Opel's sister company Vauxhall is not a brand with a very cool image in the UK, quite the contrary, actually, as some qualify it as a maker of boring automobiles.
However, the story is quite different when it comes to high-performance VXR models , especially the V8-powered Holdens imported from Australia and rebadged as Vauxhalls.
But those aren’t the only exciting Vauxhalls, as one can’t ignore the Astra VXR . The folks from XCar believe it is an even more exciting car than its predecessor is and to prove it, they took it for a ride.
Design-wise, it’s hard to find ungraceful angles on the latest Astra VXR, and the car is an improvement over the previous one in terms of performance as well. With 280PS (276hp) and a 5.9-second 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time, the Astra VXR is quicker than most of its competitors.
To go faster than that, one has to choose the AWD VW Golf R or premium hot-hatches like the BMW M135i or Mercedes A 45 AMG . The problem is that the Vauxhall’s £26,995 base price puts it dangerously close to the RWD BMW M135i that starts from £31,595 in the UK.
Scroll down to watch the review and find out if it’s worth the price.
By Dan Mihalascu
