2014 VAUXHALL ASTRA

This striking brute is the third incarnation of the current shape of Astra, lining up alongside the five-door and Sports Tourer models, although from summer 2014 the Astra name was dropped and it was simply known as Vauxhall GTC. It has its sights set on the likes of Volkswagen's Scirocco and the Renault Megane Coupe; both attractive three-door hatchbacks with serious style and decent driving dynamics. Vauxhall's offering has an emphasis on driving enjoyment, with the high-tech front suspension set-up from the Insignia VXR employed and a wider track utilised to vastly improve traction and agility. Sounds like a strong proposition in the driving stakes, then. What about efficiency? Well, there are six engines available upon launch. Two derivatives are already under the magic 120g/km CO2 threshold under which fleet managers insist their cars pass, returning 62.8mpg in the same breath. The Astra GTC has a five star EuroNCAP classification – the highest availabe merit. As standard on all GTCs you get active safety head restraints, dual front seatbelt pretensioners and a system which stops you moving off unless you put your foot on the clutch. ABS is standard, along with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Hydraulic Brake Fade Assist, Cornering Brake Control and Emergency Brake Assist systems. SRi models also get and electronic handbrake with Hill Start Assist, which prevents the car rolling backwards and makes hill starts much easier. You also get front, side and curtain airbags and a reinforced passenger safety cell. The GTC has the biggest boot of its main competitors, boasting 380 litres with the seats up or 1,165 litres with seats down. VW's Scirocco manages 312 litres and 1,006 litres respectively, while the Megane Coupe has 372 litres and 1,129 litres respectively. However, litres don't tell the whole story; the GTC's boot does have a smaller opening gap than competitors, meaning larger items (like Golf clubs) may prove a tight squeeze. Behind the wheel you'll notice a lot of parts shared with other cars from the Astra family; familiar Vauxhall dash and stereo controls are the order of the day. One thing worth noting for shorter drivers is the location of the B-pillar. Because of the coupe-esque roofline it is situated very far back, meaning a driver has to contort themselves around to try to reach the seatbelt. This also affects the location of the handbrake (on 'Sport' models which don't have an electronic one) and gear lever, which both feel too close to the driver when they have their seat set slightly further forward. Another bugbear was the size of the A-pillar – large enough to totally block out cars coming towards you from the two o' clock angle, which means they can take you by surprise when negotiating a country lane. Overall however the GTC has a well laid-out cabin area and you aren't left stretching for controls. It doesn't feel quite as 'premium' as a German product in terms of fit-and-finish or materials used, but then it isn't as expensive either. All vehicles are subject to a £200 non refundable deposit. Check our website for more stock. Friendly and approachable sales team, check out our reviews.

Features:

12V Power Socket - Front, 18in Alloy Wheels - 10-Spoke, 20 Watts Per Channel Output, ABS - Anti Lock Brakes, Air Blend Heater with Six Speed Fan, Air Conditioning, Air Recirculation System, Airbags - Curtain, Airbags - Front Side Impact, Airbags - Passenger, Airbags - Passenger Deactivation, Alarm - Remote Control Ultrasonic, Ambient Lighting - Centre Console Surround, Ambient Lighting - Front Door, Armrest - Front Centre with Storage, AUX Connection, Black Trim on Door Pillars, Brake Fade Assist - Hydraulic, Brake Light - LED Centre, Brake Lights - Adaptive, Bumpers - Body Coloured Sports Style Front and Rear, Burst-Proof Door Locks and Anti-Jam Door Design, Cabin Interior Courtesy Light Operated by Door Switches, CBC - Cornering Brake Control, Centre Console - Liquid Palladium-Piano Black Effect Inserts, Centre Storage with Two Cup Holders, Cruise Control, DAB - Digital Radio, Dark Style Tail Lights, Daytime Running Lights, Deadlocks, Deformation Zones Front and Rear, Digital Clock with Automatic RDS Time Adjustment, Door Handles - Body Coloured, Door Handles - Interior - Chrome Effect, Door Inserts - Jet Black-Piano Black Effect, Door Mirror - Driver Side - Wide-Angle, Door Mirrors - Body Coloured, Door Mirrors - Electric - Heated, Door Sills - Chrome Effect Front, Drivers Airbag, Drivers Internal Central Locking Switch, Dual Tone Horn, EBD - Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Electric Windows - Front with Safety Autoreverse and One Touch Facility, Electro-Chromatic Anti Dazzle Rear View Mirror, Electronic Engine Deadlock Immobiliser, Electronic Odometer and Trip Odometer, Electronic Theft Protection For Audio Equipment, Ellipsoid Headlights, Emergency Brake Assist, Emergency Tyre Inflation Kit, ESP Plus - Electronic Stability Programme, Exhaust Tailpipes - Stainless Steel, Exterior Trim - Chrome Effect Side Window Surround, Folding Key, Front Door Pockets, Front Fog Lights, Front Map Reading Lights Integral with Courtesy Light, Front Passengers Seat Height Adjuster, Fully Carpeted Luggage Area, Gear Knob - Leather, Glovebox - Illuminated, Grille Surround - Chrome Effect, Head Restraint - Height Adjustable Outer Rear Seat, Headlights - Automatic with Tunnel Detection, Headlights - Dark Style, Headlights - Electric Beam Levelling, Headlights - High Beam Assist, Headrests - Active Safety Front, Height-Adjustable Front Seat Head Restraints, Illuminated Luggage Area, Instrument Panel Light Dimmer, ISOFIX Child Seat Restraint System for Outer Rear Seats Incorporating Top Tether, Key Left in Ignition Audible Warning, Laminated Windscreen, Lights On Audible Warning, Load Restraining Eyes, Locking Wheel Nuts, Luggage Compartment Cover, Manually Foldable Door Mirrors, Multifunction Display, Pedal Release System, Pollen Filter, Power Assisted Steering, Radio - AM-FM with 36 Station Presets, Radio - CD Player MP3 Player - CD400+, Rake and Reach Adjustable Steering, RDS - Radio Data-Traffic System, Reinforced Passenger Safety Cell, Remote Central Locking, Seat - Front Side Bolsters - Morrocana Trimmed, Seatbelt Unfastened Warning Light for Front Seats, Seats - Anti-Submarining Ramps - Front, Seats - Drivers Height Adjustment, Seats - Rear Split Folding 60-40, Seats - Sports Front, Shark Fin-Integrated Aerial, Side Impact Protection Beams, Side Window Demist Air Vents and Adjustable Face-Level Air Vents, Sight and Light Pack, Speakers - x6, Sports Suspension, Steering Column - Energy Absorbing, Steering Wheel - 3 Spoke Leather Covered and Chrome Bezelled, Steering Wheel - Mounted Audio Controls, Storage - Box on Lower Facia, Storage Pockets on Front Seat Backs, Straight Line Stability Control, Sunvisors - Twin with Covered Illuminated Vanity Mirrors, Traction Control, Trip Computer - Multi-Function, Twin Gas Assisted Tailgate Struts, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, USB Connection with iPod Control, VIN - Visible Vehicle Identification Number, Windows - Dark Tinted Rear, Windows - Tinted, Wipers - Rain Sensitive