Vauxhall Astra GSi

By Chris Thorp

January 2003

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• Latest deal price: from £12,453 to £16,841

And now the time is right for a comeback, according to Vauxhall. The GSi badge has returned to the Astra - and it has more power than those Eighties boy racers could ever have dreamed of. The new 200bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivers blistering performance and a 150mph top speed.

We got our hands on the first GSi to hit UK shores to see if the newcomer has the credentials to cause a stir among rivals. Vauxhall's designers have been careful to set the new flagship family hatchback apart from its more mundane stablemates in a way that is both subtle and attractive - with the possible exception of the enormous rear wing. The sporty alloys are shared with the Zafira GSi and the forthcoming VX220 Turbo, and fill the new model's wheelarches to give an imposing stance. The look is not as dramatic as on some rivals, but that's a good indication of what the company had in mind for the driving experience.

Breaking away from the trend set by the likes of Ford and Honda, Vauxhall hasn't pitched the Astra GSi as a rock-hard road racer. Instead, bosses have opted for a softer suspension set-up and a stronger emphasis on comfort. This will be well received by those who cover a lot of motorway miles. The new model does ride remarkably well, given its performance potential, and although refinement isn't up to the standards of lesser versions, the sharpening of the Astra's handling responses more than makes up for this.

Dynamically, the Focus rival is often underrated, and in GSi form it's a truly capable hot hatch. While the soft set-up means it can't match the responses of hardcore competition, for most people this performance Vauxhall will give plenty. The gearbox is also easier to operate smoothly, although it lacks the sporty feel of the likes of Honda's Civic Type R. The excellent 2.0-litre turbo engine is already put to good use in the Zafira and Astra Coup