VW Beetle vs MINI Cooper S vs Vauxhall Astra GTC: 2012 group test
Muscular new VW Beetle aims to build on the sales success of previous cars. But can it see off its MINI and Vauxhall rivals?
Since the legendary air-cooled original revolutionised family transport in 1938, more than 21 million VW Beetles have found homes around the world. Now an all-new version is set to continue the success story.
Promising to be fun to drive and packing more aggressive looks, the latest model aims to steal sales from premium superminis and classy coupes.
Compared to the VW, the MINI is a relative newcomer. The legendary British model first hit the headlines in 1959, while the latest version arrived in 2006.
With its combination of cheeky looks, fun driving dynamics and upmarket appeal, the MINI still sets the retro car standard. What’s more, a recent update has given the engines more power and lower CO2 emissions.
Our final challenger is the Vauxhall Astra GTC. It doesn’t have a premium badge or pay homage to a famous ancestor, but the rakish three-door is one of the most head-turning models on sale, while its roomy cabin delivers family hatch practicality.
So which of our contenders has the winning blend of desirability, fun and value for money?
Verdict
Many buyers will choose one of these cars on looks alone. Yet there’s more to them than that.
The new Beetle is a vast improvement on its predecessor. Sleeker styling, a more upmarket cabin and sharper driving dynamics mark it out. Plus, it’s extremely well equipped, offers decent residuals and should be cost-effective to run. As a result it narrowly beats the rakish Astra.
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Cash £13,000The Vauxhall is boldly designed, extremely practical and surprisingly engaging to drive. But high CO2 emissions, poor residuals and more costly servicing count against the sleek GTC. Neither car can match the MINI in the final reckoning, though.
While the Cooper S suffers from a cramped cabin and firm ride, in every other respect it leads the way in this test. It’s great fun to drive and provides scorching performance, while its cast-iron residuals and comprehensive tlc service pack help minimise running costs. The fact it’s also the cheapest to car buy here is the icing on the cake.
First place: MINI Cooper S
Only one car can rival the VW Beetle for stylish retro appeal: the MINI. With its blend of cheeky looks, an upmarket cabin and razor-sharp driving dynamics, the car has been setting the standard for over a decade.
But the brand hasn’t been resting on its laurels. In an effort to stay on top, the MINI has benefited from a recent mid-life refresh, bringing even more powerful engines, lower emissions and better economy. Not that you’ll be able to spot the changes from the outside.
Designers have left the exterior alone, which means you get the same compact dimensions and familiar retro lines. Racy Cooper S models also feature an aggressive air intake in the nose, a large tailgate spoiler, centre-exit exhausts and 16-inch alloy wheels. And as with every MINI, there are endless customisation options, including contrasting roof colours and bonnet stripes.
The cabin is equally stylish, featuring the trademark large central speedo, pod-mounted rev counter and metal toggle switches. It’s also solidly screwed together from classy, soft-touch materials. Yet it can’t match its rivals’ generous kit count. While air-con is standard on the Cooper S, you’ll have to fork out extra for automatic climate control or Bluetooth.
Unfortunately, the MINI also trails the VW and Vauxhall for rear space. There’s decent room for the driver and passenger, but the back seat is extremely cramped. And while you get plenty of cubby space, the boot will only accommodate 160 litres of luggage – a massive 220 litres less than the GTC’s.
Yet for most people considering these cars, performance and driving fun will be much more important than practicality – and the Cooper S doesn’t disappoint.
Despite being fitted with less grippy winter tyres, the tweaked 182bhp MINI blasted from 0-60mph in just 7.3 seconds. Even more impressive was the Cooper’s devastating in-gear acceleration – it sprinted from 50-70mph in sixth gear more quickly than its rivals could manage in fifth. A snappy gearshift and throaty exhaust note simply add to the car’s high-performance drama.
On the road, the MINI feels much quicker than the VW or Vauxhall, while the agile chassis and beautifully weighted controls make it more fun in corners. The steering is direct and brimming with feedback, and the wheel-at-each corner stance allows the car to dart through corners with unrivalled precision and enthusiasm. However, the price you pay for these sporty responses is a very firm ride.
If the ride is unforgiving, the MINI’s price is much more appealing. At £18,075, it’s a huge £3,405 cheaper than the Astra. That means you’ll have plenty of cash left over to spend on extras and personalisation.
Plus, the MINI is the most cost-effective choice for private and company drivers, with its excellent 50.6 per cent residuals, pre-paid servicing pack and low 136g/km emissions. In short, the Cooper S will take some beating.
Second place: Volkswagen Beetle
The all-new VW Beetle is ready to muscle in on the MINI. With tougher looks, more engaging driving dynamics and a range of personalisation options, it clearly has the popular Brit squarely in its sights.
Longer, lower and wider than before, the latest Beetle has a much more aggressive and purposeful stance. In a bid to boost its racy appeal, our Sport trim test car featured standard two-tone 18-inch alloys and a rear spoiler, although the latter is slightly naff.
Yet the Beetle still takes many of its design cues from the classic, rear-engined original, including the bulbous wheelarches and distinctive curved roofline. And while it’s not as stylish as the Astra or as sporty as the MINI, it’s undoubtedly eye-catching.
The mix of old and new continues inside, with the full-length piano black strip across the dashboard and flush-fitting glovebox lid both nods to the original.
Yet elsewhere, the cabin is bang up to date, which means you get excellent build quality, top notch materials and a long list of standard kit. The option to have a body-colour finish for the dash and centre console helps. All versions get air-con, a DAB radio and trip computer, while Sport trim adds dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth.
Plus, music fans can specify the £495 400-watt Fender sound system, with eight speakers and a subwoofer in the boot. Also included are illuminated speaker surrounds, which change colour at the touch of a button.
Given that it’s larger than the MINI, the Beetle isn’t as spacious inside as you’d expect. Occupants in the front are well catered for, but taller passengers will find the two individual rear seats a little cramped. What’s more, the small side windows and sloping roofline make the cabin feel a touch claustrophobic.
Nevertheless, the VW is still a more practical proposition than the MINI, thanks to its well shaped 310-litre boot, which extends to a useful 905 litres when you
fold the rear bench flat. There’s also a decent amount of storage inside, with a neat double glovebox, wide door bins and dash-top tray.
You don’t associate hot hatch-rivalling acceleration with the Beetle, but that’s all set to change with this car. The smooth 158bhp 1.4-litre supercharged and turbocharged engine is the most powerful in the range for now, and propels the car from 0-60mph in 8.3 seconds. It’s not as rapid as the MINI, but is more than a match for the 178bhp GTC.
It sounds better than the Astra, too. At low revs you get a distinctive whine from the supercharger, which turns to a rorty growl higher up the rev range. A smooth and precise gearshift and strong brakes complete the performance package.
Head down a twisty back road and it’s obvious VW has tried to make the Beetle more fun to drive. Strong grip, excellent body control and weighty steering mean it feels much more composed and agile than its predecessor, while the clever XDS electronic differential from the Golf GTI increases traction out of corners. However, it lacks the scalpel-sharp responses and constant feedback that make the Cooper S such an engaging and exciting choice.
And when you’re not in the mood for a blast through corners, the VW suffers from a firm ride – although it’s not as uncomfortable as the MINI’s – and heavy steering. As a result, the Beetle requires a fair amount of muscle to park. Still, you may be willing to overlook this flaw when you consider what good value the VW is. At £21,220, it’s not as cheap as the Cooper S, but it comes with much more kit as standard.
The VW also promises stronger residuals than the Astra, plus lower 153g/km CO2 emissions. Factor in the £329 three-year servicing pack, and the new Beetle appeals to the heart as well as the head. Has it done enough to take the honours here, though?
Third place: Vauxhall Astra GTC
While the VW and MINI look to the past for inspiration, the Vauxhall Astra GTC is bang up to date. Sleek coupe styling, an upmarket interior and surprising practicality have made the newcomer one of the most desirable models of 2012. And in high-spec 1.6-litre turbocharged SRi form, the car promises to be as good to drive as it looks.
Despite having a passing resemblance to the standard Astra hatchback, the GTC was engineered as a separate car, with only the door handles and radio aerial shared with the five-door version. A low-slung roofline, muscular shoulders and bold creases cut into the flanks help the Vauxhall stand out from the herd.
Our sporty SRi test model also benefited from a set of attractive 18-inch alloy wheels. However, unlike the MINI, there’s no opportunity to personalise your car with decals and contrasting colours.
Inside, the GTC instantly feels more grown-up than the Beetle and MINI. The dashboard doesn’t have the design flair of its rivals, but is well laid-out and built from upmarket materials. There’s a decent amount of kit, too, including cruise control, automatic wipers and headlamps and a trip computer.
What really impresses is the Astra’s practicality. This is the only car in our trio that will accommodate five adults, and rear passengers get plenty of head and legroom. You’ll also find lots of useful storage space, such as the large glovebox and deep centre console cubby, while the huge 380-litre boot increases to a capacity of 1,165 litres when the rear bench is folded flat. Neither the VW nor MINI comes close to matching these figures.
At our test track, the Astra promised to put on a strong display, as its 178bhp 1.6-litre turbo engine has 20bhp more power than the twin-charged Beetle’s. Yet due to its 1,495kg kerbweight, the GTC took a tenth longer to do 0-60mph, posting a time of 8.4 seconds.
There’s little to separate the two in terms of real-world pace, although the Vauxhall’s engine feels lethargic at low speeds and is a little harsh and breathless at high revs. At least the six-speed box has a slick action, while the brakes are powerful and progressive.
Even more impressive is the Astra’s poise and composure through corners. Extremely direct steering, strong grip and good body control make it surprisingly engaging. Plus, the Vauxhall blends this agility with decent refinement. There’s very little road and wind noise, while the firm low-speed ride improves as speeds rise, helping to make the car a relaxing motorway cruiser.
Unfortunately, the price does it no favours. At £21,480, the GTC is the most expensive of our trio of test models. It also emits the most CO2, at 168g/km, and has the weakest predicted resale values and the most expensive servicing.
The question is whether the Astra’s great looks, spacious cabin and impressive driving experience are enough to offset this.
