Vauxhall VECTRA ESTATE RANGE
Whereas A Vectra Estate Once Spelt Middle Of The Road Mediocrity, The Latest Car Is Infinitely More Interesting. Andy Enright Reports
Although it may take time for the more obdurate amongst you to accept,
Vauxhall are rapidly developing a reputation as one of the more innovative brands around. Take the latest Vauxhall Vectra estate as an example. Rather than simply graft a greenhouse onto the back of the existing Vectra hatch, Vauxhall have instead taken an entirely more thoughtful approach. By basing it upon the long wheelbase Signum floorpan, Vauxhall have endowed the Vectra estate with the sort of carrying capacity required to offer a realistic challenge to the ubiquitous people carrier.
You might be tempted to point out that this should really render the car a Signum estate instead, but that would undermine this clever marketing decision by the brains at General Motors. Recognising that the mainstream estate market had gone a little flat in the face of soaring MPV sales, they realised that in order to succeed, the Vectra Estate needed to offer the sort of space and clever versatility that made the Meriva and Zafira models such big hits. One thing a good estate will always have in its favour over an MPV is a sleek shape. Granted, some estate versions can look horribly ill-conceived (
Citroen BX, early
Renault Laguna anyone?) but others, such as the
Honda Accord Tourer, the
Audi A6 Avant and the Alfa Sportwagon, arguably look even better than the saloons that spawned them.
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The Vectra Estate falls into the latter category, its long-wheelbase, torpedo-like shape looking especially striking in profile. A sports version with mean spoilers, big alloy wheels and mildly flared wheelarches would be a severely handsome beast. With virtually the same load space as an Omega Estate as well as significantly more legroom, the Vectra Estate doesnt just look the part; it also fulfils serious load-lugging duties. A 60/40 split in the rear
seat and a front passenger seat that folds flat gives it some genuine versatility and a theoretical maximum carrying capacity of a whopping 1,850 litres.
The Vectra also overcomes the dilemma posed to most estate owners of securing loads in the vast rear bay. Usually this involves a half-hearted array of nets and lashing eyes that never seem to be able to prevent items flying all over the place whilst negotiating a
mini roundabout.
Vauxhall think theres a better way. FlexOrganiser uses two rails built into the rear side panels to securely mount a flexible system of foldable dividers and nets.
Back it up with some bubble wrap and you can safely fling a Vectra Estate down the most arduous B-road with breakables in the back. The electronically operated tailgate can be opened and closed at the touch of a button either on the key fob or on the dashboard and can also be stopped at any point through its arc and locked into position handy if youve got a garage with a low roof. Tempting as it may be, this facility should never be used to chin pushy squeegee jockeys who accost you at traffic lights.
"The Vectra Estate doesnt just look the part; it also fulfils serious load lugging duties "
Options include a neat foldaway trailer hitch and TravelAssistant, a storage system first seen in the Signum. The towing hitch sits out of sight under the rear bumper. Throw a lever in the boot and the hitch will unlock, whereupon a firm shove with your foot will swing it into a locked position. Simple and effective.
The TravelAssistant system sits in the centre of the rear bench seat and features twin folding tables, a cooler, cupholders, two 12v power outputs and a docking station for a portable DVD player. The twin audio system allows passengers in the rear to listen to separate radio programmes or CDs to those in front. If youve got easily distracted kids, TravelAssistant can be a boon. Various engines are available, including three recently developed aluminium powerplants offered with the Signum (see a recurring theme yet?).
The 155bhp 2.2-litre direct injection unit has become the mainstay of Vauxhalls medium range petrol line up but theres also the option of a lesser 1.8-litre unit. Next up is the punchier but more conventional 175bhp 2.
0-litre turbo unit while the big daddy in the petrol department is the 211bhp 3.2-litre V6 engine. Diesel buyers can opt for a whole heap of engine in the shape of the 177bhp 3.0-litre CDTi common-rail V6 but the lesser oil-burners may be preferable to those with an eye on the economics.
There are 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre DTi direct injection diesels or a pair of CDTi common-rail units. The CDTi options are both 2.
0-litre in capacity but one develops 120bhp while the other pumps out 150bhp. The latter can put many sports saloons in their place with a 0-60mph time of 8.8s. The interior is otherwise much as youd expect from a Vectra in other words very nicely conceived.
The indicators take a little getting used to but otherwise its a very satisfying driving position. The cabin features 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. The availability of ESP Plus, a next generation stability control package, and Adaptive Forward Lighting (headlights that swivel in concert with the steering) also make it feel very secure. How Vauxhall dealers must wish they were tooled up with those glowing zap sticks seen in Men In Black movies that erase the memory of those harbouring grudges against the old car. If its able to escape from the shackles of its historical baggage, theres no reason why the Vectra Estate shouldnt be right up there with the class best.
A spacious body, sleek lines, an elegant interior and a range of gutsy engines all combine to offer a powerful argument in its favour. Dont go giving medium range estates the last rites just yet.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Vauxhall Vectra Estate range
PRICES: £16,435 - £25,495 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 8-14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 159-242g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.2i petrol] Max Speed 130mph / 0-60mph 9.5s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.2i petrol] (combined) 35mpg [est]
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4820/1798/1500mm
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