In-depth reviews

Vauxhall Astra GTC hatchback owner reviews

“Despite its sporty looks, the Vauxhall Astra GTC is a spacious and practical car with more than enough room for two passengers in the back.”

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8 Dec 2014

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Carbuyer Rating

3.4 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.4 out of 5

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

56%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Engine (2 cases)
Engine, Gearbox / clutch, Other (1 case)
Suspension, Other (1 case)
Brakes, Engine, Gearbox / clutch, Suspension, Other (1 case)
Gearbox / clutch, Other (1 case)
Brakes, Gearbox / clutch, Suspension, Other (1 case)
Electrics (1 case)
Other (1 case)
Engine, Gearbox / clutch, Suspension (1 case)

Review 1 of 25

Tell us what you think about your car?

The worst car I have ever owned. It developed a misfire at 7k miles, the engine was removed and disassembled. At 19k the same issue returned. The engine was removed and disassembled again. I've been without my car for eight weeks, but Vauxhall aftercare seem totally useless. They're not interested and won't tell you anything. It's had new pistons and a crank regrind due to excessive carbon build-up, possibly from an EGR malfunction.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Pros: It's a good looking car, comfortable for long journeys, has plenty of power and all the standard kit you could need. Cons: Horrific fuel economy, poor visibility (you can't see out the back or see the corners out the front), the gearbox needed rebuilding after 40k miles (at a cost of £1,200), the doors are massive so you need to park across two spaces. The interior rattles, the 19" tyres are very expensive. Suspension is too hard and it's VERY expensive to tax for a 1.6. I would not recommend this car. It looks good but will cost an arm and a leg to run.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Ride is uncomfortable, the seats and seating position is uncomfortable and the visibility is awful! Don’t get me wrong the car has a bit of oomph, it looks good from the outside, and is modern to look at. But none of that is good enough to counter the awful driving experience. Understandably for a coupe you don’t expect the best visibility, however I don’t know how the hell Vauxhall has managed to make this so bad. The suspension is so firm you feel like your snapping a spring every bump in the road, the seating position is awful, the seats are among the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in. After owning this for a matter of months and trying to get used to it, it’s safe to say - it’s going!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very comfortable ride, excellent automatic gearbox, very stylish inside and out, feels well built and safe. Would buy another with more powerful engine

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

utter rubbish unreliable car, ive always been a vauxhall fan but i will never ever get a vauxhall again. 18000 miles new gearbox new clutch and head-gasket and about 2 million tyres turbo also faulty

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Car is really quick but very thirsty, it may just be my car but the build quality is shockingly bad, notcy gearbox, rattles from dashboard, both doors, and creaking seats, it is so bad I do not want to drive it, car is now 1 year old and has lost half its value so avoid at all costs.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Love this car, its fast and it looks good, good mpg, performance and ride are just what you'd expect. Its a very comfortable car and a pleasure to drive. Downsides are poor turning circle and the doors are huge, so thought is needed when parking.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

This car is a joy to own. It's very stylish, the average fuel consumption is 59.6mpg, road tax costs £130.00 for the year but when you consider the top speed is 140 mph and it has 195 BHP it seems worth the money. This model does have small a small rear window and large "A" pillars but visibility is still fine. The doors are large and heavy, too, but not too much so. The leather seats are comfortable and driving the car is a real pleasure, with plenty of power throughout the gears due to the twin turbos with no lag. I was fortunate that mine came with a load of factory fitted extras including EPB, Auto headight, Auto Wipers, High Beam Assist, Headlight Washers, Adjustable Flex floor boot system, LED rear Lights, AFL's Subwoofer & Infinity sound system, very impressed with my car; it's the best I have had in over 35 years of driving.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

It’s so bad that I don’t want to drive. Driving it is a nightmare. The ride is rough, it has uncomfortable seats and poor visibility. The fuel consumption is also very poor. The automatic transmission is very sluggish and unresponsive, too. And it's poorly built.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I got this car in November 2015 , carbon metallic black. Pros: Great to look at, very smooth on roads or motorways 140bhp plenty of room for four people but a bit tight if there's five. Large boot, interior is well spec with cruise control, speed limiter and warning, Bluetooth usb connection and audio jack, red mood lighting. Plenty of headroom, centre console with arm rest with storage. Cons Large A pillars can be a blind spot so you have to move around when pulling out of junctions or parking spaces also the doors are heavy and long and this can be a problem in tight spaces. Petrol tank full has a range of 326 miles. Rear window is small I've had this car for 14 months and the only problem I've had is that the tyre sensor system keeps saying 3 tyres are flat but there fine and it's been back to the dealers 3 times ( it's there now as I write this review). It has plenty of oomph, put your foot down and the turbo kicks in and you're off. It's great on motorways and in corners grips the road like glue, with responsive steering. It's a pleasure to drive and the seats are comfy.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I bought the GTC as my dream car but it turned into my nightmare. The main issue that I had with the GTC was the unbelievable amount of stone chips to the sides of the vehicle which I only noticed after a few months. Vauxhall agreed to re-spray my car at their cost and included mud flaps. On picking up my car from the garage I drove the car 50 miles back home only to notice that the new paintwork had started to get chipped again. Eventually after nearly 2 years my finance company took back my GTC and replaced it with a brand new model of the same spec. After 200 miles I noticed the same thing happening with the replacement car. I am now currently in a dispute with my finance company as to why they sold me a car which is not fit for purpose and not as advertised. Vauxhall say they have only seen this issue on my 2 vehicles. I know they are lying as I have seen plenty other GTCs with the same problem. Are other owners aware of the issue and just don't care about their car? What to look out for is a sandblasted effect of stone chips from the rear quarter panels and right along the bottom of the doors to the front wheel arches on both sides. If you don't have mud flaps fitted to your GTC then the stone chips will also be evident on the sides of the front and rear bumpers. Any new owners still within the 1 year paint warranty with this issue then I would suggest you get it sorted asap or get rid.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

This is a great car to drive but is very under powered. It should have 177bhp but rolling road says it only has 150bhp. Vauxhall unable to find anything wrong with it and don't consider it a problem. Expected better mpg and more power from this car and am pretty disappointed.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Love it. The car looks and drives fantastic, real head turner. Very powerful for a 1.4, love the six speed gearbox. Road tax only £130 and cheap insurance.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I bought this car brand new and have only done 7 1/2 k miles. So far so good! It's a well designed, handsome looking coupe. When pushed,the the power and pickup feels good. Quite exhilarating. It has tonnes of boot space, is spacious in the back and can quite easily fit two large adults. The handing is superb, even without the FlexRide option. The automatic gearbox is slick, it has a neat and lovely looking dashboard and feels solid and safe when driven, and the ride is smooth when driven especially if the road surface is free of bumps. It's also quite economical when driven sensibly – on motorways it averages 55+mpg. On the negative side, the doors are a bit on the heavy side but do get used to it after little while. The standard 18" alloys mean the suspension is a bit firmer than a regular Astra, but the ride is still comfortable. The turning circle is a little wide, but you get used to it, as do you the windscreen pillars, which can be a little intrusive. Also, that fuel economy will suffer if you make use of all the power. The firm ride is why I'm giving the GTC a four-star rating. I've not tried FlexRide, but it could make the difference.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Like the look of the car and high spec. It's got sat nav, wifi hotspot etc however mpg is poor at 30-32, only had 350 miles from full tank of fuel and it lacks power. Granted I don't always do long journeys but a heavy car for the engine size.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Owned my GTC for nearly a year and still finding it a joy to drive. The acceleration is great for overtaking and with ease - really smooth as well. Nice cockpit with ok toys. Bluetooth is not standard which is a shame but good DAB radio. Mine has both front and rear parking sensors which is handy with the restricted rear view. As it is a 3dr you should expect the doors to be long, the GTC is no exception they are the biggest and heaviest doors I've seen on a car, only a disadvantage in a car park but otherwise good for accessibility. Recently had to replace a tire (19inch) following a puncture which set me back £200. Massive boot - large enough for 3 suitcases. It does have a small petrol tank so seems like I'm at the petrol station often. Feels more roomy that it looks, can easily fit 2 adults in the back comfortably.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Just back from Oz and spent a lot of time on line trying to find a decent car to buy in the UK. Nothing compares to muscle cars in Oz for looks, performance and value. I just didn,t fancy anything in the UK until I happened to drive buy a garage selling the Astra GTC. Took a test drive and that was that. I love this car and even prefer it to my previous new cars including 2 Honda Civic Type R,s and a WRX. Who.d have thought it? A Vauxhall Astra. It's a dream to drive and it looks amazing.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Brought this car used last april, cannot really find any real faults, although doors are big - be careful where you park. After having a 1.6-litre petrol Focus and changing to this car you certainly feel the difference in power, it's a lot faster. When buying this car I had a look at a Megane coupe and Scirocco, glad I brought this car. Love it!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Lets start with the `cons` how i have seen them. 1/ The doors are big, very big. 2/ The back window is small, but you do get used to it. 3/ Turning circle is poor. 4/ It's awkward to grab the seat belt. The pros for me are. 1/ It looks great, the lines of the car make it look lower than it really is and the slightly flared arches make it sit lovely on the road. 2/ It drives superb, a lot smoother than you may think, but still drives and grips like a go kart. 3/ interior is very spacious, plenty of leg room in the back. 4/ The engine pulls really well,for safe overtaking, with some extra left if needed. 5/ The boot space is more than enough and deep too. I know the VW and Renault have more street cred so to speak, but for me the Vauxhall Astra GTC does not disappoint. Yes it will lose more money than the other two when selling on and this is something to consider. But I'm so glad I didn't go for the VW, as i love driving my GTC, and that comes from someone who said they would never buy a Vauxhall again. Mind you that was a 12 year old astra estate. And i think (GM) Vauxhall have come on leaps and bounds since then.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Looks really nice especially in white with red interior trim and is great to drive, good handling, good performance, sounds great when you open it up, a big smile every time I drive it.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Ive had my GTC for nearly a year now, it looks great and Ive found its pretty quick as well. Ive found it will get around 600-650 miles out of a tank as well. The equipment is good, iPod integration via USB, MP3 CD player as well. Air Con is standard as is cruise control. The part digital dash is a nice touch as are the little red LED indicators at the end of the speedo and RPM needles. The GTC has a larger boot than the Scirroco, the normal Astra and even the current class leading Ford Focus, so stick that up the Scirroccos tailpipe.... There are 2 downsides. 1 of them you can discount after getting used to the car which is the small rear window so initially you will reverse like a pensioner until you are used to the car itself. The other downside is the turning circle, honestly, Star destroyers have better turning circle than the GTC. You will find you are carrying out a few more 3 point turns (or turn in the road manoeuvres depending on your age...) when you try and turn this car around. Other than that, this car is an absolute pleasure to drive. If you are having a rotten day, go for a drive it WILL put a smile on your face.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

It's a nice looking car with the optional 20 inch alloys but the fuel economy does suffer, at best I am achieving mid 20's. The seats are very comfortable, ideal if you are 6 ft, but shorter people will need to sit quite close to the steering wheel. I am selling mine after 2 months ownership, it's poor fuel economy and driving position do not suit me and this is where you get a kicking, a £5000 loss in 2 months or a £12000 loss from new!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have owned the 2.0-litre Astra GTC diesel for just over 6 years and have had absolutely nothing go wrong with it in that time. The car really suits cruising on the motorway and has plenty of power under the bonnet. I drive like a maniac and have thrashed it since owning it and it's still ticking over like a new car. Only thing I've had to buy are tyres (expensive) and brakes. The cambelt and water pump were changed at 6 years and it has had regular servicing.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

Reliability, no issues in 60,000 miles of driving

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

The worst thing about the car is the rear visibility and the shocking turning circle so get used to some 3 point turns in the car park.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Had the 2 weeks now can't stop looking at it on the drive it does look awesome and is a head turner, very smooth to drive easy gear change. The DAB radio sometimes dropping single. The mpg is not a issue as didn't expect any higher as is 200bhp. Pick up is steady in sixth gear but drop it down a gear it flies. Doors are quiet heavy but got use to them now, as 20 inch tyres on but quite smooth over bumps. Seats are really comfy bus as got lumber ajust.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Started off great, 30,000 miles it has an engine oil leak, radiator water goes down, front suspension has gone. Now at near 50K, the gearbox is mashed. Not good for a car that's 4 years old. If you want to keep this car for only 3 years then it's the car for you.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down