Vauxhall VECTRA
The
Vauxhall Vectra is one of Britains best sellers. Why? June Neary finds out
I wouldnt have considered running Vauxhalls old Vectra. It was just too. Well, just too boring to be honest. In any case, I didnt want to be mistaken for a photocopier rep.
This latest version however, is a very different proposition. The new lines have given it character and plenty of it, while fresh driving dynamics have made it a far more enjoyable proposition on the twisty stuff. Best of all, its bigger inside as it needed to be: the old car, after all, wasnt much bigger than a Focus if you were sat in the rear. Even if you dont like the latest look, you cant argue with what lies beneath that bodywork a structure that is 60% stiffer. Youll feel the result in terms of sharper handling, lower levels of body roll and fewer squeaks and rattles. Equally vital of course is the space inside that shape, which is 100mm longer, 50mm wider and 50mm higher.
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In order to create a more airy feeling inside, the rear
seat passengers sit 20mm higher than those at the front which kids should appreciate.
As you'd expect, there's a vast model range from which to choose, with the option of four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback or an estate. Under the bonnet, pick and choose between four different petrol engines (1.8, 2.2, 2.
0T or 3.2-litre V6) or four turbo diesel powerplants and no fewer than six different trim levels Expression Club, Life, mildly sporty SXi, more overtly sporty SRi, plush Design and swanky Elite. You can even specify a 1.8-litre car as a petrol/LPG/CNG Dualfuel variant if you want to save on fuel bills.
The hatch and saloon boast decent luggage capacity, the saloon fielding a 500-litre boot with split-folding rear seats. I liked the way that the front passenger seat tips right forward, creating a long loading length for surf board-type items.
Since I was familiar with the larger Omega, I felt at home immediately behind the wheel, given that most of the switchgear has been handed straight down. Talking of switchgear, youll either love or hate the one-touch indicator stalk which automatically returns to the neutral position and gives three flashes if you push it to the first click (I hated it). Otherwise, its all good news. The steering wheel can at last be adjusted for reach as well as rake, the seats are comfortable and supportive and there are twin cupholders both front and back.
Rain sensitive wipers, parking radars front and rear, tyre pressure monitors and an electronic child seat detector that disables the airbag are features which were often previously the preserve of upmarket executive offerings. The Vectra has now followed many of its rivals in appropriating these refinements for the mainstream market. This is still no class leader when it comes to handling but its quite capable enough for my needs. Where I thought the car really shone however, was in overall terms of refinement and comfort.
The ride is excellent, the seats very comfortable, the rear seat space capacious and the quietness at speed impressive. The differences over immediate rivals may be small but from Vauxhalls point of view, theyre crucial.
Prices largely mirror those of obvious rivals like Fords Mondeo, Nissans Primera, Renaults Laguna and Citroens C5. All versions come well equipped with six airbags and youll be in a good position to twist your local dealers arm if you want a bit more given that this model is intended to hit the market in large numbers.
If I were choosing a car in this class, I could certainly live with the Vectra, very much so. There are plenty of add-ons and extras, which I might be tempted to include, but even without them, the basic package remains
smart, comfortable and still quite acceptable to drive. In short, I can see why it will sell well.
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