• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links
  • A-Z

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Latest Vauxhall Astra (‘Mark 8’) – First Impressions

10th June 2022

First Impressions of Vauxhall's 'Mark 8' Astra, by George Loveridge (Driving Around)... Vauxhalls are virtually a right of passage in the motoring world. They really are one of those brands where most people can say they’ve had, been in, passed their test in, or even may still own one. I can almost guarantee that if you walk down your street, you’ll be able to find one. Just in 2021, there were … [Read more...]

Vauxhall Astra Mk 7 1.2 petrol – First Impressions

8th January 2020

Kieron Fennelly drives, and gives his views on, the latest Astra, in 1.2 litre petrol form… In 2019 Vauxhall/Opel’s Astra celebrated its 40th birthday (and Kim adds that he was at the UK launch of the Opel version, at Donington Park in the autumn of 1979, and remembers just how much the attending motoring writers were impressed with the new model). Many readers might recall the original Mk 1 … [Read more...]

New Vauxhall Astra – Road Test

3rd December 2019

NOW BEING DELIVERED TO UK CUSTOMERS – THE LATEST VAUXHALL ASTRA. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test-drives the new model and gives his opinion… The revised British-built Vauxhall Astra started to arrive in our domestic market showrooms in November, good news for the 25% of British motorists who have either owned or driven one since the Mark 1 made its appearance in 1979. Since then, … [Read more...]

Vauxhall Astra Elite diesel hatchback – Road Test

18th August 2017

Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) test drives the Vauxhall Astra Elite diesel hatch… You could be forgiven for wondering how conservative Vauxhall would emerge as one of Britain’s Brexit champions with its Astra. This family-focused C-segment, five-door hatch and sports tourer is now in its seventh generation and rolling off the Ellesmere Port production lines bound for British and … [Read more...]

NEW SERIES! ‘Golden Oldies’; Kim’s Retrospective Road Test No. 1 – 1996 Vauxhall Astra 1.7 LS turbodiesel (Isuzu engine).

2nd May 2017

Astranomical! In the first of a new series on Wheels-Alive, Kim Henson assesses Vauxhall’s family hatchback of the 1990s, in the form of a 1996 Vauxhall Astra F (‘Mark 3’), powered by Isuzu’s fuel-sipping 1.7 litre turbodiesel engine. (All words and photographs by Kim). “Astra from Vauxhall. It’s every car you’ll ever need – or want.” So proclaimed Vauxhall when promoting their 1996 Astra … [Read more...]

Vauxhall’s All New British-built Astra – 2016 European Car of The Year – Road Test

19th March 2016

Vauxhall’s Sleek Newcomer Astra Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) When the British built Astra five door Hatchback was introduced to the media last September it soon became obvious to us that it was probably the most important car for most people to be launched in 2015. And that became reality because it has just been voted 2016 European Car of the Year and Family Hatchback … [Read more...]

Testing Times – Brief Impressions from the SMMT Test Day South 2015

25th November 2015

  BRIEF FIRST IMPRESSIONS – CARS DRIVEN AT THE SOCIETY OF MOTOR MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS’ 2015 TEST DAY SOUTH Kim Henson was there… The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) hosts an annual driving day specifically for motoring writers from the southern part of Britain. Without exception I find this a very useful occasion for driving a variety of vehicles from different … [Read more...]

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us
A-ZPlease visit the A-Z page for listings by make, model, year etc. and an advanced search form.

Recent Posts

Tips for new car buyers from The Motor Ombudsman

Fun with trucks – at the British Motor Museum

Latest Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid – Road Test

Event Report – Firle Beacon: Rally, Sprint, and Supercar Festival 30th – 31st July 2022

For Your Bookshelf – and a Competition Prize; you can win a copy – ‘Hand Wash Only – A Beginner’s Guide to Detailing and Car Care’

Wheels-Alive Competition, starting at 9am Tuesday 2nd August; you can win a copy – ‘Hand Wash Only – A Beginner’s Guide to Detailing and Car Care’

MINI Electric Shadow Edition – Road Test

Supercar Weekend at Beaulieu 6th and 7th August 2022

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Popular Tags

4x4 all-electric Audi Austin Beaulieu BMW Book review British Motor Museum City car Compact SUV Convertible Coupé crossover Electric Electric Cars electric vehicle estate Estate car EV five door estate five door hatchback Ford four door saloon Genesis hatchback hot hatchback Hybrid Hybrid SUV Kia large SUV luxury SUV Mazda MG mid-size SUV Mini Motor Ombudsman MPV National Motor Museum news News round-up Nissan People carrier PHEV plug-in hybrid saloon self-charging hybrid Seven seater SUV Skoda sports car Sports saloon sporty hatchback sporty SUV supercar Supermini SUV Suzuki The Motor Ombudsman three door hatchback Tyres VW
All Tags ››

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Please share our website

Copyright © 2022 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive