Overall Rating |  |
VX220 is pure sports car. And it's arguably a better value proposition than the excellent Lotus Elise on which it's based - provided you don't mind the lower status Vauxhall badge.
For
- Better equipped than Elise, for less money
- Lotus-inspired chassis and handling
- Plenty of power from reliable Vauxhall engines
Against
- There's no Lotus badge
- Impractical, and tight for bigger drivers
- Unlikely to acquire classic status
Road Test
The mid-engined VX220 is a fantastic driver's car, at home on the racetrack yet tractable enough for day-to-day use. It's not comfortable, well soundproofed or even easy to get in and out of, but the driving experience more than justifies the inconvenience.
The Turbo is awesomely quick and phenomenally good value. Both models flatter their driver, being easy to push hard while inspiring confidence, but they're a bit too hot to handle for the sports car novice - particularly the Turbo.
Equipment is basic, and the cabin as near that of a racing car as possible, with digital instruments, aluminium trim and pedals, and a very low-slung seat. The fabric roof is removable - manually. There's very little luggage space and the cockpit is cramped. And there's minimal noise insulation, although the engine sounds superb.
VX220 is a no frills, no-holds-barred experience. New or used, it's cheaper - and quicker - than equivalent Elise models.
Need To Know
NCAP: Not tested
Best Models: 2.2i
Worst Models: None
Replacement: 2004
Alternatives
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Star Ratings
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