Vauxhall VECTRA CDTi150 DIESEL RANGE
Still Holding Clarksonesque Views About Vectras? Try The CDTi150 Models Have The Power To Convert Even The Most Cynical. Andy Enright Reports
Lets lay one nugget of bar room wisdom to rest straight away. The Vectra is no longer the anodyne, lowest common denominator repmobile it was once commonly perceived as. Yes, the majority of cars sold still go directly to fleets but the Vectra has at last become a car that you could conceivably buy with your own money. Especially if its a CDTi150 diesel version.
Lets face it, none of us enjoy forking out for fuel. Its not so much the tedious time spent inhaling carcinogens on a windy forecourt, the temptation of a range of preservative-stuffed pastry snacks or even the opportunity to interact with a night cashier with chronic body odour problems that tend to grate. Its the feeling as you watch the numbers click over that youre being royally stuffed by the Chancellor. If you enjoy driving as much as I do, youre faced with a quandary.
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You can either roll over and surrender or you can take action. The latter usually comes in one of three forms. Choose a lightweight sports car that doesnt hammer the fuel, choose a car converted to run on LPG or opt for one of the latest generation sports diesels. If youve got a family, the last of these options is probably the most practical, as LPG conversions are still few and far between and are hard to come by on cars that offer the driver any real fun.
Entertainment is definitely on the agenda with a car like the Vectra CDTi 150. As the name suggests theres a hefty 150bhp on tap which is very creditable indeed for a car that sups from the black pump. More importantly, this engine can generate a stump-pulling 315Nm of torque. Thats a lot of muscle under your right foot.
It makes this Vectra feel stronger in the mid-range than cars like the
Honda NSX, the
Jaguar XJ6, the
Porsche Boxster S and the
Subaru Impreza WRX. Youll believe that nugget of information the very first time you accelerate down an on-ramp to merge with fast flowing motorway traffic, the seamless urge of the turbocharged engine offering genuinely rapid acceleration. Even from a standing start where diesel engines rarely post good figures the Vectra will notch off the sprint to 60mph in a mere 8.8 seconds, running on to a top speed of 134mph.
The estate version is marginally slower, getting to 60mph in 10 seconds and running out of steam at a still rapid 132mph.
"Entertainment is definitely on the agenda with a car like the Vectra CDTi 150"
The CDTi engine is a four-cylinder unit of 1910cc displacement and is fully compliant with the latest Euro4 emissions regulations. This means that the Vectra sidesteps the usual three per cent surcharge that company car drivers often get stung by, reducing their Benefit In Kind tax bill. The engines efficiency owes much to the turbocharger with variable turbine geometry and huge intercooler. With four valves per cylinder and common-rail architecture the engine is bang up to date, the big payoff being a combined fuel economy figure of 48.
6mpg for the hatch and 46.3mpg for the estate. Theres even a 6-speed automatic gearbox option. Much has been written of the latest Vectra.
Much of this has spouted from the pen of the same Mr J. Clarkson who nailed the previous models press launch with his infamous silent protest. Whilst a fatwah still exists on the bouffant one in Luton, hes been at it again regarding the latest car, albeit in far more voluble terms. The difference this time is that others have responded, springing to the Vectras defence.
Youll want to know about the handling or at least you will if youre not a typical Vectra customer. The answer is that, like the styling, it falls somewhere in the middle of the class norm. Mind you, thats pretty darn good these days and will represent a revelation for previous Vectra owners trading up. Lessons have clearly been learnt, with unsprung weight having been taken out of the suspension setup through the use of aluminium componentry.
The track has been made wider to aid stability and a whole raft of electronic back-ups have been developed in the event of the driver running out of talent. Principal amongst these is the clever ESP+ stability control system: rather than just cutting the power and adding braking when you get into trouble, it senses that more gradual remedial action may be required and acts accordingly. The electro-hydraulic power steering is also a big improvement though could still do with more feel. Where this Vectra really cant be bettered however, is in terms of ride and refinement: its the sort of car you feel you could drive all day in. The second area the Vectra needed to address was the driver environment. Times have changed. In order to compete, medium range models like this need showroom appeal.
They have to feel special as soon as you slip behind the wheel. Towards the end of its days, the previous Vectra felt about as special as a moist delve into the bottom of a students laundry basket. This model, in contrast, has an interior with the sort of minimalist, clean lines youd expect in a Hoxton trendy's loft conversion, all backed up by controls so simple its easy to underestimate the amount of thought that has gone into their conception a sure indicator of
smart design. Only the fiddly redesigned indicator stalk will infuriate: why couldnt they leave it alone? Its taken quite a while for the Vectra and the diesel models in particular to elevate themselves to a position where they can credibly challenge for class honours. With the launch of the CDTi150 models that time has now arrived.
Vauxhall are understandably proud of this car. More power to em.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Vauxhall Vectra CDTi 150 diesel range
PRICES: £16,425-£22,595
INSURANCE GROUPS: 10-11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 159g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 134mph / 0-60mph 8.8s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 48.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4596/1798/1460mm [4dr]
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