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By
EWAN KENNEDY
4 July 2005
Today's Holden Vectra is a medium-large machine
that can easily be used as a family car. Indeed, it’s almost the same
size as Holden Commodores of the 1970s and ‘80s. Yet it continues to
struggle in the sales race. Partly because buyers in the family-car
market segment often go straight to the top as far as size is concerned,
also due to the fact that Holden aimed the car too high when it launched
the current model in 2003.
The marketing guys reckoned it
could take a premium place in the market because of its European
origins. Consequently, it priced it at too high a level, though
there have been significant price cuts since then.
Prices now range from $29,990 for a
Vectra CD five-speed manual sedan, to $47,990 for the topline CDXi
with a sophisticated five-speed automatic transmission.
Vectra’s new body follows the
latest GM Europe styling themes, with large squared-off headlights
that flow back into the guards. The large tail-lights work
particularly well and leave those following a Vectra no doubt
about what it is. Inside, there's some clever new styling that
matches that of the bold exterior.
Vectra body types are four-door
sedan and five-door hatchback, there's no wagon in the range, the
big Commodore load carrier providing that product. Having the
space efficiency of front-wheel drive means the Holden Vectra can
carry five adults in reasonable comfort, four with decent room for
all. Legroom in the rear could be a little greater, though, as
sliding the front seats all the way back restricts things for tall
passengers. A typical family load of mum, dad and three kids will
find there’s plenty of room in the cabin and boot, even for an
extended holiday trip.
Ride comfort is generally very
good, with a suppleness from the suspension that defies the
sporting feel of the car. There's a fair bit of road noise from
the sporty suspension if the surfaces are poor, certainly more
than you find in a Commodore, but that’s not unusual in cars
aimed at the European market.
The car is easy to drive, though we
are still struggling coming to grips with the ‘intelligent’
blinker system that tries to anticipate our needs. No doubt anyone
driving the car exclusively will learn to get the best from it,
but those who move from car to car on a routine basis are often
critical of this new system.
Vectra engines are either a
2.2-litre four-cylinder unit or a 3.2-litre V6. Many drivers will
find the four-cylinder unit has plenty of performance and
overtaking acceleration. The four-cylinder is a smooth, sweet
unit, particularly when combined with the manual gearbox. Only
those drivers who like plenty of grunt, or who need to carry
massive loads are likely to find the need for the 3.2-litre six.
And the six has plenty of get up and go so those who do opt for it
will love the way it performs.
Both engines can be mated to either
a five-speed manual gearbox or five-speed automatic transmission,
though not all luxury levels come with a choice of transmissions.
Modern design means that even in
these relatively large cars the four-cylinder engines with
automatic transmission will only use about eight to ten litres per
hundred kilometres on a country trip. Consumption will rise to 10
to 12 litres around town. The six-cylinder will use about nine to
eleven litres in the bush and about 12 to 14 litres per hundred in
the suburban grind.
Holden Vectra is dynamically
capable of mixing it with the European prestige models, yet many
buyers simply aren't willing to put it up there with such Euro
machines. Even the standard models in the Vectra range have
excellent steering feel, partly due to the excellent suspension
setup, but also attributable to a new design of power assistance.
Those who can think outside the
square will add the Holden Vectra to their shopping list, and that
applies even to buyers who are looking at prestige machines in the
bottom end of the Euro market.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Vectra CD 2.2-litre four-door sedan - $29,990
Vectra CD 2.2-litre five-door hatch - $30,990
Vectra CD 3.2-litre four-door sedan - $35,990
Vectra CD 3.2-litre five-door hatch - $36,990
Vectra CDX 3.2-litre five-door hatch - $40,990
Vectra CDXi 3.2-litre five-door hatch - $45,990
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard on all models
Air Conditioning: Standard on all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard on V6 CD & CDX, $2000 option
on other models
CD Player: Standard on all models
Central Locking: Standard on all models
Cruise Control: Standard on all models
Driver Airbag: Standard on all models
Passenger Airbag: Standard on all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard on all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Vectra CD
2.2-litre four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.198 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Bore/Stroke: 86.0 x 94.6mm
Maximum Power: 108kW @ 5600rpm
Maximum Torque: 203Nm @ 4000rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Five-speed
Automatic Transmission: Five-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.95:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4596mm
Wheelbase: 2700mm
Width: 1798mm
Height: 1460mm
Turning Circle: 10.9 metres
Kerb Mass: 1391kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 61 litres
Towing Ability: 715kg (1500kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs,
anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, four-link, coil springs, anti-roll
bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 9.5 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 16.6 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
City Cycle: 8.5 L/100km
Highway Cycle: 6.0 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000km
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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