Do not for a minute believe that you are only looking at a three door variant. The GTC is - we are guaranteed - an aspirational coupe closer to the VW Scirocco five-door sister. We have already driven a preproduction variant at the Millbrook Proving Ground of GM, but this was our first opportunity to drive a completed one.

Total credit the GTC is an important touch of reengineering. Every outside panel differs in the five-door hatchback, with just the door handles and roof aerial.

Needless to say, with the exact same torsion beam axle as other members of the Astra family the GTC sticks at the rear - in comparison with the completely independent setups of the majority of competitors. Yet this can be not lose using the exact same Watts linkage fitted to estate and the hatch, and the GTC gets stronger spring and damper settings.

We have always enjoyed how the regular Astra five-door drives, and what's promising is the GTC builds on its sister's robust dynamic basis. It feels light and agile, great body management and precise direction with outstanding damping, when requested to react to the exceptional challenges of British B roads. Having said that, we had likely steer away from the Limited Edition trim level, which contains 20-inch wheels that, while certainly head-turning, bring with the a somewhat heavy footed feel.

The less good thing is the 138bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the fundamental variant can not provide the kind of operation the chassis deserves. It is an anaemic unit - whirling easily, but without any excitement that is midrange and with a tight-feeling top end. It is been tuned to provide on official market and CO2 amounts of course - 140g/kilometer and 47.1 mpg if you are interested. But there is no happiness in using it to attempt to make fast improvement found.

But driven - or eight-tenths, it is a self-possessed earth coverer, or even the most thrilling hatchback approximately and a swift, comfortable.

The inclusion of the Astra badge means it is going to fight to be regarded as matching the Volkswagen on question of standing, although it is more affordable compared to Volkswagen. The three door hatchback marketplace continues to be in retreat that is long term - a Focus variation is offered by Ford no longer - and the sporty styling of the GTC does make it an attractive choice to the options that are remaining.

Britain is expected to function as the largest marketplace with our love of three door hatchbacks meaning that almost 40 percent of generation will come here.