Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTI 150 Elite

	What the Vectra lacks is a feelgood factor. Sure, owners will appreciate its load-lugging talents when you have to pack for a holiday, but this isn’t exactly a car that will get you excited when you’re driving it day in, day out

Based on the same lengthened floorpan as the Signum, the car has loads of rear seat space. But while the bench is firmer than the Passat’s, it lacks the German model’s upmarket ambience. Still, the Vauxhall matches the Ford and VW for legroom and the doors are easy to open.

The 530-litre boot volume is nothing special and, in terms of standard length and width, the space doesn’t stand out. But what the figures don’t make clear is how easy the Vectra is to load. Completely flat, upright sides mean there are no awkward angles, and the backrests simply flop down, giving you access to a genuine two-metre-long load bay – the best here. The only downside is the Vauxhall’s cheap load cover and plastics which, as we discovered, mark easily.

What the Vectra lacks is a feelgood factor. Sure, owners will appreciate its load-lugging talents when you have to pack for a holiday, but this isn’t exactly a car that will get you excited when you’re driving it day in, day out – because it simply doesn’t have the instant kerbside appeal of the Passat and Mondeo.

The cabin is drab, overwhelmingly grey and, while all the bits feel as if they’ve been secured well, the quality of the materials is questionable – the leather trim in our test car felt plasticky. The layout is also flawed, as stowage is at a premium and some of the switches are rather fiddly.

At least the 1.9-litre common-rail diesel packs a punch – or it would if it wasn’t mated to such a sluggish five-speed auto. We’re no fans of the six-speed manual option, but it’s a better bet than the lazy self-shifter. While the engine is rough and ready, gearchanges are relatively smooth. And as there’s not enough manual control, performance inevitably suffers, while CO2 emissions are pushed up by 30g/km over the manual car.

You don’t feel part of the action in the Vectra – which is exacerbated by the mushy brake pedal and unresponsive throttle. Drive gently, though, and the estate fares better. The long wheelbase helps comfort levels and stability, and the soft spring settings deliver a relatively smooth ride that’s adept over urban potholes yet doesn’t become spongy and vague during motorway journeys – even when fully laden.

However, the Vauxhall’s handling, suspension and steering don’t have the finesse of the Mondeo. When compared to the Ford, it comes across as a bit of a plodder, and doesn’t particularly relish cross-country routes. The one area in which the Vectra shines is its refinement – paramount in this class. As with all estates, you do get some echoing from the boot, but a 66dB reading at 70mph gives it a 3dB advantage over the Accord.

Yet that advantage quickly vanishes when you discover just how much this top-of-the-range Elite version costs. It’s well equipped (although we’re disappointed that stability control and parking sensors aren’t included) and you should be able to haggle a good showroom deal, but a list price of £25,090 does the Vauxhall few favours here.