Vauxhall Vectra CD 1.8i 16v 4-door Saloon

Dull to look at, dreary to sit in and depressing to drive, Vauxhall's first take on the Vectra compounded its sins by coming bottom in the 1998 JD Power customer satisfaction survey. But an early-1999 revamp corrected most of the ailing rep-mobile's flaws, finally making the Vectra a plausible alternative to the Mondeo and 406. It's still dull to look at, though. Despite much talk of body-colour this, chrome that and 20% brighter the other, the new Vectra is virtually indistinguishable from the old. Take your eye off it for a moment and it'll be lost in the motorway mire of Primeras and Avensises. And it's still dreary to sit in. There's now a choice ...