While most petrolheads drool over the hugely-popular OPC hot hatch, the sad fact is that the fiery flagship of the Astra lineup may be out of budget for many of its fans. The good news is that there is a solution if youre after a fun, attractive Opel Astra GTC.
Opel Astra GTC 1.4 Enjoy review by David Taylor
The Opel Astra GTC looks sporty
Meet the new Opel Astra GTC. Its aimed at bridging the gap between the family-orientated five-door hatchback and the OPC. The Opel Astra GTC is all about the passion of driving and sportiness and this is clearly evident with its looks. The Opel Astra GTC when compared to the five-door is considerably different. It sits lower to the ground, is wider and benefits from numerous go-faster bits. With redesigned tail lights, rear boot spoiler and sporty alloy wheels, the GTC certainly looks the part.
Reasonable power from a small engine?
Underneath the bonnet is a 1.4-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine. While most will scoff at the size of the engine, let it be known that the power output matches some of the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre motors. On paper, theres 103kW and 230Nm which isnt bad. Theres a more potent 1.6-litre engine available if you want a bit more oomph.
Fun and affordable driving to be had
The sporty looks are combined with good performance and the Opel Astra GTC, while not breaking any acceleration records, at least feels fast. Look, youre not going to be able to take on any hot hatches but theres no shortage of grunt when you need it. When driven sedately, you can expect the Opel Astra GTC to consume about 7L/100km. The main difference between the GTC and the standard five-door model is the suspension and ride. Put the car through its paces on some turns and the handling is excellent while the six-speed gearbox has a solid feel. As a fan of affordable cars that are fun and entertaining to drive, the GTC ticks all the boxes.
The Opel Astra GTC Has most features and is safe too
Interior-wise, the GTC has most of the creature comforts that youd need. There are fabric seats, a radio/CD that features iPod/USB connectivity, rear park assist, electronic handbrake, cruise control and dual zone climate control. The interior continues with the sporty theme and yet its still practical. It is considerably spacious despite being a two-door coupé and actually can squeeze two adults into the back. The clever Flex Floor layered boot means that theres a lot more space in the Astra GTCs trunk than youd expect. Safety is not neglected either and there are driver/passenger airbags, seat airbags, curtain airbags as well as electronic stability control. Its reassuring to know that if you do want to play around, the car will try keep all four wheels on the road.
The Opel Astra GTC 1.4 Enjoy – Conclusion
Overall, I liked the Opel Astra GTC and I think it makes a decent sporty coupé. Its a good drive and for the young at heart out there, balances sporty performance without any practical compromises. If you want a car that is fun to drive and cheap to own, then the GTC may just be the car for you. You may get laughed at by the hot hatch brigade but then again youre paying two thirds for almost the same amount of fun.
Opel Astra GTC – Price
Opel Astra GTC 1.4 Enjoy – R294 000
- Why you should: Good to drive, cheap, looks great, finally a coupé version.
- Why you shouldnt: No complaints.
- It would be better if: Upgrade that LCD screen – it looks outdated. Leather seats would be nice as an option.
- View the Opel Astra GTC 1.4 Enjoy: New / Used
- Competitors worth checking out: Renault Megane GTLine, Honda Civic hatch, Volkswagen Scirocco.
