2007 HSV VXR Turbo Road Test
August 13, 2007 by Anthony Crawford
“I honestly wasn’t expecting the kind of explosive performance that the VXR Turbo delivers, it’s a dead set point to point weapon”
Test Model: 2007 HSV VXR Turbo with six-speed manual transmission driving through the front wheels.
CarAdvice rating: 
Options Fitted
None. It’s pretty well appointed but the highlights are the huge 19-inch wheels and superb leather trimmed Recaro seats.
Recommended Retail Price: $42,990
There’s only one model in the VXR range and numbers are limited as they are fully imported from Vauxhall in the UK. An auto version would open this car up to many more punters in Australia and I’m told they do, or have done, an automatic version in the UK. So I’ll check on that and report back.
Where it sits
The VXR is the entry-level HSV car and it does the badge proud. There is a significant jump in price (around $20K) to get into an R8 ClubSport, which is the next price-point in the HSV line-up.
There are plenty of pretend sports models out there with try-hard sports badging and non-aerodynamic body kits that do more to retard a car’s performance than enhance it.
Worse still, is when carmakers use the term ‘race bred’ to promote cars which are more likely to be lapped by a Porsche FS Evolution bicycle.
The VXR Turbo is race bred all right. Try the hard core; take no prisoners racing that is the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) where this car has run as part of Vauxhall’s (the GM brand in the UK) VX Racing team since 2005 when the VXR was launched.
And that’s not the only good news. That Gospel of handling, Lotus, was called in to tune both the suspension and steering with what was an already accomplished set up on the road going VXR.
This is a seriously quick hatch that can cook a Golf GTI and smoke Honda’s S2000 and Civic Type R, straight out of the box.
Starting this angry child for the first time is nothing spectacular. In fact, Suzuki’s mildly warm, Swift Sport, has a similar idle note from what I remember of that car.
But don’t be fooled. Under the bonnet of the VXR lies a red-hot 2.0i 16v ECOTEC-4 turbo punching out 177kW at 5600rpm and 320Nm of the all-important torque, from a low 2400rpm.
If you don’t quite get the value of these numbers. I’ll make it easy for you.
Volkswagen’s 2.0L Turbo Golf GTI puts out 147kW and 280Nm, which is good for a 0-100km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds in six-speed manual guise.
The VXR with run between 6.2 – 6.4 seconds, as maximum turbo boost nudges 1.2 bar or 17.5 plus psi.
It will even outgun Volkswagen’s normally aspirated V6 rocket, the R32 and that’s no mean feat.
By now, you’ll be thinking that’s a lot of mumbo for the front wheels to handle all by themselves and you’d be quite right.
When you blast off in the VXR, it’s not all-smooth sailing. There’s torque steer for sure, but it’s not a pig like the Mazda3 MPS. You just need to use a little finesse with the throttle and things will work out fine. Just take it easy in the wet!
Acceleration from second to third is ferocious and feels almost bike like (that’s like a Yammy R1) such is the surge in velocity. Third to fourth, even better, thanks to the wide torque curve. It even pulls hard in sixth. You seriously need to watch the Speedo when behind the wheel of this thing, that needle can get away from you!
You can hear the forced induction (Darth Vader style) every time you hit the clutch as you swap gear ratios with the speed and ease that this box allows.
England’s “A” roads (motorways) are generally very good as are parts of our major freeways here in Australia. I did say “parts of” whereas in the UK, you can pretty much stay on fast moving tarmac from London to Scotland.
But they also have their B roads, which are as rough as most of our suburban goat tracks and the Poms do like to whinge about their B roads, as much as we whinge about ours.
What I’m leading to here is that the suspension set-up on the VXR has been designed to run on these B roads with a reasonable degree of comfort in mind.
And they haven’t done a bad job, given the racecar like chassis and those extra large 19-inch alloys. Speed bumps and general potholes are absorbed via the old school McPherson Strut front suspension and a torsion-beam rear axle.
I’m no engineer, but I can’t help wondering what this car might be like or rather, how much better this car might be, with a more modern multi-link suspension system on board.
There’s also a small and rather insignificant “Sport” button on the centre stack, which I’m ashamed to say I overlooked during my time with the car. I’m usually first to hit these suspension stiffening devices but missed the opportunity entirely. Apart from the shock treatment, throttle travel is shortened and steering response is quicker. Just what the doctor ordered, I say.
The 19’s are shod with 235/35 Continental SportContact 2 rubber, and grip – with the exception of flat chat launches – is Velcro like. Don’t worry about body roll either- there isn’t any.
An IDS chassis control system with Electronic Stability Control utilising traction control, ABS and Brake assist work hard to smooth out what is a serious dose of torque levelled at the front wheels at times.
You also need some decent fade-free brakes to pull this thing up effectively when sheer youthful enthusiasm gets the better of you…
Don’t bother looking for fancy Brembo brake systems with multi piston callipers and that kind of kit on the VXR. There’s none of that. What there is though, are bright blue single piston callipers front and back, with some dinner plate sized rotors which have no trouble hauling in this ‘Fast and Furious’ like machine.
Steering is via an electro-hydraulic power assisted unit, which provides superb feel and weight. It’s a big call, but it feels similar to that of the EVO 1X, in that steering response is very quick and accurate.
We didn’t seek permission to test this car on track but that’s the only place you could effectively explore the corning limits of the VXR.
The sculptured leather Recaros are top shelf and supremely comfortable although, quite firm. You also get a proper sports steering wheel, which is grooved and looks to be hand stitched. The shifter is also a showpiece. All the important stuff seems to be here.
I can’t be so kind to the largely Astra interior though. There’s way too much faux metal look plastic throughout the car. It covers the entire centre stack, some door trim and bits on the steering wheel.
It’s a pity Vauxhall didn’t pay closer attention to the Golf GTI, which is a class or two above when it comes to the quality of materials. Shame, because the VXR deserves better.
Mind you, there are plenty of the usual luxury items; electric windows, climate control air conditioning, six stack CD player (but no MP3 jack receptor as on the E Series Holdens) steering wheel audio controls, multi function trip computer, heated front seats and cruise control
I found the instrument cluster hard to read and suggest VXR drivers would benefit enormously from a digital Speedo readout (again found on the R8 ClubSport and GTS models).
There’s reasonable load space in the rear (312 litres) as the load bay is quite deep and the rear seats can split fold 60/40 or both flat for bikes and boards etc.
The full leather rear seats are more comfortable than most other performance hatches – they are well bolstered. Rear leg space is more for kids than adults though.
This car needs rear parking sensors as standard equipment, no ifs or butts. The rear window is tiny and next to useless as far as rear parking visibility goes.
Styling is definitely ‘go fast’ and extravert. You only need to look at the four colours on offer; Black Sapphire, Magma Red (as was our car) Star Silver and Arden Blue. They stand out.
The lowered stance with all round body kit and unique centred trapezoidal exhaust tip, do a lot to set this car off amongst the sports hatch club. The 19-inch, multi spoke spinners put it at the top of the category.
Fuel tank capacity is 52 litres, fine for a car which is shorter than a Ford Focus. The VXR likes premium unleaded, nothing wrong with that either, we use it in the family Liberty.
But here’s the thing, official fuel consumption is listed at 9.2L/100 km but don’t expect anywhere near that when you’re on song at 5000 plus rpm, more like 14 L/100 km. I’m not complaining mind you, it’s the price you pay for performance motoring. Just glad this thing weighs in at 1393kg and not a kilo more.
Safety is not forgotten either, and includes driver and passenger front and side airbags, as well as full-length curtain airbags.
There’s a song called “I like fast cars that go boom” by a band called Hellbent. The HSV VXR Turbo is one of those cars”
By Anthony Crawford
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You been busy at work honey??Missed you!
Everyone is givin holden shit about the whole opel thing right??
The ford focus XR5 has a 5 cylinder Volvo engine..NOT FORD.
Get the facts right.
I love the looks! And the seats! And it is better than most european hatches (even though it is made by OPEL).
And Andrew M, Crorollas are better than mondeos! And Matto is right ford dont make the 5 cylinder turbo in the XR5, VOLVO DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Matto!!! Volvo is owned by Ford, I don;t know what your point was.
Isn’t it funny how one bloke’s opinion becomes gospel when aired on television! It was on tv it must be true – what a load of rubbish! Are we all still in high school? Fords rock, Holdens are crap? Yes we may all have bias – I’m a HSV man – but I have owned a Ford, Subaru, Nissan, Toyota, HSV etc. They all do it differently people. Yes Ford own Volvo so have sourced their XR5 engine internally. GM owns Vauxhall, Opel, Daewoo, Holden etc so have sourced the new Astra internally. Big deal! Unless you’ve driven the thing your opinion counts for nought!
I am curently trying to decide between this and the new WRX and have driven both. They are different. I don’t really care who’s badge is on the steering wheel. I’m more interested in how it drives. And I can tell you they both drive very nicely. Who seriously dumps the clutch at every set of lights and hammers through every bend? Thought so. Maybe this so called torque/under steer isn’t going to be such an issue in real life – especially as I barely noticed when taking the ’spirited’ test drive. As for it – should be 4WD drive for this price – Why? Volvo, VW, Audi etc have some high priced FWD’s which are a dream to drive and I also reacall a FWD Volvo being driven by one P. Brock in the 2.0lt tourers to sucess against the RWD BMW’s and 4WD Audi’s. Hmmm…something to think about…Let the car companies, magazines, tv etc. tell you what they think – just drive the thing (no matter what it is) and make up your own mind!!!
that’s it real life – pre-conceived opinions mostly always change once you’ve been behind the wheel. They are very different styles of car, the way they drive of course
I’ve driven both as well and I’m pretty sure the REX would be easier to live with on a day to day but I’m also pretty certain that it doesn’t shove you back as far in the seat as the VXR – nor does it have those seats or wheels.
If you don’t mind a bit more effort when driving, I’d go for the VXR. If you want to take it easy mostly but have that juice when you need to overtake a selfish right lane hog, go for the Suby.
Nice article. But there seems to be a couple of Subaru pictures included by mistake.
Yes Siree there is Subaru picks up.
jeremy clarkson = idiot… he turns esp off, hammers a car into a corner and expects a car to keep its line.
and astro boy.. the vxr clocked a faster time around top gears test track than the golf gti.
opel is gm’s german company, who make astras, vectras, corsa’s etc
vauxhall is the name of gm’s english company, which mainly sell opels and some holdens
the hsv vxr should then be considered a opel astra OPC (although it does borrow the vauxhall grill)
its a simple rebadge job.. hsv has nothing to do with its developement… but who cares
aweome review i have an ‘03 astra sri turbo, had it about 2 1/2 years just doesn’t feel fast enough anymore really would love to get vxr anyone wanna give me one in red please.
Why is there a random WRX interior, and a random rear door shot in this article?
The VXR only has 2 door, not a set of rears like has been shown in the photo?!?!!?
As a Onwer of a HSV VXR let me clear up an item that many of you have spoken about.
Opel Blitz on the Steering wheel is to do with COST. Cost of conducting an Airbag test for limited import is going is extremely high .
HSV wanted a HSV Logo on the wheel with a Cluster with VXR on it that reads in KM/H. However The cluster for the VXR is in MP/H as in the UK they run on MPH measurements still.
As for understeer. I have had the car for 8months and put 22,000km on it since delivery and have yet to experience any understeer like Clarkson have shown on Top Gear. Someone here said before about driving foot flat and turn the T/C off and pull the wheel round hard… well then any car including a Barina could understeer….
Great Review on of the most librial ones i have read todate.
Whens HSV epica coming out?
HSV have no plans to build a Epica..
Infact the new GM at Clayton is more interested in an Enhanced version of the upcoming Vectra…. which could possibly have an AWD system similar to that in the new Saab – which was derived from Subaru.
Therefore I’d say the days of the Epica are numbered
Easy Phill, all holden has to do is put an HSV badge on it, then hey presto one fast Epica hahahaha :-)
Sorry wheelnut.Epica its a chink in holdens armour that i cant stop making fun of.Luckly for you holden fans there getting rid of them
It does have the power of a 6 and the economy of a 4(sarcasism).A true epic car
Reaily its more then a chink in holdens armour(epica) its more like a massive dent
I agree Phil its one poor quality car [in comparison to its rivals] which should never have made it off the drawing board let alone make it to Oz… A bit like Ford with the [90s] Capri; the Probe the Taurus and the Cougar.
I am also glad to hear that the new CEO at Holden is planning to bring back the Opel Barina instead of the Daewoo variety
I purchased a 2007 MkV GTI with 2,200 miles on it for $19,100 US dollars. DSG, 17″ stock wheels on stock rubber. I spent $750 for an APR93 chip and $40 for a K&N panel filter. So for a grand total of $19,890 I have a daily driver with a useable, tractable 252hp/303tq and I still average 27mpg.
On dry pavement with hot tires, I have smoked Mustangs, obliterated Mazdaspeed 3’s and utterly embarrassed dozens of 350Z & G35 owners. As my good friend has said, “This car is frighteningly fast.” He owns a new MkV R32 and a 2005 S4. I’ve clocked a 0-60 run of 5.1 seconds using DSG’s launch control.
Point to all this ranting & raving being two-fold:
1) You don’t have to spend much money to get a ‘poor mans Porsche’ — literally! Look around, buying brand new is a waste.
2) When you buy a Vauxhall–you get a Vauxhall. The build quality, fit and finish of the GTI is superb and I’d put it up against vehicles 2 price segments higher. It’s Audi quality at Honda prices.
Nobody seems to give the 2.0T enough credit for whatever reason, it’s an absolutely brilliant sports hatch with an astonishing transmission. Note that almost NO head-to-head comparison tests have been done with a GTI equipped with DSG. I wonder why that is? Perhaps because the other car would always be at a disadvantage? Hmmmm…
I love the VXR, don’t get me wrong. It’s just a shame I’d slay it.
With a trunk full of groceries.
And the A/C on full-blast.
Kurt, it is indeed very true that golf GTI can be tuned for very cheap, APR tuning upgrades, stage one gives about 188kws or 250 Horsepower to the car, and it becomes blisteringly fast, we are talkin about flat 13.0 quarter mile times, thats as fast as the New BMW M3. or the well thought after 135i twin turbo. stage two take thing even further and this is where the true potential of the car is just about starting to be released, massive torque and horse power increases make the golf GTI giant v8 eater. however this article is about astra vxr turbo- the car is absolutely brilliant on lighter 18 inch wheels , 19 inches are too heavy and cause torque steer, however having more boost then Mazda 3 MPS still doesnt help it to beat it in a straight line or even on track, when driven properly mazda 3 MPS outperformed a golf R 32 around a track, now thats japanese engineering, there s an article about it on the net. I personally choose a civic type R over all of the hothatches because it is by far the most brilliantly engineered car of them all. to be more precise if the New holden clubsport r 8 was as well engineered it would put out 443Kws in the engine, its hard to explain how but thats what my calculations concluded. my civic type R is 2007 model and does quarter mile in 11 seconds flat. ferrari enzo territory. 0-100km=3.1 seconds, 0-160=6.8 seconds. the reason the car is this fast is because its been modded to rev to 14 000 revs, and torque is healthy 400 Nm , while power is just below the torque 378kws, very nice car indeed.
^^^ Golf GTI at 250bhp doing 1/4 mile in 13 seconds flat? Hahahaha!! It would seriously struggle to hit 14 seconds, even with DSG, at that power. Dream on fella.
Hold on, it gets better. 0-60 of 5.1 seconds? Jesus. Newsflash, your speedo isn’t accurate. You may think you’re doing 60, you’ll be closer to 55. You’d need well over 300bhp to get near 5 secs in a FWD car, DSG or not, and even then you’d struggle due to the lack of traction. Oh and by the way, VW ain’t nowhere near Audi quality. They have terrible reliability, living off past reputation. Seriously, Golf GTI owners have such vast delusions of grandeur. You drive overpriced, bland cars. Cars for people who don’t like driving.
Thanks Phil, I must be one of those people who don’t like driving and have an over-priced bland car.
Actually I love driving my very reliable and classy VW. You don’t like them obviously. I promise no one will ever hold a gun to your head and make you buy one.
Debate specs all you like, but car preference is subjective and bashing a brand tends to get you labled ingnorant.