I too have owned and driven GLi auto pre FL for 1.5 years, one thing I found out on motorways was that the car feels a bit heavy from 100-120 , but after 120 it has no problem climbing till 150 , never took it beyond that.
Even with 5 people and trunk full of luggage it went to murree like a charm, that was good enough for me,
had booked it late in 2014 when this shape was launched for 18.40, got it in feb 15 , sold in october 16 for 19.70 and shifted to civic x (Prebooked) .
Now if I shift from civic x 1.8 to gli auto it will definitely feel under-powered.