Category: Large Family 
Price Range: No data available
Drive, comfort, safety equipment, fleet favourite.
Image, styling, fleet favourite.
Latest chassis revisions make a much better Vectra, but it still lacks the Mondeo's pizzazz.
This is the Vectra's strong suit. Its cabin feels a cut above, has a pleasingly level ride and it's exceptionally quiet, especially when cruising.
Chassis revisions for 2005 make the Vectra more composed over rough surfaces, reducing body roll and wallowing through corners. 17-inch alloys (standard on high-spec models) provide the best compromise between looks and comfort - bigger wheels spoil the car's composure over bumps, something to consider before specifying the optional 19-inch wheels on the VXR model.
New for 2005 is the Exclusiv trim level, which has unique Structure wheel covers. Instead of an alloy wheel which can be costly to repair or replace - especially on a fleet of Vectras - the plastic wheel trim is fixed to the steel wheel with the wheel's bolts. The result is a wheel that looks like an alloy, but will cost just £16 to replace if one is kerbed.
Also new for 2005 is the VXR model, which offers visual upgrades on the outside and excellent, super-supportive Recaro seats on the inside. For all its sporting pretensions, the VXR is actually quite a refined cruiser.
The seats in the rest of the range offer above-average comfort and this - coupled with the convenience features, generous headroom and relative ease of driving - make the Vectra a pleasant place to be on a long trip. It ought to be five stars in a car this size but, despite the Vectra's extra-length rear legroom, while acceptable, doesn't quite allow you to lounge: that's what the Signum's supposed to be for.
