A GRAPHIC illustration of the incredible improvement in equipment levels of modern cars comes in the shape of Vauxhall's Vectra.
When they arrived last year, some versions cost less than their previous equivalents - such as the 1.8-litre Elegance at £16,145 in comparison to £16,430 for the outgoing 1.8 CD - and the standard equipment levels of all were incredible.
Prices have risen slightly since, with the cheapest 1.8 LS model at £14,880 now costing about £280 more than Nissan's Primera, whilst attracting annual road tax of just £140 rather than the former £155.
The standard equipment list reads more like that of an expensive luxury limousine than the archetypal company repmobile.
It includes cruise control, electric operation of the front windows and heated mirrors, remote central locking, a CD player, automatic rain-sensing wipers and air conditioning.
Safety features include anti-lock brakes, twin front and side air bags, curtain air bags front and rear, and even a brake-assist system in which the engine automatically provides extra brake pressure in an emergency.
Equipment such as cruise control, air conditioning and a CD player were optional extras on even the most expensive models just a few years ago and would have cost about £1,500.
Now they are all standard on a Vauxhall Vectra LS, with the Elegance version gaining alloy wheels, a multi-CD player, electric operation of the rear windows and a more upmarket interior with wood and leather trim.
The cheapest Elegance is the 1.8-litre at £16,380, with the 2.2-litre model costing just £500 more.
Then comes the most lavishly-equipped version of the lot, in the form of the Elite, which gets full leather, 17-inch alloys, heated front seats and automatic climate control.
Prices are £19,085 for the 1.8 and £19,585 for the 2.2 litre.
There are three levels of cosmetic sportiness, denoted by SXi, SRi and GSi, in which the engines and performance stay the same, but the car looks increasingly macho.
The SXi gets sports seats, alloy wheels, front fog lamps, and a leather steering wheel.
The SRi has larger-diameter alloys, sports suspension, a sports steering wheel, chrome instrument dials, stainless steel exhaust pipe, lowered chassis, body-coloured door handles and a chrome sill plate.
At the top of the sports pile is the GSi which boasts piercing xenon headlamps, twin exhaust pipes, electronic stability programme, front and rear reading lamps and a leather arm rest.
The arrival of the latest Vectra means that competition in that sector of the market is now intense, so it is very much a buyer's market.
Anyone looking for a good family car can now choose from among the Renault Laguna, Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, Nissan Primera, Toyota Avensis, Honda Accord, Alfa 156, Skoda Superb, Mazda6 and Vauxhall Vectra, each of which is impressive.
The previous Vectra received a luke-warm reception from enthusiasts because the driving experience was as dull as ditch water.
It did the job adequately but generated little excitement and was seriously overshadowed by Ford's newer Mondeo.
This latest Vectra changes all that by doing just as good a job in terms of practicality and affordability, whilst offering driving satisfaction into the bargain.
It raises the stakes yet again and even begins to blur the edges between mainstream models and the likes of BMW and Audi.
Whilst there will always be those willing to pay a premium for designer badges, it increasingly makes less sense.
The only problem is depreciation, with the Vectra 1.8i LS being worth just 38 per cent of its original price after three years, in comparison to 58 per cent for the equivalent BMW 3 Series.
It's worth bearing this in mind when haggling in the showroom and the best bet of all is to buy nearly new rather than brand new.
FAST FACTS
Vauxhall Vectra 1.8i LS
Price: £14,880
Mechanical: 120bhp, 1796cc 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-spd gearbox
Max speed: 120mph
0-62mph: 11.3secs
Combined mpg: 37
Insurance group: 7
CO2 emissions: 184g/km
BiK rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 10yrs anti-rust