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Opel Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo (A) Review

04 Dec 2013|21,662 views

A bigger displacement instils more life into the Astra GTC, allowing it to add real sporting appeal.

The chrome lining across the windows is new as well, adding more flair to the design

Up close and Personal

With sculpted lines and a high-set rear end, it definitely stands apart from the five-door Astra.

Compared to the 1.4-litre model, the 1.6-litre Astra GTC receives some cosmetic upgrades on the outside that requires more than just a keen eye to notice.

When you do, though, you will notice that the grille has been revised, sporting a single chrome plate instead of a split design as seen on the 1.4-litre model. The halogen daytime running lights from before have also replaced with LED ones.

Sporty overtones are appealing and the deep air dam, low profile roof line as well as roof spoiler all add up to the Astra GTC adorning a fine complexion of athleticism.

The cabin of the Astra GTC is comfortable and offers a warm feel. If there was one gripe, it would be the abundance of switchgear on the centre stack.

Well put together with premium-feel materials and complemented with LED ambient lighting, the interior exudes a subtle and classy charm

Nevertheless, being a three-door hatch, it is actually roomier inside the Astra GTC than you may first deduce. Most coupes sacrifice some of their practicality in favour of sleeker styling, but the Astra GTC is a living proof that you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Despite the steeply curved roofline, there is more head and legroom for passengers in the back than most of its major rivals. It's a similar story in the boot, too. At 380 litres, it's much bigger than most of its competitors. Knock the seats down and the capacity will increase to a generous 1,165 litres.

The 18-inch shoes on the 1.6-litre Astra GTC give a firmer ride than the 1.4-litre variant

Mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, gearshifts are slick while maintaining a pretty linear power delivery. While the 1.4-litre lump feels tired at the top of the rev-range, this 1.6-litre powerplant is the exact opposite. Even the sound of the 1.6-litre engine is also better than its smaller half.

While the Astra GTC doesn't have quite the elastic on-road verve, it's arguably got it licked for style, and is a delightfully balanced and fun-to-drive sports hatch

Conclusion

The Opel Astra GTC is a sleek-looking, good and solid machine. Thanks to an upgrade of sorts, this handsome three-door hatch can now back up its appearance with deeper dynamism.

The Opel Astra GTC is a three-door variant of the standard Astra hatchback, although it takes very few design elements from it. This car takes aim at others in its segment like the Hyundai Veloster, Renault Megane coupe and Volkswagen Scirocco.

Previously only available as a 1.4-litre, the suave-looking hatchback coupe from Opel is now available in a 1.6-litre guise.

Up close and Personal

With sculpted lines and a high-set rear end, it definitely stands apart from the five-door Astra.

Compared to the 1.4-litre model, the 1.6-litre Astra GTC receives some cosmetic upgrades on the outside that requires more than just a keen eye to notice.

When you do, though, you will notice that the grille has been revised, sporting a single chrome plate instead of a split design as seen on the 1.4-litre model. The halogen daytime running lights from before have also replaced with LED ones.

Sporty overtones are appealing and the deep air dam, low profile roof line as well as roof spoiler all add up to the Astra GTC adorning a fine complexion of athleticism.

The cabin of the Astra GTC is comfortable and offers a warm feel. If there was one gripe, it would be the abundance of switchgear on the centre stack.

Nevertheless, being a three-door hatch, it is actually roomier inside the Astra GTC than you may first deduce. Most coupes sacrifice some of their practicality in favour of sleeker styling, but the Astra GTC is a living proof that you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Despite the steeply curved roofline, there is more head and legroom for passengers in the back than most of its major rivals. It's a similar story in the boot, too. At 380 litres, it's much bigger than most of its competitors. Knock the seats down and the capacity will increase to a generous 1,165 litres.

The Drive

If it's hot hatch performance you're after, you'll have to opt for the Astra OPC. Nevertheless, the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill is nothing to sneeze at.

Developing a healthy 170bhp and 280Nm of torque, it's still capable of launching the car from standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 9.2 seconds, which is 1.1 seconds faster than the 1.4-litre model.

Mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, gearshifts are slick while maintaining a pretty linear power delivery. While the 1.4-litre lump feels tired at the top of the rev-range, this 1.6-litre powerplant is the exact opposite. Even the sound of the 1.6-litre engine is also better than its smaller half.

In corners, the Astra GTC turns in neatly with a well-suppressed body roll, but the steering, although well-weighted, could do with more feel.

The suspension is relatively firm over road undulations, which does cause the ride to come across as a little jarring. But the fact that the sturdy chassis of the car gives you a safe and confident feeling immediately lets you forget about the car's shortfalls.

Conclusion

The Opel Astra GTC is a sleek-looking, good and solid machine. Thanks to an upgrade of sorts, this handsome three-door hatch can now back up its appearance with deeper dynamism.