WHOEVER said ‘looks don't count'? Not the designers of coupes, for sure.

We all know coupes are less practical than saloons, harder to get in and out of, frequently cost more and are clear evidence their owners are trying to cling on to their diminishing years.

But none of those factors reduce their popularity - particularly in Britain. And it's not just the upper-crust, prestige models from BMW, Merc and Audi that score well. The Scirocco, based on the ubiquitous VW Golf has been a top seller here for years.

One of its main challengers is the pretty Vauxhall Astra GTC, now almost four years old. Despite being born from the family hatchback, its subtle and graceful lines belie its origins and help make it one of the best looking cars available...no matter what the price tag.

Slightly longer than the hatch, wider and noticeably lower it shares no body panels with its brethren. In fact, the wheelbase has also been extended by 10mm over the Astra hatch.

Suspension changes front and rear benefit handling and help make the GTC more driver-focused. The range takes in diesel and petrol powered models with prices ranging from £19,000 to £25,000. I drove the 1.6T Limited Edition version with a 197bhp turbo petrol engine which strikes a reasonable balance between performance and economy.

Despite a decent turn of speed - 0 to 62mph in 7.3 seconds and a max of 143mph - the GTC doesn't feel quite as racy as it looks, partly because the throttle response is somewhat lethargic and also the exhaust note lacks a degree of crispness usually associated with sports models. The six-speed manual gearbox is light and positive.

No complaints about the road holding and handling which is sharp and tenacious. It can be hurried through the curves with complete confidence. Ultimately, the nose slides slightly out of line in a typically front-drive fashion. The steering is a trifle lifeless when it comes to driver feedback on tight bends but it is light and easy around town.

For a swift, four-seater coupe, the GTC is quite reasonably priced at £21,945 and doesn't require deep pockets to run. The official combined economy is 42.2mpg and my own average came close with a figure of 40.5mpg. Stop-start ignition is a standard feature.

It is surprising how much room passengers have within the sculptured shape of the GTC. Wide front doors allow reasonable access to the rear and leg and shoulder space is relatively generous. Headroom in the back is obviously somewhat restricted but sub-six footers should have little difficulty.

The hatchback boot is regularly shaped with ample room for family holidays. It holds almost 400 litres of luggage and this can be expanded to 1,165 litres if the rear seats are slung down.

The cabin is practical and smart rather than exciting and doesn't quite transmit the same sense of occasion as the exterior. Inevitably budgets have to be met, and Vauxhall has largely carried over the interior styling from the Astra hatch.