Each Astra comes out with a total fresh redesign.VW on the other hand change the lights a bit and job done.In the case of the Scirocco which is realy good to look at all they did was lower the waistline and stretch it a bit.

Looks better than both rivals lets not lie now

I've owned various models of the sports Astra's from the 2.0 GTE 16V MKII through to the Astra H CDTI 150. I've just bought a 2.0 CDTI GTC SRI with the VX body kit and 20" alloy wheels. Its just about the best Astra that I have owned to date! Its unbelievably comfortable, great as an every day driver and looks fantastic. The best thing about it though is that its a accelerator press away from turning into a total lunatic on the road. I love everything about this car and can't wait for the journey into work every day.

He looks more apt to review a crispy creme than an enthusiasts car.

anyone else catch the led running lights in the headlights at 0:15?

The lines on this car are unreal. Nice car.

had my (only a month atm*) 2014 1.6 turbo sri spec with leather interior 197bhp 18inch wheels getting powder coated black, wind deflectors and im debating weather to buy standard vauxhall mudflaps or rally flaps but trim so they don't look to "bawbagish" and long.. its my first "new" car I traded in my 2009 bmw 320d m sport for it and previously owned ep3 type r along with quiet a few more bone rattlers clios puntos and my old pride and joy saxo vts etc.. the GTC is outstanding absolutely love it vauxhall have totally leaped in the right direction with their new ranges now, I couldn't recommend this car enough.. maybe can be greedy on fuel when I'm driving like a twat but I took it a 3 hour drive to dunoon and averaged over 45mpg on Scottish A and B roads and hills so it can be good on fuel when required

@den525 Performance is more than just power, it's also about chassis refinement, besides,diesel's have come along way and it's hard to beat the low down torque.

I have just bought a new Astra GTC 2.0 ltr SRI.. it is far better than I thought it would be. It is sporty, and great to drive..it has loads of extras..

Luv my "Opel Astra" 2013 .Doesn't get any better.💞💗💕

Did he actually reeeally brake on the exit there or was it the ESP?

@Kirbynessness its a vauxhall. theyre primarily sold in the UK. All of them are based on Buicks, saturns, and chevrolets. The only difference is I think theyre alot better looking.

@MrNoahthefox95 Wrong, Vauxhalls are rebadged Opels. Chevrolet is it's own nameplate in the UK now and Buicks are also rebaged Opels or at least the Regal is. The Saturn was a rebadged Opel as well only sold for one model year in the US.

This is a seriously built and developed little car. We're far off the times where GSi Astra's were all about hot looks and third world dynamics. VXR/OPC version should be promising for once. Well done.

Where can I find those of kinds of lights

this is soo good looking, same center stack as the Buick verano haha

Good car needs longer review.... :) This is good car and probably new benchmark in class.

it's the diesel engine?1.6 136 ps?

What's with those blinky-winky indicators?

@TheTonicro Shelsley Walsh is the oldest operational mortor sport venue in the world. What did you expect? a loop the loop?

The first 5 seconds (without the title) sums up how good the car is.

Really nice effort on GM's part. I think it will give the Megane a run for its money, but it appears to be no competition for a Scirocco. It's also a pretty close copy of a Brera, so they owe Alfa something for its looks.

I would have the Astra over the Scirocco because of the interior.

VXR anytime soon?

So many good looking hatches these days.

fabulous indeed

I think its better looking than the Sirrocco - where the top narrows at the back as if pinched at the top the vw looks awful

is that the hill Stig raced the frog-eyed Sprite? Cool video, and you looked quick!

Buick has been working hard to create a youthful image for themselves for a while now. I think this is just the type of product they need to solidify that effort. Here's hoping they think so too. I would be very interested in a Buick version of this car here in the US.

I want this in the United States, definitely a car I'd consider buying.

@i010524 dont think he realized how fast he was going

@ViperVenomACR cause astra is KITT :-D but where is David, I dont know

A Vauxhall that I'm seriously considering as my next car? Blimey...

@torbwrc well at least to be a bit longer

It looks too similar to the renault megane, don`t you think???

hmm they made this rather different. My old Vauxhall Astra from around 2000 was very nice

seems likea nice car for the everyday average Joe

Yes its great car but vw scirocco will hold it value very well, unlike the vaxuhall after a year where it will only be around 13-14k from 19k

@flatblackstrat ok, my bad.

If only Saturn were still here, then America could get this lovely car. Here's to hoping Buick will adapt it.

@JayManChan95 Considering most people commenting on here could not afford the aforementioned cars I would say their time was better spent on this since people watching may actually buy it.

I wish we made more TDIs in the U.S. Our vehicle standards are worse than British, in my opinion. I used to drive TDIs in Germany. I now drive petrol and pay so much more at the pump.

i want some of these hatches in america =[

I would like autocar to review a MICROPHONE!!!

Not a bad used car buy! Depreciation on this car is savage. 2 year old examples below half price.

@dimiterdakov In the words of John McEnroe..

@Dermo1985 A "performance oriented British driver"

head lights!!!!!!!!??? why are they doing that?

@MrNoahthefox95 Nothing sold in Europe is based on Buicks, Saturns and Chevrolets. It wouldn't work. In fact it's often the other way around. A lot of GERMAN Opels end up being rebadged GM cars in the States. The same is true for the Fords developed by Ford in Cologne, Germany. Btw, Chevrolets are often re-badged Daewoo's is a lot of countries. Probably an effort to make the brand appeal more "21'st century urban".

@vix121 yes performance is more than just power, too bad the GM chassis is not a great one, and doesn't represent performance. Diesel can be great, but not as a performance car, low end torque is great for certain types of cars, but yet again not for performance, the reviewer failed to mention, despite the car producing 380nm, 0-62 time is 9 seconds!!! That is hardly a performance type figure.

I hate it when people call this and scirocco's coupe's, cause they aint. They are low roofed,sleek, 3 door hatchbacks. Coupes are 3 series coupes, Toyota Celica's, Nissan 350z, porsche 911 etc.

Sure it's £1,500 less than the Roc but just watch it depreciate once you've put down your cash. Definitely some money saved on the interior but not a bad looking car as far as Vauxhalls go.

Looks good, but to be honest if I was spending £19,000 im sure I could spare £1500 for the much better looking and equally or better handling Scirocco...

@13kas13 By doing what ? The Scirocco while being a good car have nothing special. It didn't invent new ways of driving. It's just a coupe.

@BmwTrust It is not new. Perhaps if BMW was British, it would get a 5 minute review.

@eskimochild87 "appare?" im?...uh-huh, before you start throwing your opinion around, try writing it out correctly! American cars couldn't be better today. Our goals are towards conservation and environmental protection more than ANY other time in our history. Check out the Volt and others. And, there is more to come in the ensuing years from US car manufacturers. Time to buy American and support our own country!

Thank god this isn't a 90 second verdict...

thanks for that grandad

he knows how discourage the consumers from buying that car

copied the megane??

if its a diesel why is he revving it like a petrol on that hillclimb? -_-

I'm an american and what is this

Dude and car just fit each other :D

@christosswc lol

Great car, reviewed by the world's most boring man!

hehe i will pay that 1500 to 2000 box more and i will take the vw cause its a better brand and can hold its value better than an opel ...

News flash mate - if its made for British roads then as history tells us, it will overheat every time its not cruising, on Australian roads. & what are u banging on about in regards to Brits somehow being more performance orientated drivers? The desire for performance is an individual, not National one.

I am glad its great for you Brits...give me an American car.

I swear the audio is getting more awful. I have to turn my volume right up

He can live without the throttle remap in sport mode What a numpty ! The whole point of the remap is to give you faster throttle response which is exactly what you want when in sport mode .Sheesh go review a bicycle.

well big wigs at GM, have u all ever read youtube comments? Bring that damn car to US! and please don't de-tune it to make it soft and cushy... please?

Who backs off before the finish line!! He should be ashamed!

Come on autocar, most of us watch the reviews to dream a bit, Don't give a shitty astra 4 minutes and both the audi and bmw just a couple of seconds!!

Shhh! Your whispering to loudly!!!

first!

It just looks too much like the new megane...

looks like a generic Volkswagen Scirrocco

ZzZZzzZzzz

More performance orientated taste of british drivers??? They can't be serious right? Considering in the UK Diesel cars outsell Petrol cars!! lol

Great car that is....too bad GM "which is made in the USA" won't sell any of the decent cars they make in the USA. Instead we get stuck with the worst and most boring cars they make like Buick and Cadillac. Perhaps someday GM will figure out that the entire population of the US isn't contrived of old people. Yes it's true most American's are idiots who think trucks and SUV's are the best vehicles in the world but not all of us are stupid.

@teakbridge101 Um American cars cant appare to European Cars, Euro cars alot better then the crap american cars...and im from the US

I rather have mercedes e55 2005 that astra

the new Vauxhall grills are fookin ugly

What a really bad driver!!! You are suposed to brake before the corner, not at the end!

ugly car *G*

This guy is so boring please sack him and get a person who can do the job properly

what kind of a hill climb track is this, looks quite pathetic honestly

so a crappy vauxhall astra gets a full 4 1/2 minute review and a bmw 6 series only gets 90 seconds? cool

Oh look Vauxhall couldn't come with their own ideas so they copied a VW Scirocco.