1995 Holden Vectra Sedan 1.8L 5MT FWD (126 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In 1995, Opel introduced the second generation of the mid-size sedan Vectra at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a car that was sold in Australia under the Holden badge, and it was available in three body shapes: sedan, hatchback, and station wagon.

After spending more than a billion USD on the second generation of the Vectra, General Motors tried to gain back its money quickly. As a result, it sold the car in many countries under different nameplates. While the Europeans had the Opel and the Brits had the Vauxhall-badged vehicles, it was known as the Holden Vectra in Australia and New Zealand. There were tiny differences between them, even though the car was built in GM’s factory in Elizabeth, Australia.

Since the car appeared during the bio-design era, it sported organic shapes with curved lines and smooth surfaces. At the front, the 1995 Holden Vectra featured slim horizontal headlights with rounded corners and flanked a reversed trapezoidal-shaped grille where the brand’s badge took center stage. Lower, on the wrapped-around plastic bumper, the automaker added a second air intake that complemented the cooling area, and customers could opt for a set of round fog lamps integrated into the side scoops.

When GM’s styling department penned the 1995 Holden Vectra, it tried to create an aerodynamically shaped vehicle with a touch of sporty appearance. As a result, the narrow nose was followed by a panoramic windshield, a slightly curved roofline, and a sloped-down rear window. The sedan featured a short rear deck. To make it look even smoother, the automaker installed the door mirrors on aerodynamically profiled elements extended from the A-pillars. In addition, Holden placed a set of side sills that reduced the ground effect. However, the automaker cheeped out with the door handles that were left black, regardless of the car’s color.

Inside, the dashboard was slightly curved, like a wave, with a taller section in front of the driver above the instrument panel. The center stack housed the stereo and the HVAC control panel, while at the bottom was the ashtray. Between the bolstered front seats, the automaker installed a narrow center console where the gear stick and the handbrake were placed. At the back, the 1995 Holden Vectra had a bench seat that could accommodate up to three passengers but with limited legroom and shoulder room.

Under the hood, customers could opt between one of the five gasoline and two diesel engines paired with five-speed manual transmissions. As an option, selected versions were available with four-speed automatic gearboxes. Power ranged between 101 PS (99 hp) and 170 PS (168 hp) for gasoline-powered versions. At the same time, the two turbodiesel options provided 101 PS (99 hp) and 126 PS (123 hp) respectively.