2013 Opel Astra GTC Review
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Opel Astra GTC Review: A Stylish Competitor to Volkswagen Golf
Opel is back in the UAE after a hiatus of over 10 years. This is a new European competitor that was also the 3rd most popular brand in Europe last year. Intrigued by the stylish lineup of new models, I decided to test the new competitor of the Volkswagen Golf 1.4L, the Opel Astra GTC.
Drive
This model was touted as a "1.4L Turbo Ecotec", which in English sounds a bit like "Sporty" or "High Powered". In reality, this car is as sporty as a game of chess. Don't get me wrong; this is one hell of a stylish car. I mean, look at the pictures! This is one of the most stylish hatchbacks in the market. The sleek lines create a very sporty character and make you want to get in the car. Once you do, however, you come crashing back to reality.
- Specifications: 140 horsepower with a 6-speed gearbox.
- Handling: Decent handling, thanks to HiPerStrut suspension.
- Wheels: 20-inch wheels for good eye candy.
Once you're done drooling, remind yourself this is not a sporty car. It drives well, taking you from point A to point B. But even a Yaris can do that. What we expected from a GTC was some GTC-type drive, which it doesn't have! It has a regular hatchback drive. It does cruise okay on the highway and yes, it also has cruise-control. But it's not a "sporty" drive; it's a passenger drive, just so we're clear.
Interior
We drove the full-option model, which boasts:
- Leather perforated steering wheel
- Leather gear knob
- Partial leather seats with a sporty design
- Three cupholders
- Decent space in the dashboard
- Some soft-touch materials
Again, the interior is designed to give a sporty touch to the car. However, the front headroom is quite limited. This means if you're 5'6" or above, you might want to stick your head out and drive. There is no panoramic glass roof, so you won't be able to do that either.
The stylish exterior design reveals some issues for the interior:
- Rear visibility is quite limited due to a smaller rear glass area at the boot.
- Rear legroom leaves much room for improvement, as there isn't any. This is supposedly a five-seater but can only accommodate two adults comfortably.
The boot space is deep and fairly wide. At 380 liters (with the rear seats up), it's slightly bigger than the Volkswagen Golf.
Verdict
The Astra GTC is priced at 90,000 AED, which is roughly 10-15% cheaper than the Volkswagen Golf. It is more stylish too. Consider the GTC if you want an eye-catching German-engineered hatch that can seat two adults. Just leave your racing boots at home.
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