2023 Vauxhall Mokka

Overall verdict on the Vauxhall Mokka 

 " Eventually, the hinder-fading Vauxhall Mokka is a truly seductive small SUV. Its sharp aesthetic will appeal to Volkswagen T-Roc and Ford Puma buyers, while its affordable running costs and seductive finance deal mean it will not break the bank." 

  Vauxhall Mokka Review 2023 moldered anterior dynamics 

  The 2022 Vauxhall Mokka is a welcome update to the old Mokka A dull, drab thing that surely could not be rated as one of the swish small SUVs, yet it ended in huge figures to employing companies and Motability guests. This means you can buy easily used illustrations for a bit of the price, giving you a high seating position at a lower price than the Ford Fiesta Volition. But the reverse fading model has entered an overhaul under Vauxhall's new possessors, Stellantis. Are the changes made useful? Let's find out in our Vauxhall Mokka review. 

The Vauxhall Mokka shares its platform with the Citroen C4 and Peugeot 2008, but the new' Vizor' anterior- end( to be launched across the Vauxhall range soon) means you will not mistake it for one of its French counterparts. 

    Available with a petrol or diesel machine, the Mokka is also available with electric power( the fading being labeled Mokka- e), with the 1.2-liter petrol likely to be the big deal. It's available with 100PS or 130PS – top-of-the-line units that offer excellent performance both in and out of the city. 

  While the Vauxhall Mokka is not as nimble as the SEAT Arona or Ford Puma, it's a veritably comfortable choice. The lift is nearly as good as the Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Roc, only getting confused if you hit a broken tarmac with a well-rounded pet. 

  The 2022 Vauxhall Mokka range starts from around 21,000 with the SE model. The outfit is relatively comprehensive for an entry-position auto, with standard outfits including a seven-inch media system( with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), lift control, and LED headlights. The Mokka SRi has an everyday look, adds 18 elevations of crafted admixture, and black face highlights, and is painted 

 blocking the window. The rear outlook camera and rear sensor will help with parking. 

The Vauxhall Mokka Elite Nav is still kindly

 luxurious, with navigation as standard, as well as chrome face trim, toast 

 heated seats, and steering wheel. Elite Nav Premium is equipped with a 10-inch color touchscreen infotainment system, as well as a luxurious 12-inch digital instrument cluster and frontal parking sensors. 

  Fading ahead in this regard is the Ultimate Nav, which comes with an 18-inch two-tone combining machine, Matrix LED headlights, and a wireless phone coliseum. There's also a high-spec Launch Edition model, with leather upholstery( including a massage function in the motorist's seat) and an advanced device backing system. 

  Of course, you can save plutocrats by looking for nearly new illustrations on Heycar. We have seen dealers flash-demonstrator models for thousands out, which makes the hinder-fading Vauxhall Mokka a more desirable proposition in the competitive small SUV request. 

  Looking for an introductory auto to trade in? We've 100s of Vauxhall Approved Used machines for trade for you to choose from, including a range of Vauxhall Mokka models. still, you need our used Vauxhall Mokka 

Vauxhall Mokka comfort and interior design 

 " Vauxhall really went to great lengths to give the Mokka a distinctive innards design. It's clearly much more seductive than the old Mokka 

  Vauxhall Mokka Review 2023 innards digital instrument cluster 

  The dashboard on the Vauxhall Mokka is a blend of trendy, angular design and olold-academyuttons, while the rest of the innards are heavily spec-dependent. precious models with multicolored neat inserts and splashes of chrome feel nearly prohibitively precious but the same can not be said for Billy Club's introductory SE trim.

You sit further forward than in the Vauxhall Corsa, while the nearly vertical bonnet helps give it an SUV sense. Unfortunately, you can't adjust the lumbar support – but the top-spec Ultimate Edition model comes with a massage function in the automobilist's seat.

still, the 2022 Vauxhall Mokka is fairly comfortable, while the dashboard weight of buttons makes life a little easier than a more minimalist approach. We like having blobs and buttons for goods like climate control and stereo, for illustration.

Space and practicality Vauxhall Mokka charges for space

The Vauxhall Mokka is pitched as a farther swish volition to the Vauxhall Crossland, which explains why it has a lower charge than its affordable stock. The charged space in the Vauxhall Mokka will officially accommodate up to 350 liters of luggage, which is lower than the maturity of its rivals. The Skoda Kamiq, Renault Captur, Ford Puma, Volkswagen T-Roc, Peugeot 2008, and Nissan Juke can all carry further.

This figure only tells part of the story, still. It's a usefully wide charge, without too important of an intrusion from the wheel bends, while a height-malleable charge nethermost reduces the lip( making loading easier). still, the hamper seats fold down to accommodate up to 1105 liters of luggage – although it's a shame the hamper bench doesn't slide backward and on for spare versatility If you do need farther space.

At just under 4.2 m long and a touch under 1.8 m wide, the 2022 Vauxhall Mokka delivers a reasonable amount of space in the front, while you'll find the usual mix of mug holders and door pockets for storing your odds and ends. goods aren't so great in the reverse of the Mokka, where passengers will feel confined and claustrophobic – especially if they're anywhere near six bases tall.

Vauxhall Mokka Review 2023 Dynamic hamper print

sharing its underpinnings with the Citroen C4 and Peugeot 2008, they're all important of a muchness to drive – prioritizing comfort over nimble handling. Around the megacity, the Mokka's light steering makes it easy to drive and flutter in and out of business, while the tractable suspension smooths over bumpy road shells. It's easy to stick, too, helped by decent visibility and standard-fit hindered parking sensors in all but the entry-position models.

The Mokka's lift quality isn't fairly as emotional for advanced faves – particularly if you buy one with the 18-inch admixture machine. It's just not fairly as settled as a Volkswagen T-Roc, but it's not uncomfortable enough to spark complaints from passengers.

What machines and gearboxes are available in the Vauxhall Mokka?

The maturity of Vauxhall Mokkas on the request is powered by a peppy little 1.2-liter petrol machine. This is available with two labors 100PS or 130PS. We've driven the ultimate, and it's a characterful little three-cylinder turbocharged unit. That means it's great around the megacity, while there's enough drive for keeping up with business on the motorway.

The more important petrol machine is offered with a choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. Choosing between these will come down to particular preferences. The machine gearbox is fine, if a little reticent at times( like a lot of modern motors, unfortunately), but it does take a lot of the strain out of heavy business.

There's also diesel sacrifice – a commodity that's increasingly rare in motorcars of this size. This is a 1.5-liter diesel, which is ideal if you're planning to cover a lot of motorway long hauls or need to lug a caravan.

" The Vauxhall Mokka should be truly cheap to run. conclude for the 1.2-liter petrol machine paired with the six-speed manual gearbox and you'll see up to 51.4 mpg, no matter which power affair you choose."

Vauxhall Mokka Review 2023 Dynamic face

This drops to 47.9 mpg with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, although the difference might be less conspicuous in the real world. You might see slightly lower than this in the real world, especially if you have a heavy right bottom or cover a lot of short expeditions, but they're WLTP energy economy figures. 

still, the 1, If outright effectiveness is your thing- a 5- 5-litre diesel machine achieves up to 65.7 mpg. That's a truly tempting figure, but we wouldn't recommend a diesel unless you cover a high amount of motorway long hauls. still, there's also the electric Vauxhall Mokka- e, If you dislike visiting the petrol station.

Vauxhall Mokka Review 2023 Dynamic anterior

basically, you can't get an introductory Vauxhall Mokka. The same's true for the machine line-up – indeed the most affordable bus comes with a 100PS petrol machine and a six-speed manual gearbox. And if you want to save haves, Vauxhall dealers love to offer are-regulation deals. These are motorcars that are in showrooms and are ready to go( sometimes blazoned as ' ex-demo' models), with huge savings off the list price.

Indeed though the bottommost Vauxhall Mokka is still a fairly new model, a budget of 19,000 will get you a Mokka SE with delivery long hauls on the timer( a saving of 2000 over the list price). Amid-spec Elite Nav could be yours for around 21,000( compared to its 23,205 retail price), while a high-spec Ultimate Nav can be picked up for around 27,000( list price is 28,455). stay a while and we reckon you'll see more- regulation models hitting the request and saving you further capitalism.

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Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer £25,005

Vauxhall has launched the estate version of the new Astra, which has a 1,634-litre engine boot and the option of a plug-in hybrid powertrain. This is the new Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. It will follow in the hatchback's footsteps into showrooms this summer, taking on the likes of the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf. Prices will start from £25,005.

Buyers have a choice of two specifications, namely Design and GS-Line. The entry-level model comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, keyless go, and a host of driver assistance technologies that include lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and a driver drowsiness warning system.

Inside, all Astra Sports Tourer models are equipped with Vauxhall's latest Pure Panel infotainment system, consisting of a 10-inch infotainment screen in the center of the dashboard and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver. Other features on the entry-level Design trim level include climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, as well as a natural voice recognition system.

The more expensive GS-Line variant has prices from £27,900. Upgrades over the base model include 17-inch alloy wheels, a contrasting black roof, rear privacy glass, and heated, electrically adjustable rear-view mirrors with built-in puddle lights.

Safety equipment has also received an upgrade, with active cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree parking camera all now standard equipment. Inside, buyers also get dual-zone climate control, a heated leather steering wheel, heated seats, and a pair of AGR-approved ergonomic sports seats up front.

Engine Choice

The Sport Tourer's engine range is lifted from the standard Astra hatchback, providing a choice of two petrol, one diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The range opens with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which can produce 108bhp or 128bhp.

Above it is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine which also has 128bhp. Both the most powerful diesel and petrol engines can be specified with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, with the latter option adding £1,500 to the estate's sticker price.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain is only available with the GS-Line trim. It consists of a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a 12.4kWh battery, and an electric motor. Together, these systems can produce 178bhp, and Vauxhall claims they can deliver a maximum electric range of 42 miles.

The Astra Sports Tourer shares the same design language as the Astra hatchback, which includes Vauxhall's signature Vizor front end. The new grille features sensors for the driver and safety aids, as well as LED headlights, as part of the brand's striking new look. The main feature of the Sports Tourer is its spaciousness.

The main selling point of the Sports Tourer compared to the Astra hatchback is the abundance of storage space. There are 608 liters of usable space with the rear seats upright and up to 1,634 liters with the seats folded. However, opting for the plug-in hybrid variant will sacrifice some of that storage to make room for the underfloor-mounted battery, offering 548 liters of storage with the seats upright and 1,574 liters.

For those using traditional petrol and diesel engines, Vauxhall offers an “Intelli-Space” option, which adds a boot floor that can be moved and adjusted to high and low positions, and even tilts at a 45-degree angle to help secure awkward loads. The retractable boot cover can also be stowed away for maximum storage space.

 

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Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4

Grandland X Greta Thunberg edition. There are no schoolchildren across the country waiting for a version of the show to be plastered on their bedroom walls. However, here we are with the Hybrid4, the performance and eco-friendly version of the GrandlandX.

 

  While 296bhp makes it the most powerful production Vauxhall fading currently on sale, it makes the Grandland

   The Grandland X's appeal is much broader. After all, this is a draw-heft hybrid. So this big SUV is capable of an official 204mpg and produces very little pollution – in theory. rather fast.

Special Nurburgring lap times.

  If you haven't read, manufacturers must reach a line average of 95g/km CO2 next year. Having hybrid vehicles in its product range goes a long way towards helping Vauxhall achieve this goal, and avoid paying billions of Euros in fines.

 

  Unsurprisingly, this Mongrel X is the most expensive in the GrandlandX lineup. For that, you get a 1.6-liter petrol engine, two electric motors, and an all-wheel drive.

  Grandland X Thunberg edition. There are no schoolchildren there

  In the top-spec, called Ultimate Nav, the equipment list is predictably long, including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, driving modes, and seats approved by – no joke – the German campaign for healthier backs.

While this is an impressive array of things to do, it will cost up to £46,500. No, you read that right. The Vauxhall is the same price as some two-bedroom terraced houses in Durham.

  Talk to me about that 296bhp

  Well, if you insist. This is a very healthy power output and comes with an even healthier 384 lb-ft of torque. The 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine produces 197bhp, the front electric motor produces 108bhp, and the rear produces 111bhp. Math fans will know that power reaches 416bhp. But it's not that simple.

Meanwhile, in full power mode, all three power sources are used, but because they all work at different RPMs, there is no single moment when all three can produce maximum power.

 

  On the other hand, instead of having a theoretical 296bhp (depending on battery position), you will always have 296bhp. This is because even though the digital readout is in the 0 – electric range you still have battery 15. This means that even if you ‘ run out ’ of electric power, you still have 296bhp at your disposal.

It feels pretty fast. 0- 62mph comes in 5.9 seconds. Low electrical power helps a lot in this regard. It also has no trouble getting traction, thanks to the AWD system. In full power mode, it converts power into movement in a very efficient, even spectacular way.

 

  Yes, the wheels move roughly in line with what the steering wheel does, and that's a good start. The fault lies in the steering speed. This is too fast. And also too light.

 

  Throwing it into a long corner you can feel the car leaning heavily. You will also hear the sound of screeching tires.

  With AWD as standard, there's actually plenty of grip. And while we commend Vauxhall for not fitting it with some sort of overly heavy steering that's electronically controlled depending on the driving mode you're in, you're never confident enough to really make the most of all the grip.

The ride was pretty good. Despite all the PHEV gubbins, it never feels fragile – it's very soft. Our test route was in the Peterborough Black Forest in Germany. In cities full of holes caused by logging trucks, the atmosphere feels smooth and relaxed.

  The wheels the car drives are determined by the driving mode you use.

 

  At start-up, the default is Electric mode. This locks the car in rear-wheel drive mode because it uses the motor on the rear axle. No, it won't float. When in this mode, it will cover a distance of 35 shops in electric mode at speeds of up to 84mph.

  Our test route included a short stretch of motorway and was sure to run well north of 80mph in Power lock. The distance must be covered carefully, but in daily driving, we cover a distance of about 30 shops on pure electricity.

In mongrel mode, it can switch between the 1.6-litre petrol engine and the electric motor. There are no major changes, and that's good. The sport uses all three drive modes to get maximum power. And AWD is best when things get a bit cold.

 

  If you make it past the black hood(optional) without wanting to escape, you can open the door to reveal the inside. Here, it's almost like a regular Grandland

There's plenty of room up front. The screen looks a bit small compared to higher-end machines, but this is a Vauxhall after all. The seats are comfortable, and most of the dashboard is button-free. The infotainment works well and is easy to read.

 

  Even though it was very dark there. And the plastic, at least under your eyeliner, feels and looks hard and scratchy.

 

  Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4 verdict

  Grandland

 

  And yes, it's a bit pricey. A bit very expensive. From a financial perspective, this seems more reasonable. The cheapest Hybrid4 works out (depending on mileage and initial payment) at around £400 per month. A similarly powered SUV, such as the BMW X2 M35i costs around £450 per month more. While other large plug-in SUVs, such as the Audi Q5 TFSIe quattro, will set you back almost £500 per month.

 

  No, it doesn't handle everything well. However, in a world where the dégagé SUV has firm suspension, Vauxhall has gone against the grain and created something for people who want a fast SUV but don't want to look dégagé in the slightest.

 

  It just doesn't have the interior luxury and swanky badging that the average fast SUV driver desires.

 

  Price when new £46,500

  On Sale in the UK Now

  1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with two electric motors, 296bhp@ 3000rpm, 384 lb ft@ 2500rpm

  Eight-speed Automatic Transmission, all-wheel drive

  Performance 5.9 seconds 0- 62mph, 146mph, 204mpg, 34g/ km CO2

  Weight/ Material 1,800 kg/ steel

  Dimensions( length/ width/ height in mm) 4477/1856/1609( mm)

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Vauxhall Grandland X Ultimate "£25,500"

 VAUXHALL CONFIRMS FULL PRICING AND SPECIFICATION FOR NEW GRANDLAND

Pricing and specification details released for New Grandland
High-tech new interior complete with Pure Panel digital displays and modern design
New Grandland introduces several new technologies to the segment
Adaptive IntelliLux LED® Pixel HeadLight technology now available on New Grandland
Efficient Plug-in Hybrid Electric variants start from just £34,365 OTR
Available to order now from £25,500, with first deliveries due in the Autumn

 Luton – The New Vauxhall Grandland is available to order now, with full specifications and pricing confirmed. With new technologies, lower pricing, and a range of efficient petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the New Grandland is available in SE, SRi, Elite, and Ultimate trim levels. The New Grandland is the latest model to feature Vauxhall’s new and bold design language with its distinctive Vizor front end. First deliveries of the New Grandland are due later this year.

The powerful and efficient New Grandland PHEV is now available for as little as £34,365 OTR representing a saving of over £6,000 compared with the comparable outgoing model and customers benefitting from up to 192mpg and 34 miles of EV driving range, with the rest of the Grandland line-up starting from just £25,500 OTR.

Vauxhall’s flagship SUV also introduces several new technologies and assistance systems that until now, have been reserved for premium segments of the market, including Adaptive IntelliLux LED® Pixel HeadLights. The 168 LED elements – 84 per headlamp, as seen on the new Insignia – result in a seamless and intelligent adaptation of the light beam according to the driving conditions and surroundings, without dazzling oncoming traffic. The LED elements of each slim headlamp unit line up in a three-row matrix system where the functions flow seamlessly into the next level.

New Grandland models are also available with Night Vision technology, a first for Vauxhall, with the system capable of detecting pedestrians and animals in darkness at a distance of up to 100m and alerting the driver. Vauxhall has also ensured the New Grandland features the latest in semi-adaptive driving, and is available with Highway Integration Assist which keeps the New Grandland in the middle of its lane and maintains the distance to the vehicle in front, it also allows for “stop & go” progress in traffic.

 The exterior of the New Grandland now features Vauxhall’s bold new design language with the distinctive Vizor trim detail on the front of the car, and the new Griffin logo proudly located in the center, flanked by slim LED lighting units and muscular bumpers for a purposeful profile.

Inside, the New Grandland features Vauxhall’s new Pure Panel cockpit with two widescreen displays for the latest digital experience. Pure Panel is made up of the latest digital technologies and displays the most important information straight to the driver. Ahead of the driver is a display up to 12 inches in size, offering up essential information to the driver with minimal distraction, while the central 10-inch display controls all infotainment via a touchscreen. All models come standard with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ for full smartphone connectivity.

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “With a bold design, class-leading technologies, and high-tech interior, the New Grandland is set to appeal to a wide range of new and existing customers. With significant savings on the cost price of PHEV models compared to earlier iterations, it has never been more affordable to own Vauxhall’s flagship SUV. Vauxhall is committed to offering a fully-electrified line-up by 2024 and we’re looking forward to seeing the New Grandland on the road later this year.”

 Efficient and powerful engines

 Leading the powertrain line-up is the Plug-in Hybrid offering up to 192mpg and an electric driving range of up to 34 miles (WLTP), making it the perfect companion for most commutes while still delivering impressive and enjoyable performance from its 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor, which deliver a combined 225PS.

 With emissions of just 31g/km CO2 under WLTP testing, the New Grandland is eligible for just 11% Benefit-in-Kind rate, making it ideal for fleet and business users. PHEV variants of the New Grandland are available in sporty SRi or Elite trims.

 The New Grandland is also available with a choice of efficient petrol and diesel units. A 1.2-litre Turbo petrol (130PS) and 1.5-litre Turbo D diesel (130PS). Petrol models are available with either a speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission; diesel models get an eight-speed automatic transmission.

New trim levels

SE variants feature 17-inch alloy wheels as standard and come with a seven-inch Pure Panel color touchscreen and driver display of the same size. All models come with a generous level of standard specification including DAB, Bluetooth, cruise control, electric parking brake, electric folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic lighting and wipers.

Sportier SRi variants upgrade the wheels to 18-inch gloss black alloys and come with a 12-inch Pure Panel driver display with a 10-inch central touchscreen. Also included is a 180-degree rear-view camera, high gloss black color-coded roof, roof rails, wheel arch cladding, skid plates, bumper inserts, and badges, as well as dark tinted windows to enhance the sporty look.

Elite variants introduce 19-inch Bi-Colour alloy wheels and additional technology including LED Matrix automatic front lighting, wireless phone charging, advanced park assist, side blind spot alert, keyless entry and start, and a power tailgate, while inside occupants benefit from advanced Ergo Active front seats.

Range-topping Ultimate variants add Alcantara® upholstery and a 360-degree camera with high-gloss black exterior letter detailing.

Prices for the New Grandland start from just £25,500 OTR. 

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Driving the classics: Vauxhall VXR220

Vauxhall’s VX220 roadster will always be seen as an extreme side-step from the usual model range during the 2000s. A low, wide, targa-topped, two-seat roadster sat among the Astras and Corsas and Zafiras of the Vauxhall range like a brick in a bowl of soup.

You see, the story goes that General Motors was approached by Lotus, which wanted to develop the Series 2 Elise but had the lofty hurdle of meeting much more stringent crash protection regulations. GM rubbed its hands together and got stuck in. 

With Hethel’s help, it cranked out a striking roadster that would be badged as the Vauxhall VX220 in right-hand drive format and as the Opel or Daewoo Speedster in Europe and other markets further afield. All on the same production line as the Elise in Norfolk, with the first GM versions going on sale first.

Any more history?

Well, from a CAR magazine perspective, we loved the dinky Vauxhall roadster. Our first drive of the naturally-aspirated VX220 in the September 2000 led author Paul Gregory to moan about very little; ‘In the roadster realm, it costs less than an S2000 and considerably less than the TT. It is a rawer, more sporting environment than both and is more wieldy – and far less tail-happy – than the S2000 at the limit.’

The boosted VX220 Turbo, meanwhile, was our Performance Car of the Year 2003: ‘Any road becomes VX road. And once it owns the road, it owns your heart.’ Strong words.

It was readier for the track than the other VXs. There was 20bhp more (up to 217bhp) from the 2.0-litre turbo due to a better turbocharger, a remapped ECU and a free-flow air filter. The 10mm lower suspension with stiffer Bilstein damping completed the list. It also had a very limited production run of just 65.

This particular one (KE04 GYH, aka V22 VXL) is VXR 01 – the first-ever car to carry the VXR badge for Vauxhall; something that led to the likes of the truly insane Corsa and Astra VXR cars and even became the name of the Aussie-derived coupe in its later life on UK shores: the VXR8 (formerly Monaro).

Tell me about it then!

Where to start. I was just turning into double digits when the VX first went on sale. It was one of the very early sports cars in my life that I had a genuine dream of owning; the crisp lines, vertical central exhaust, pointy headlights and Christmas light rear clusters were an alluring concoction.

I still have feelings for it now. I’m also 6ft 3in, which, for a brief moment, felt well into the realms of ‘too tall’ when approaching the VXR from a distance. Climbing in takes real gymnast flexibility from your lower half; sit on the thick side sill, work your feet underneath the eeny-weeny steering wheel and pretty much fall into the fixed-back bucket seat. Getting out is even funnier.

Still, get going and the magic of such a pokey roadster hits quickly. In town, the ride is firm (although others in the CAR office say the VX in general is softer than the comparative Elise) and, due to the low weight, you skip over lumpy surfaces.

You’re very much involved in the whole process, though – getting in and driving this analogue roadster is so, so welcome when you’ve just gotten out of something from 2018 that’s shrouded in electric this, adaptive that and hot-and-cold running widescreen infotainment systems.

All of the road’s imperfections are translated via that tremendously hefty yet incredibly dinky steering wheel. At motorway cruises, it’s precise without being too jerky by your inputs; in town the weighting is more noticeable but no less welcome. Parking requires some serious arm strength, but that ain’t a complaint either.

And then there’s the engine. It’s a turbocharged one from the early 2000’s, so it was put to work long before may brands truly understood how to eliminate a good portion of lag. So, while the lower end of the rev spectrum makes for pleasant pottering, when the boost does arrive, acceleration is electric and addictive. That coupled with the tactile, not-too-heavy, clunk-click of each gearchange is great.

Incorporating the two together on a twisty road and you can see why we loved it so much when it first came out. Few cars, other than the likes of Lotus and Caterham, still offer such a purity in the driving experience. It’s still arguably a weekend toy rather than an everyday car, but it’s certainly more capable than driving a Seven everywhere.

Regardless of whether you’re particularly after a super-rare VXR220 like this one or the 2.2-litre VX220 or 2.0-litre VX220 Turbo, there are some things you’ll need to know about Luton’s roadster, with intel from Ben Barry.

If you need a new soft-top roof, it’ll cost £1200 new direct from Lotus or around £500 for a good used one. For the VX220 Turbo models, the cambelt should be changed every four years, while the turbos themselves can suffer from boost leakage, failing vacuum pipes and recirculation valves with perforated membranes.

Damage to the aluminium chassis can write a whole car off as Lotus never sanctioned a proper repair process but specialists say it can be done.

Want one? A good naturally-aspirated model will cost you around £17,000, a Turbo around £19k and the VXR220 like the one we’re driving here can stretch from anywhere between £22k and £30k. It may have been pricier new than the comparative Lotus, but your wedge now goes around £5,000 further here than the equivalent Elise on the used market due to rarity. Odd to mention that when looping in the Lotus Elise in the same conversation.

Life and hero car box ticked, and without disappointment. The Vauxhall VX220 is a thriller of a roadster that just looked so out of place with the rest of GM-era 2000s Vauxhall, but it represented the start of some fiercely pokey performance cars in the years after and shows that a blue-collar brand can still attract an enthusiast audience.

On sale in the UK: 2005

Engine: 1998cc 4cyl turbo, 217bhp

Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive

Performance: 4.2sec 0-62mph, 154mph

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