Road test: Holden Vectra

By Feann Torr & Peter Maniatis

Forget for a moment that the Vectra is built in Europe, and it'd be fair to say that it is one of Holden's best cars.

A big statement, to be sure, but after punting the ZC Vectra around on Australian roads for a week - and not long after sampling the previous JS model - it's evident that Opel, GM's German arm, has done its research.

Starting out at $31,990, the 4-cylinder Vectra represents solid value with a touch of class, and is yet another feather in the Holden new car cap.

Ford no longer offers the mid-sized Mondeo, meaning the local competition has all but dried up, and Holden is now marketing the ZC Vectra as a more upmarket hatch/sedan, seeking to place it in the same realm as prestige entry level European product.

With a more modern aesthetic than its predecessor, the Vectra offers a slew of promising upgrades, such as rev-happy V6 engine, a clever stability/traction control program, plus driver, front passenger, side and curtain airbags.

Holden wants the car to be seen in a similar light as many prestige Euro sports sedans, so we put the range-topping CDXi Vectra to the test, to not only find out how it treats occupants, but also to see if it can live up to the 'prestige sports sedan' title.

Drive

With V6 power, the Holden Vectra is surprisingly quick

The current Vectra is definitely in another league compared to its predecessor in all aspects, but first and foremost the rejigged 3.2-litre GM-sourced V6 is something to behold.

In this application - a mid sized, fairly light car - the engine works incredibly well. It's a willing engine and loves a good rev, responding keenly to a footfull of throttle.

The car rides nicely over most surfaces and the suspension damping does a great job of minimising bumps and lumps in the road.

City and urban driving is a breeze, even with the manual model, and the general feel of the Vectra was one of smoothness and refinement.

At the same token, the 20mm lower suspension suits more spirited driving too (the CDXi comes with a sportier suspension tune), and if you drop the car into second gear and give the engine a good stir, you'll be pleasantly rewarded with good levels of mid-corner grip (thanks to big 17-inch wheels) and not too much body roll to accompany the smooth and well-balanced ride.

Feedback through the tiller is pretty good for one of these newfangled speed-sensitive power steering units, and though you'd expect torque steer for a 155kW front-wheeler, it keeps things well under control, with no fighting against the wheel when you put the pedal to the metal while turning.

The gearbox and engine combination work rather nicely in tandem, showing off inherent levels of refinement: the gearchanges are slightly notchy, but still thoroughly enjoyable, and the engine smoothly works its way to the rev limiter without batting an eyelid or wheezing for breath.

Equally at ease cruising the chic shopping strips on a Sunday arvo or hammering down winding mountainous roads, the Vectra never felt uncomfortable, and the driving position is also nicely sorted, giving a practical view of the road ahead.

The CDXi has a very sporty profile

The leather-clad interior adds to the occasion too, with welcoming front seats and a smooth leather steering wheel -- it definitely feels like you're riding in a classy European.

All the internal dials and controls expected of a European bred vehicle are included, most noted the seat warmers that came in handy through the ranges across Cooma, NSW.

Compared to the previous JS Vectra, there is a much better layout for the trip computer, which is now much easier on the eye and does not distract from driving.

The new ESP or electronic stability program that comes with the CDXi we tested did an impressive job of keeping the car in line. We pushed the Vectra round some damp roads and with the ESP switched on it did an impressive job of rapidly reacting to wheelspin and slippage, another big tick for the car's prestige aspirations.

The ESP system essentially recognises (via multiple sensors) when things are about to go pear shaped, and will regulate engine torque and also individually apply any of the four brakes to regain control, if need be. In addition to CBC (Cornering Brake Control), the Vectra handled wet conditions on twisty roads with aplomb, and helped prevent major over and understeer, the former of which can be very scary in FWD cars.

A definite class above the previous model, the new Vectra is an impressively engineered car, and offers feedback that most Audi A4s could only dream of. Holden's claim that this is a sports prestige vehicle is justified in terms of the way it rides, handles and performs. In short, we love the way it drives.

Engine

While the Vectra is very easy on the eyes, with a comfortably plush interior, for ours it is the engine that really makes this car stand out.

Opel chose to use a V6 engine displacing 3.2-litres, and it not only has very subtle, very pleasing 'bent six' acoustics, but one of the most usable torque curves this side of a quad-turbo Bugatti Veyron.

Peak torque of 300Nm kicks in @ 4000rpm, and you've got another 2200rpm to play with before you're at peak power, of which 155kW arrives @ 6200rpm. Even low in the rev range the engine has plenty of urge, and though power is transmitted to the front wheels, the car really gets up and goes when you ask it to, chirping happily as you row through the well-spaced gears.

Compared to a similarly priced Audi A4 2.0-litre sedan ($50,650) with a CVT gearbox, the Vectra shines, with more than 50 extra kilowatts and 105Nm more torque.

The engine rarely felt flustered or breathless and though the more cost-effective 2.2-litre 4-cylinder engines aren't to be baulked at, the V6 is the pick of bunch thanks to its solid mid range punch and refined nature. It'll also get close to 250km/h thanks to the powerful engine and improved aerodynamics.

Thanks to the 155kW, 300Nm combination, the 1510kg car never feels under powered, and would overtake at highway speeds with the ease you'd expect of more expensive vehicles, and because it's not an overly large engine like some of Holden's stock, you can benefit from fairly good fuel consumption too.

Exterior

The 17-inch wheels and ground hugging bodykit make for a very focussed car

With a really nice presence on the road, the Vectra didn't turn many heads, but the one's it did turn were the suitably fashionable young executives, suggesting that the styling has hit the nail on the head.

We took the car for a lunchtime cruise through the Melbourne CBD and it came across as quite the chameleon.

It's generic enough not to arouse the attention of all and sundry, unlike the loud and proud FPV GT-P, but svelte enough to get the admiring glances of the fashion conscious.

The new look front end is very Euro-chic, with each headlight cluster an appealing combination of xenon and halogen light globes, and though the square-ish front end does look a little clumsy from some angles, as a whole the car is nice to look at.

It's curved roofline and steeply raked front and rear windscreens give the car an athletic profile shared by few, with the utilitarian brake lights and useless horizontal chrome strip that sits between them the only negatives.

The Vectra model we tested (CDXi) comes with 17-inch alloy wheels sporting five of fattest spokes we've seen in quite some time. This suits the car's demeanour to a tee, and together with the flared wheel arches, ground-hugging bodykit and chromed twin exhaust pipes, the 'prestige sports sedan' label is beginning to sound less and less like the usual PR hyperbole, and more like the real.

Interior

Stepping into the Vectra CDXi, replete with cowhide almost as far as the eye can see, one wonders "This is a Holden?" Sure, the Caprice is far from ordinary, in fact it's very nice, but the Vectra just seems to have a more prestigious vibe about it.

Thank flush-fitting, not-too-cheap plastics for this, together with lashings of satin chrome that actually suit the car's interior, instead of clashing with it, and a drag co-efficient of 0.28 improves aerodynamics and also keeps wind noise in the cabin to a minimum.

The interior (automatic shown) has a very luxurious feel: the black leather contrasts well with the chrome accents

Some of the major features of the CDXi model include dual zone climate control with an air quality sensor, electric windows, electric heated mirrors, speed sensitive variable power steering (with tilt and reach adjust), a nine speaker Blaupunkt stereo with an in-dash 6 stacker CD player, 8-way electrically adjustable heated leather front seats and an accessory power socket in rear of centre console.

The dashboard and instrumentation is easy on the eye and adheres the car's prestigious theme with chrome- rimmed speed/tacho, and the four spoke steering wheel - peppered with useful ancillary buttons - has a good feel to it and enhances the driving experience.

In the back, the rear seats are quite accommodating, and most people will find that it is quite roomy. Large (or long legged) adults may will find knee room wanting, but in general the Vectra offers very good room for all occupants.

In addition, the boot is simply massive, with 480 litres of cargo space. There's enough room for all your holidaying gear, or even a couple of tredleys with the rear seats folded down (60:40 split-fold).

The Vectra is a real drivers car too - rear view mirrors are large and very clear giving you confidence in all driving conditions, leather appointments throughout the interior are of a high quality and feel great, drink holders are plentiful and well designed and the dash instrumentation has a very stylised 'cockpit' feel to it at night.

Overall: 4/5

Holden has done well in working the Opel range for the small and midsize vehicles in Australia, and if the Vectra is anything to go by, the upcoming Astra will make its rivals look pale and withered in comparison.

Holden was smart enough to leave its European-sourced vehicles alone from a redesign perspective and focus on the larger commodore range for their tweaking, and in retrospect, we feel that there's very little it could have done to improve the Vectra - it's real pleasure to drive.

After having tested the car, we believe it's fair to say that (even though it is a hatch) the Vectra can be bestowed with the prestige sports sedan title. After all, Mercedes-Benz calls it's CLS-Class a coupe, when it's plainly a four-door and not a two-door.

When all's said and done, the V6-powered Vectra makes a lot of sense - it's a joy to drive, has a smooth and refined powertrain with an awesome engine, a well-equipped, quiet interior and good levels of safety with plenty of airbags for front and rear passengers.

Compared to other Euro makes and models in the prestige segment, Holden's spirited four-wheeler stacks up very nicely indeed, and if value for money is more important to you than badge cachet, the Vectra will fit the bill perfectly.