Review
/5
- Pros:
- Very comfortable for a fast car
- Lots of fun to drive
- Interior quality is better than ever
- Cons:
- Similar price to German rivals
- High running costs
- Automatic gearbox is slow and awkward
reviewed by Carbuyer
"With bold looks to match its muscle-car personality, the Vauxhall VXR8 is about as raw as modern-day saloons get"
At a glance
- The greenest
- CLUBSPORT 6.2i V8 (431PS) 4dr
£45,000 - The cheapest
- CLUBSPORT 6.2i V8 (431PS) 4dr
£45,000 - The fastest
- CLUBSPORT 6.2i V8 (431PS) 4dr
£45,000 - Top of the range
- GTS 6.2i V8 (431PS) auto 4dr
£51,280
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Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine, the VXR8 is not short of power. With bold looks to match its muscle-car personality, the Vauxhall VXR8 is about as raw as modern-day saloons get. It takes only only 4.9 seconds to travel from 0-60mph and has a top speed of 155mph. Poor fuel efficiency and high insurance means that the running costs are very high, but this has always been the case with the VXR8. Steering is precise, handling is direct and the ride is very comfortable for such a fast car. Inside, cabin quality is better than ever but the VXR8 is still some way behind its European rivals. At £50,000 it is not the low-cost alternative to the likes of BMW and Mercedes that it once was, but it is still good value for money if you are looking for a comfortable, spacious and very fast saloon.
Drive
Seriously fun to drive, the VXR8 has lots of power and excellent handling for such a big car
The VXR8's 6.2-litre V8 delivers 425bhp and takes only 4.9 seconds to go from 0-60mph. Above 4,000rpm power levels are unbelievable and handling is better than ever. The steering is accurate and nicely weighted, while another excellent feature of the VXR8 is its enournmous brakes, the biggest ever fitted to any roadgoing Vauxhall they make sure that you have the best possible chance of controlling the VXR8's unbelievable power.
Comfort
The VXR8 is extremely spacious and has excellent levels of comfort for a sports-saloon
However you look at it the Vauxhall's V8 engine is seriously loud. Resonating throughout the cabin, it can get a bit noisy even when you are cruising along in sixth gear. There's a bit of wind noise, and the large tyres generate a fair amount of road noise, too, but it's the least you would expect from a true muscle car. Refinement aside, the VXR8 is extremely spacious and has excellent levels of comfort for a sports-saloon.
Reliability
The latest VXR8 is the most reliable edition that Vauxhall has made
Vauxhall's levels of reliability have been steadily improving over recent years and the latest version of the VXR8 has the best record so far. Interior quality is better than ever too, although the VXR8 still feels somewhat cheaper than rivals from Audi and BMW. That said it still looks and feels great, and is a very solid effort all round.
Practicality
There are very few fast cars that offer as much space as the VXR8
There are very few fast cars that offer as much space as the VXR8. With more than enough legroom for five large adults, and plenty of headroom, the VXR8 really is one of a kind. The boot is as big as a regular family saloon too.
Value for money
You get a lot of car for your £50,000 with the VXR8
With its 6.2-litre V8 engine, a chassis that's more capable than ever, huge amounts of character and real ability, you get a lot of car for your £50,000 with the VXR8. It is unlikely it will win over buyers used to owning an Audi, BMW or Mercedes though. But this could all change if Vauxhall makes further exterior and interior updates.
Running costs
Expensive to insure and managing less than 20mpg, the VXR8 is not a cheap car to own
The VXR8's £50,000 pricetag is no longer a value alternative to European rivals and its residual value is terrible. Very expensive to insure and offering less than 20mpg it has high running costs, too. It is also worth noting that the rear-wheel-driven VXR8 goes through a set of tyres quicker than most and this quickly adds up.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
