Written by: Jan Tuček

Two trends have recently emerged in station wagons – usable space and attractive design. With its new Vectra Caravan, Opel has succeeded in combining the two.

KEY TO THIS vehicle’s success are its 2.83 meter wheelbase and length of 4.82 m, which allows it to provide the longest passenger compartment in its segment (1.83 m) and a luggage area of 530 to 1,850 liters. Folding down the rear seats, one of which is twice as wide as the other, creates a bed that is 2.04 m long, while folding down the right front seat accommodates objects up to 2.87 m long. Seats move through the use of the cleverly designed FlexOrganizer system, and options include a remote control for the hinged rear end of the body.
The Vectra Caravan has a transversely mounted engine in front and front-wheel drive. It handles beautifully, and comfort is guaranteed by its IDS (Interactive Driving System) chassis with the ESP electronic stabilization system. Gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder, 1.8-l, 122 hp (90 kW) type, to the super-charged, 2.0-l Turbo (175 hp/129 kW), and the four-cylinder, 2.2-l fuel-injected Direct (155 hp/114 kW), and finally the 3.2-l V6 (211 hp/155 kW), which can push this wagon up to 240 km/h. Diesel engines include the four-cylinder 2.0 DTI and the 2.2 DTI (100 or 125 hp/74 or 92 kW), as well as a 3.0 V6 CDTI (177 hp/130 kW) that boasts top speeds of up to 220 km/h, while consuming just 7.3 l of diesel fuel per 100 km.

The Opel Vectra Caravan comes with five different levels of accessories: Essentia, Comfort, Sport, Elegance, and Cosmo. The Essentia, with only the basic equipment and the four-cylinder, 1.8 l gasoline engine, is priced at CZK 679,900, while the most expensive version, the Cosmo with the 3.0 V6 CDTI turbodiesel, is just under CZK 1.2 million.