Fortunately TwinTop comes standard with rear parking sensors.Īstra TwinTop comes with dual front and side airbags, pedal release system and pop-up rollover protection, which uses sensors to detect instability and activate high-strength bars located behind the seats for added head protection. TwinTop offers decent accommodation for rear occupants and while legroom is tight for adults and the rear backrest is upright, like many CCs, space and comfort levels are comparable to many small hatches.
Thus we 'endured' the elements with protection from the windows alone which was fine up front, and tolerable for our rear passengers. In coupe form, the TwinTop is as quiet and refined as any small hatch or sedan every bit as solid as its donor hatch model.Īs an open car, the TwinTop is equally composed with minimal shimmy and shake even over the worst surfaces.Ī wind deflector comes standard but like the Eos it takes up rear seating space. The TwinTop's roof didn't creak or shift over driveways, speed bumps and the like. The six-speed manual has a smooth action and isn't fuddled by quick shifts at speed. The 2.2 four is a good match for TwinTop's handling with enough spirit to push the CC's abilities. TwinTop also comes with 17-inch five-spoke alloys with four-wheel discs.Īround town the TwinTop is plenty nimble with a ride that is firm but comfortable. It comes standard with sports chassis pack which includes the abovementioned sports mode throttle control feature and offers more responsive steering by dropping the pump pressure. TwinTop's steering feels lively and responds well when pushed and in tight cornering. Fuel consumption figures belie the engine's 'eco' tag: aside from the 2.0-litre Astra SRi turbo model, the TwinTop is the thirstiest of the range, wanting 9.1lt/100km in manual form. A diesel TwinTop using the 1.9-litre CDTi engine is available in the UK, but there's no word yet on a local option.Ī 'sports' function allows for higher revs before gear shift, adding an edge to the otherwise orderly but responsive 2.2 ECOTEC engine. The TwinTop is offered with a six-speed manual (as tested) or four-speed auto. Indeed, TwinTop's three-piece version allows the same cargo capacity as Eos with the roof down (205lt), and betters the VW in 'coupe' form with 440-litres.Īlong with the AH Astra SRi models, TwinTop is equipped with a 2.2-litre direct injection four-cylinder engine rated at 110kW/210Nm using PULP. While the VW Eos' five-piece version features a sunroof, TwinTop's simpler 'top hat' can be operated via remote control and while driving, up to 30km/h.īut don't be fooled by the piece-count: using a system with several, slim roof parts that fold affords a neater rear-end with more boot space. The TwinTop's folding roof is one of the cleverest among the burgeoning crop of coupe-convertibles on the market. The AH Astra convertible is a bargain by comparison, boasting a neat, three-piece roof, extra security, safety and space. The four-place, folding hard-top convertible is a nice follow-up to its Bertone-styled predecessor, the cloth-top TS Astra, which topped local segment sales despite its steep sticker price. The worthy and versatile Opel/Holden Astra platform has generated a huge small car model range for GM, including a five-door hatch, three-door 'sporties', a wagon and now the TwinTop coupe-convertible. Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.5/5.0 Also consider: Volkswagen Eos (more here), Renault Megane CC, Peugeot 307CC (more here), Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe (more here)