Vectra gets some V6 punch
Good:
V6 power, big boot.
Bad: Driving position, strange clutch.
Rating: Three stars (out of five).
Holden has added another chapter to the short but colorful history of the Vectra in Australia. A direct descendant of the ill-fated Camira, the Vectra arrived on these shores just over three years ago as the company's European-made and designed mid-size contender.
But Holden's ambitions for the Vectra went further than that with the sedan and wagon versions soon earmarked for local assembly (the hatch was always imported).
This local assembly operation would be topped off by an export program that would see the Adelaide-made Vectras heading to Japan and other Asian markets.
The theory behind this move might have been sound but the Asian recession hit and the plan didn't go close to achieving its sales targets.
In the meantime, Commodore and Statesman sales to the Middle East were booming, and with plans to build a new ute and a new Monaro based on the Commodore there was little room for the under-utilised Vectra line in the production plant.
At the same time, the mid-size market in which the Vectra sat was shrinking rapidly.
The result of this two-pronged attack saw Holden management switch the Vectra back to being an import.
The switch happened a few months ago and the change also brought a rethink of the range, with the V6 now powering the sedan as well as the hatch in upmarket CD form. Four-cylinder buyers can choose between the sedan in either GL or CD trim, and the hatch comes in CD specification. The wagon has been dropped in preparation of the arrival early next year of the seven-seat Zafira.
At $31,990 the manual V6 sedan is the cheapest six in the range, and if you discount the locally made V6 Camry and Magna and you don't want a Korean-made car, it's the only mid-size car to have such a powerplant.
And it offers good value considering it is just $2500 more expensive than a four-cylinder CD sedan.
To tempt buyers further, the V6 has been upgraded, lifting its capacity from 2.5 to 2.6-litres with the extra volume bringing a significant improvement of 20Nm of torque, lifting the peak to 250Nm at 3600rpm.
Other changes to the engine include electronic "throttle by wire" and a more sophisticated computer networking system between the engine and transmission, among other items. Spend some time with the revised 125kW engine and the extra torque is welcome, with the engine offering a better spread and therefore a more relaxed driving experience.
Mated to the manual gearbox, the car offers lots of grunt and represents a big performance step-up on the four-cylinder version. The refined engine remains quiet and vibration free throughout the rev range. When pushed, it rewards you with a nice V6 note.
The engine may be a good thing but we were less convinced by the manual gearchange. The throw and feel of the lever and the ratios are fine, but the clutch's and engine's desire to hold revs when you release the accelerator makes smooth progress a real pain.
The clutch has a long travel and the take-up point is very close to the top of the pedal stroke. Combine this with its numb feel - there isn't a sweet spot to be detected - and the constant-revving engine and, even after a few days, we were still mucking up too many gearchanges. Push the car hard and it's easier to get right, but around town it's a pain.
The driving position is another area of concern. The relationship between the seat and wheel, which offers some vertical adjustment, is just not right. Combine this with the need to sit further away from the dash, because of the high take-up point of the clutch, and it's all a bit of a mess.
But that's the bad news. With standard cruise control, air conditioning and a trip computer, the Vectra offers buyers more than your average list of goodies. And it also features ABS anti-lock brakes and even a traction control system to limit wheel spin. Wheel tug under acceleration from the slightly numb steering isn't a problem.
Six-cylinder Vectras come with European suspension settings rather than the local setup for four-cylinder models. The European settings are said to slightly favor handling over comfort and in general the V6 Vectra offers a decent, supple ride. However, the front-end can dance around a little and overall we prefer the four-cylinder setup.
If you are a regular load carrier, you'll be impressed by the huge boot, which can be extended by folding the rear seat. The seats in the front are a bit flat but now incorporate active head restraints to minimise whiplash in a rear-end collision.
When the Vectra arrived here it immediately became a favorite family car, and although we no longer regard it as a class leader, its combination of space, features and that sweet six-cylinder still make it an attractive proposition.
Holden Vectra CD V6
How much? $31,990 man, $33,960 auto.
Insurance: Premium $598, $400 excess (RACV wholly owned, driver 30-plus, rating one, medium-risk suburb).
Warranty: 3 years/100,000km.
Engine: 2.597-litre, DOHC, 24-valve, alloy-head V6. 125kW at 5800rpm and 250Nm at 3600rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive.
Steering: Rack and pinion, 3.0 turns lock to lock. Turning circle 10.7m.
Brakes: Ventilated discs front, discs rear.
Suspension: Independent, MacPherson strut, stabiliser bar, front. Independent, multi-link, coil springs, rear.
Wheels/Tyres: Alloy, 15x6.0-inch, 205/60.
How big? Length 4495mm, width 1707mm, height 1427mm, wheelbase 2640mm.
How heavy? 1374kg.
How thirsty? 11.8L/100km, premium unleaded. Fuel tank 60 litres.
Equipment: Airbags - yes, two; air-conditioning - yes; cruise control - yes; central locking - yes, remote; power windows/mirrors - yes; security - yes, immobiliser; sound system - AM/FM radio cassette, CD, six speakers.