2003 Opel Signum 3.0L V6 CDTI 6MT FWD (150 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The German automaker made a vehicle to compete against premium automakers, so after discontinuing the Omega, it tried its luck with the Signum.

Based on the same platform as the Vectra lineup, the Signum was a different approach on the market. While it shared most of its components with its smaller sibling, the extended wheelbase and the large cabin in the back were supposed to bring some customers back after migrating to BMW or Mercedes-Benz. But the strategy didn’t work.

With a front fascia that resembled the mundane Vectra, a car built mostly for lower-middle-class customers, the Signum couldn’t impress too much. Its headlights swept back over the hood that flanked a grille with a horizontal slat, and the lower air intake in the bumper was far from considered premium. In addition, the car’s hatchback shape with thick C-pillars and tilted-forward tailgate was nothing to write home about it.

Inside, Opel didn’t struggle too much to create an exquisite cabin. Its slightly curved dash panel and the arched line of the instrument cluster didn’t match the flat vertical center stack. It is true that everything was easy to reach, but the design was far from being considered luxurious. Moreover, the materials used were similar to those from the mundane Vectra, although customers could choose leather seats. But the Signum had an ace up its sleeves, and that was the room for the rear-seated passengers. Thanks to the extended wheelbase and the tall roof, the car provided more than enough room for two people. Still, that wasn’t enough to convince customers.

With its drivetrain carried over from the Vectra and the front-wheel-drive platform, the Signum was not very convincing.