The story
The Vectra replaced the much-loved Cavalier as the motorway rep's standard issue. It was smooth-shaped, safe and well equipped, though road testers found it dull to drive. It sold in huge numbers all the same.
Inside
Grey but solid, with comfortable seats for long days on the road.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
When the last one left the line in March 2002, car making at Luton ended after 97 years. The door mirrors were shaped to blend into the bonnet line.
Meanwhile, in 1995
Blur and Oasis fought the battle of Britpop.
Best-selling single of 1995: Unchained Melody by Robson & Jerome
Before you buy a 1990s car
- On petrol engines, check the cooling system and any sign of head gasket trouble.
- Ask when the timing belt was last changed, where fitted.
- Parts for mass-market cars are widely available; specialist and low-volume models can be hard to find.
General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.
Rivals of its day
Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.
See the real thing
These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.
Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.