2020 Vauxhall Astra 1.2L Petrol · WR20 OFH

The defining mechanical story for this 2020 Vauxhall Astra is one of largely stable roadworthiness, interrupted by a single but significant safety event on its 2024 test. Four of the five recorded MOT tests pass with no advisories, including the most recent assessment on 1 August 2026, indicating that the vehicle has been brought back to standard on the items the examiner inspected at the prior failure. The single failure, also dated 2 August 2024, was classified as Dangerous due to the nearside front tyre being below the legal 1.6mm tread depth, with a corresponding advisory noting the offside front tyre was worn close to the legal limit at 2mm and showing edge wear. Because that test and the subsequent pass were recorded on the same day, the rectification work appears to have been carried out and re-examined immediately, which is the only comfort that can be drawn from that dangerous defect entry. Against an expected annual average of roughly 10,000 to 12,000 miles for a vehicle of this age and class, the recorded 80,409 miles over six years equates to about 13,400 miles per year, putting it at the higher end of typical usage. There are no obvious gaps between annual test dates from 2023 onwards, with the tests falling in late July or early August each year, which suggests the car has remained in continuous road use rather than being laid up. Mechanically, this above-average accumulation means that consumables and load-bearing components such as the front brake pads and discs, clutch friction material (if manual), coil springs, and front suspension bushes and anti-roll bar links will have been worked harder than on a lower-mileage example, even though the MOT record itself does not flag any of these parts. For a prospective buyer, the primary inspection priority should be the front axle, given the recorded tyre wear pattern. With the nearside front tyre having been measured below the legal minimum on a steer axle, the cause needs investigating rather than assumed corrected. Edge wear on the offside front tyre can be indicative of misalignment, worn suspension bushes, top mount deterioration, or a tracking issue following suspension component wear. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking over speed bumps and uneven surfaces, which would point towards anti-roll bar drop links, wishbone bushes, or strut top mounts. Also feel for steering pull, vibration through the wheel around 50 to 70 mph, or uneven steering return, any of which would warrant a four-wheel alignment check and a closer inspection of the front strut assemblies. The braking system should be a secondary focus given the higher than average mileage. Even though no brake-related advisories appear on the record, the front pads and discs on an Astra of this mileage are likely approaching the point where a disc skim or replacement becomes due. On test, feel for a soft or spongy pedal, excessive pedal travel, or judder under firm braking which can indicate warped discs or a binding caliper. The rear brakes, handbrake mechanism, and brake pipes should be visually inspected for corrosion, particularly along the underside and around the rear axle, as six-year-old brake lines in areas of road salt use are vulnerable to surface rust. Finally, inspect the inner and outer tread and sidewalls of all four tyres for uneven wear, bulges, or cracking, as the previous edge wear pattern suggests the suspension geometry or tyre maintenance regime deserves scrutiny before purchase.