Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTI 150 Elite

Meet the workhorse of the group. Vauxhall Vectra’s estate is about as honest and unpretentious as cars in this class get. Unfortunately, this also means the model is rather dull to look at. The plain nose, bland flanks and flat back end mean the car won’t turn many heads – although it’s easy to spot the extra 130mm that has been added into the wheelbase, given the estate’s long back doors.

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.

Details

Price: £25,090
Model tested: Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTI
Chart position: 4
WHY: The Vectra’s 1,850-litre boot capacity is unrivalled here, and it’s really easy to load, too.

Economy

With Vauxhall quoting an official combined figure of 40.4mpg, we weren’t surprised the Vectra was so thirsty. The manual model is likely to do about 7mpg better.

Residuals

As with the Ford, a mass-market image does the Vectra no favours. Combine that with the Elite’s high price, and you lose £15,857 over three years – the worst here.

Servicing

Vectra servicing is carried out at 20,000-mile intervals, while a combined cost of £650 for three visits to one of Vauxhall’s 500 dealerships is reasonable.

Tax

Top-spec models mean big bills; the lesser £20,075 Life knocks £150 off the tax sum for standard-rate payers. This auto emits more CO2 than a manual 3.0 CDTI model.