Ten Second Review

Look at it. Just look at it. If there's any better reason for buying Vauxhall's stunning Astra GTC three-door hatch than its sassy styling, I've yet to hear it. Yes, it drives well, is solidly built and is well equipped but do you really care? Just look at it.

Background

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it was Vauxhall who were the first to cotton onto this particular idea. For years hatchbacks had been getting bigger and bigger, but Vauxhall realised that this didn't need to be so. With its Meriva and Zafira MPV vehicles catering to those looking for ultimate practicality, the Astra didn't need to start shopping at Jacamo just yet. The latest Astra five-door is undeniably handsome but those looking for something that will have grown adults sighing in admiration, little can touch the Astra GTC three-door hatch. When it was first unveiled the GTC Paris concept in 2010, most figured that by the time the production car arrived it would be fatter and frumpier. It isn't.

Driving Experience

If you expected the Astra GTC to be just a re-skin of the existing Astra five-door, close inspection will reveal that the changes go rather deeper. Even in entry-level trim, the GTC adopts the sophisticated front suspension from the Insignia VXR, featuring Vauxhall's HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut), combined with the clever Watt's link rear axle for stability and handling precision. Break out the tape measure and you'll discover that both front and rear tracks are wider than the five-door car by 40 and 30mm respectively and the wheelbase is 10mm longer. The ride height is also 15mm lower, helping the big alloys fill the wheel arches. The Astra GTC can be ordered with a choice of four engines - one diesel and three petrols. With 165PS, the 2.0 CDTi is an upgraded version of the diesel that's fitted to some models in the Insignia and Astra ranges. Delivering 380Nm of torque (including overboost function) the 2.0 CDTi engine provides excellent mid-range acceleration for the GTC, combined with a zero to 60 mph time of 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. Both Start/Stop and a six-speed gearbox are also standard on both versions of the 1.4-litre Turbo petrol engine. With either 120PS or 140PS, the 1.4T offers crisp performance with maximum torque of 200Nm delivered between 1850-4200rpm. The most powerful engine in the range is the 1.6-litre Turbo, which produces 180PS and allows the GTC to hit a top speed of 132mph. Those looking for a real Porsche-baiter will need to wait for the VXR model that's due to arrive in 2012.

Design and Build

Aesthetics are a distinctly personal thing yet after a quick office straw poll, we could find precisely no people who found the Astra GTC unattractive. It's not as if it's blandly attractive in a news anchor fashion. It's just flat-out sassy. "Credit for the styling job goes to the team working under Mark Adams who noted "We didn't want emotion to get in the way of functionality: the Astra GTC still needed to be clever, affordable and practical." The GTC's signature design touch is a prominently arced blade, a crisp line that sweeps up from the rocker at the front of the door, running the opposite way to other Astras. A second line strikes through the door handle, stretching to the rear, while a third line follows the roof's profile, guiding the eye to the sharply integrated spoiler. There's a 370-litre boot which underscores Adams' claims of practicality although the rear seats have typically compromised headroom. The use of an electronic parking brake frees up space on the centre console for additional stowage.

Market and Model

Standard equipment is generous no matter which GTC model customers choose. Even in entry-level Sport trim, the GTC comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, DAB stereo and USB functionality. Move up to the SRI, and buyers get as standard tinted glass, onboard computer, leather-trimmed steering wheel and fog lamps. Bi-Xenon Advanced Forward Lighting (AFL), which offers nine separate light beams, is optional across the range. A range of new colours and materials, bespoke to the GTC, set the car apart from others in the Astra range. Morello Red, a leather trim, is also available as an option and brings with it six-way adjustable front seats. Prices kick off at £18,495 for the entry level 120PS 1.4-litre car, with the diesel Sport model costing £21,165. The SRI trims start at £19,945, again for the 1.4-litre, with another £400 netting you the 140PS version. You'll need £21,380 for the 180PS 1.6 Turbo, the quickest model available until the introduction of the VXR.

Cost of Ownership

Day to day running costs are not going to be markedly different from any other Astra model. In fact, when residual values come into play, it's likely that the GTC is going to be the cheaper car to run. Carbon dioxide emissions certainly look competitive enough, with the entry-level 1.4-litre 120PS model emitting 139g/km. Go for the diesel model and you're looking at 129g/km which isn't at all bad for a car that generates 165PS. Fuel economy is also competitive. Regardless of whether you opt for the 120 or 140PS variant, the turbocharged 1.4-litre engine returns a combined figure of 47.9mpg while the 2.0-litre CDTi diesel ekes over 57 miles from a gallon of derv and means that you have an effective range of over 700 miles. That's quite some gait.

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