Does this Vauxhall beat a BMW?

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 1st Mar 2002.

IT WAS at a dinner to mark the launch of the Omega (a few years ago) that a member of Vauxhall's publicity team sitting on my left spoke the sort of words which would once have had him locked up for treason.

He remarked that while a Mercedes was in a class of its own, the highly regarded BMW is really nothing very special, technologically speaking. Just an exceptionally well-made car.

I am reminded of this by these words of a respected motoring writer: "There are observers who claim that the German-engineered Vauxhall Omega is a better car in many ways than an equivalent BMW or Mercedes."

But he added, "it's near impossible to get the message over."

This sums up my thoughts about this splendid Omega, here with the 3.2-litre engine.

Even before you drive it, the delightful body styling tells you that this is a desirable and exclusive car.

Quite rare, too, which doesn't harm that aura of desirability.

Once behind the wheel, you feel almost honoured to be guiding such a luxury-filled mini-limo.

The trouble is, frankly, price. This smashing top-of-the-range executive express will set you back not much short of £30,000. Clearly a car which will appeal only to those whose employers are signing the cheque.

It's true that you can buy the entry-level Omega for as little as £18,195, and it still wouldn't be a pauper's car.

But rising execs with an eye on their budget might well realise that for just under £20,000 they can now choose a Jaguar X-Type .

Well, which would you choose?

Exactly. So would I.

It is all part of the syndrome which led Ford, a few years ago, to scrap their big Granada and chuck in the towel on executive cars.

No doubt part of their reasoning was that Ford owns Jaguar, so they wouldn't really lose out, but even so, producing an expensive cars with a Ford badge was like entering the 100 metres with a broken leg.

And it's not so different for Vauxhall, but they haven't gien up the ghost. Instead, they insist: "The Omega remains the executive car with the widest spread of potential drivers."

The 16-version range begins with the GLS 2.2 16v, rising to the range-topping 3.2-litre Elite which I have been driving.

I don't disagree with their assertion that the Omega offers stress-free executive motoring in the kind of luxury more often associated with far more expensive cars.

The list of features includes `intelligent dual-zone climate control', cruise control, satellite navigation and top quality audio systems, and (I've never seen this mentioned by any other maker) `battery run-down protection'.

It's a safe car, too, having received top marks in the Euro-NCAP crash tests

Out-of-fashion rear-wheel drive makes it a real driver's car, with a sense of precision arising from its chassis dynamics and advanced traction control.

And, of course, there's a load of gadgets. A rear parking sensor, which is standard on the Elite, makes a lot more sense on an Omega than on Nissan's tiddly Micra.

I mean no disrespect by saying that Omega's exterior styling is quite charming in an old-fashioned way. The lines are sleek and attractive, and as a follow-on to the discontinued Carlton, Vauxhall want it to be a big car without looking it.

Yet for the driver, it still has a big car feeling. Hushed power awaits from that 3.2-litre engine, big enough to cope with virtually anything.

By contrast, the interior is almost futuristic in its layout of the centre control panel, its neatness, straight lines and orderliness, though I'm not convinced that everything is in the easiest place to find it.

Part of that simplicity is that the main speedo and rev counter are the size of dinner plates. Alongside is a multi-purpose panel which conveys a whole collection of information ­ mileage range, temperature, what radio station you're listening to, and a digital clock reading which is unfortunately obscured by the steering wheel.

Each door has not only the usual pocket lower down but also a hidden area above it with a spring-loaded cover.

My test car had heated seats, and in front or rear no-one will complain about legroom.

The panel is also positioned so that it pushes to one side the pair of air vents, which means they may not be where they'd be most useful.

Vauxhall Omega

Elite 3.2i V6 saloon

Body: 13ft 1in by 5ft 8in four-door saloon

Power train: 3175cc V6-cylinder 217PS engine, driving rear wheels through auto gears.

Performance: 0-60mph in 8

seconds, top speed 149mph.

MPG: 16.8 urban; 31.7 extra

urban; 24 overall touring.

Tank: 16.5 gallons

Emissions: CO2 284g/km

Price: £29,695

Warranty: 60,000 miles, three years. Three years recovery.

Insurance: Group 16

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