Insurance Group: 14
MPG: 47.9
CO2: 139
0-62 Mph: 10.2 secs
BHP: 118 BHP
Range: 590 miles
PROS: Great looks, decent performance, surprisingly practical
CONS: Steep depreciation, not as fast as you'd expect
The GTC's 1.4-litre petrol engine develops 118 bhp at 4200-6000 rpm and 147 lb-ft at 1850-4200 rpm. This translates into a 0-62mph time of 10.2 seconds and a top speed of 119mph. Hardly earth-shattering performance.
On the other hand, the Astra rides supremely well, ironing out bumps and creases on the road with ease. The handling is also great and the GTC grips well through the corners. The 1.4-litre unit is a little wheezy - there are better engines in the range and our money would be on the 2.0-litre diesel.
Like its hatchback sibling, the standard Astra, the GTC looks sensational. It's not really a coupe at all, rather a rakish three-door hatch, but nevertheless it looks the part.
Standard kit includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 compatibility.
Additional extras such as Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in sat nav, rear parking sensors and climate control are also available for an additional cost. The car can also be upgraded to a metallic paint finish on the exterior for £495. The only cosmetic difference between this model and the GTC Sport 1.4 is the option to have leather seats which becomes available in the SRi at a cost of £1,050.
With only marginal improvements to other areas of the car this means the higher purchase price of this model is largely unjustified when compared to the GTC Sport 1.4.
In terms of practicality, there is plenty of space within the GTC and the rear seats are surprisingly spacious. Numerous storage spaces are available within the cabin as well and the boot is a decent size, offering 380 litres, expanding to 1,165 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
As a three door model, access to the backseats can be a little restricted which can cause some minor inconveniences to adult passengers. However, on the whole, space is used well and this means even long journeys are likely to be comfortable.
In terms of safety, the car comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags all as standard. On top of this an immobiliser and alarm are also fitted to deter thieves and the car comes with a 100,000 mile warranty. A service interval of 20,000 miles is recommended and reliability is expected to be high due to improvements made by the manufacturer.
Priced at £19,945, the GTC is good value for a coupe but the running costs are only average. Road tax falls tax band E and group 14 insurance should be more than manageable. You'll get 47.1 mpg on the combined cycle and, while this isn’t bad for a petrol, the diesels are much more frugal.
The Vauxhall Astra GTC GTC SRi 1.4 16v Turbo Start/Stop 3dr also suffers from steep depreciation.
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