Opel GTC 1.4 Turbo Review: Glam tourer

What we like:

Prominent and svelte exterior

strong engine

handles very well.

What we dislike:

Engine turns vocal near the redline

steering wheel is a tad big.

It can sound overworked above 5,000 revs, but in normal driving, it’s commendably quiet. In fact, the whole car is unusually quiet, right up to expressway speeds.

However, you cannot describe the GTC as an outstandingly exciting driver’s car. Thing is, like the Scirocco and Veloster, it doesn’t communicate as efficiently with the driver. The steering could do with more life – you can feel the power assistance and sense everything working, but you can’t feel too much of what the tyres are doing on the road.

But at the same time it’s hard to fault. It rides comfortably, remains composed at unnecessary speeds on bumpy roads, grips well in corners and gobbles expressways with aplomb. Deserving praises are the ABS and EBD assisted brakes – they’re both strong and responsive, particularly during emergency manoeuvres.

At the end of the day, why should you buy an Astra GTC?

Firstly, because of how glamorous it looks – and you thought only the French are good at giving us beautiful cars. It may have the basic silhouette of the Scirocco but here, you can’t help noticing all those detailed lines flanking the car. Nice roof spoiler too.

Secondly, it may not be the most powerful coupe in its segment, but it’s not that far off when driven in the real world; you won’t be left behind, you won’t be the last off the redlight in a traffic light grand prix and it handles, surprisingly, in a neat manner.

Lastly, here’s the best part: at less than $160k, it may be slightly pricier than the Veloster Turbo, but the GTC undercuts the yuppy favourite Scirocco by a significant amount.

Credits: Story and photos by Azfar Hashim