Sometimes it makes sense to abbreviate. Edson Arantes de Nascimento would have been a commentator's nightmare as he weaved his magic on the football pitch if the childhood nickname 'Pele' hadn't stuck. On the other hand, Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesseling would generate more sales in the club shop but for the astronomical cost to fans of having his name printed on the back of a shirt - and the broad shoulders they'd need to wear it legibly.

The same is true of cars. Fancy turning up for work driving a 'Life In A New Age' or taking the 'Midships Runabout II' for a spin? Thought not, but the Suzuki Liana and Toyota MR2 proved more palatable. Vauxhall's abbreviation of their Vectra Exclusiv model is modest by these standards but while lopping off that 'e', they've also kept the price in trim and that's what really matters.

The way things usually work in car model ranges is relatively simple. The line-up extends upwards from the base model with the different trim levels successively yielding more equipment and costing more money as you ascend. The Vauxhall Vectra range would follow along these lines, were it not for the Exclusiv derivatives which seem to throw a spanner in the works. Exclusiv Vectras are the least expensive in the range, at prices starting from £14,900, but they actually provide a superior package of equipment to the Life variants.

This might lead us to believe that Exclusiv is some kind of special edition, a limited time offer to drum up sales in the short term, but Vauxhall treat it as a permanent part of the range. The answer may lie with the Vectra's undying popularity with the big fleets. The car sells in impressive quantities but most of the units shifted are accounted for by corporate customers stocking up on vehicles for their employees to drive. These kinds of buyers can negotiate big discounts and tend to favour cheaper, more sparsely-equipped models but the Exclusiv is aimed at private buyers who will be paying close to list price and will take all the creature comforts they can get.

"Exclusiv Vectras are the least expensive in the range but they actually provide a superior package of equipment."

The Exclusiv lays it on pretty thick too. Buyers receive 16-inch alloy wheels with low profile tyres, chrome effect window trim, body-coloured door handles and a sports front air dam to enliven the exterior. Meanwhile, the interior comes complete with a CD stereo, air-conditioning, six airbags, an eight-way adjustable driver's seat, an adjustable steering column and a remote control security alarm. It's a comprehensive package featuring the kinds of things that a private buyer looks for in a car of this price and it comes on top of standard Vectra equipment like electric front windows, cruise control, electric/heated door mirrors and steering wheel audio controls.

The choice of power for Exclusiv models is a three-way one. Petrol buyers can have the 140bhp 1.8-litre 16-valve and that's their lot but diesel customers have 120 and 150bhp versions of Vauxhall's CDTi common-rail diesel engine to mull over. The 140bhp 1.8 petrol unit is an impressive unit, drive with a feather-light right boot and close to 40mpg should be possible but drop the hammer and a 9.9s 0-60mph sprint followed by a 131mph top speed is on the cards. The 120CDTi costs £1,000 more so you'd expect it to be better. It offers slightly inferior acceleration at 10.5s but this makes little difference to the driving experience and the detrimental effects of a 124mph top speed will only be felt on a track or the nearest Autobahn. What the diesel does do is produce substantially more torque than the petrol for a more flexible mid-range and, of course, close to 50 miles from every gallon of fuel won't go amiss. Another £500 puts you in the driving seat of the highlight of the Exclusiv range - the 150bhp 1.9-litre CDTi. Here there's more zip to the acceleration with 60mph dispatched from standstill in 8.8s, a 135mph top speed and average economy of 48mpg. Most keen drivers will find the extra money for a 150.

The current model has been subjected to a reasonably thorough facelift. The large headlights jut upwards into the bonnet and the grille, married effectively to the under bumper assembly, provides real presence on the road. At the back, the bumper has been reworked on some models and the range of wheel designs has also been given a good going-over. The old cabin was a little too grey for many tastes but upgraded seat fabrics and trim inserts, a smaller, more sports-orientated steering wheel and a jazzed-up instrument panel all help to make the current model a more interesting place to be.

It's a fairly well-established fact that the Vectra can match any car in the medium range sector on grounds of refinement and comfort. The trick for engineers working on the current facelifted car was to retain those respected qualities while injecting more by way of driver involvement and improving the car's dynamic abilities. It sounds a fine balancing act but they may have pulled it off. There's more steering feel and better chassis control in today's Vectra but the crown jewels of that silky ride and the whisper-quiet cabin remain intact. In fact, Vauxhall claim that refinement is actually improved as well.

Offered in five-door hatchback and estate form, the Vectra Exclusiv is a proposition designed to tempt the private buyer. It certainly stands out from the rest of the range on value, offering more equipment than some derivatives for less money. It sounds like a special edition but we're led to believe that the Exclusiv is here to stay. How do Vauxhall do it? Must be all the money they saved by axing that 'e'.

TOP 5 VECTRA DEALS

The results below show the top VECTRA deals on buyacar

	Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Exclusiv [150] 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £232	Saving £4,208	Price £12,757
	Vauxhall Vectra 1.8i VVT Exclusiv 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £217	Saving £3,761	Price £11,704
	Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Exclusiv [120] 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £228	Saving £4,061	Price £12,404
	Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Exclusiv [150] [Sat nav] 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £243	Saving £4,443	Price £13,272
	Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Exclusiv [120] [Sat Nav] 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £238	Saving £4,296	Price £12,919

typical 10.88% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000