoda Octavia: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.3 percentage points ahead of the Vauxhall Astra on first-time MOT passes, across 83,050 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Skoda Octavia and the Vauxhall Astra compare?
80.5% of Skoda Octavias pass their MOT first time (20,737 tests in DVSA's records) and 72.5% of Vauxhall Astras pass their MOT first time (62,313 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Skoda Octavia's age average 78.1% and cars of the Vauxhall Astra's age 73.4% — so the Skoda Octavia runs 2.4 points better than its age group and the Vauxhall Astra runs 0.9 points worse than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Skoda Octavia and Vauxhall Astra should I avoid?
Skoda Octavia: Pre-2023 Mk4 inherited the Mk8 Golf's infotainment issues directly. Cars built 4 May 2020 to 14 November 2023 are also inside DVSA recall R/2024/017: on Octavias with the electromechanical brake servo and DSG a heat-protection mat may have been fitted wrongly, so the brake-fluid reservoir can melt and leak (15,729 vehicles across Octavia and Superb). Check the registration. Vauxhall Astra: The 2016-2017 cars are early in this generation's run and account for a disproportionate share of the forum-reported clutch, dual-mass flywheel and timing-chain problems on the original GM-sourced 1.4 Turbo and 1.6 CDTi engines, some of which have surfaced at surprisingly low mileages on cars from this early build period. DVSA recall R/2018/332 (reduced braking power) covers Astras built 23 March 2015 to 14 August 2018, and R/2016/274 (front passenger airbag) the 1,745 built 19 July to 9 November 2016.
Is the Skoda Octavia or the Vauxhall Astra cheaper to run?
On fuel the Vauxhall Astra has the edge: its most economical version returns up to 62 mpg, against up to 57 mpg for the Skoda Octavia, on the figures in our model guides. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Skoda Octavia or Vauxhall Astra registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.
Which has the bigger boot, the Skoda Octavia Estate or the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer?
Both are big estates. Skoda UK lists the current Octavia Estate at 640 litres with the rear seats up and 1,700 litres folded; Vauxhall UK says the current Astra Sports Tourer offers up to 1,634 litres of space. These are new-car figures for today’s models, measured the makers’ way and read on 28 October 2026; used estates are mostly earlier generations, so check the figure for the year and version you are buying.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.