Meet your heroes: the Vauxhall Calibra Turbo 4x4 still looks like a new car in 2025

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Probably not, because my old 16V Calibra never really liked summer days. Overheated, y’see, and warm coolant’s uniquely terrifying perfume has left a permanent mental scar.

Though while it was parked up waiting to cool off, mine eye would instead be enthralled by the shape of… a Calibra Turbo 4x4.

The daddy of all Calibras, it has remained a permanent fixture on my ‘must buy’ list, partly through sentiment and the circumstance of location, but mostly through shape and power.

Photography: Jonny Fleetwood

The first and second intertwined, for I was raised in Luton, worked at Vauxhall, and came of age during the Calibra’s emergence. Where thou art, therefore, is the world itself.

The third? There’s witchcraft in its shape. Here we have some of Vauxhall’s – if not the Nineties’ – prettiest lines. Lines its maker christened as his very finest. Lines which, if launched by Vauxhall today, would still look fresh. Especially since Vauxhall’s current design aesthetic is more you-have-twenty-seconds-to-comply than honey-dripping-from-a-teaspoon.

The engine was raucous rather than honey-smooth, but it packed a punch. Keen Vauxhall aficionados know old engine codes like their email passwords, which means ‘C20LET’ will be as familiar as ‘MyFirstPet72590’.

The turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot sitting proudly in the Calibra’s gargantuan engine bay made 204bhp and 207lb ft of torque, which back in 1992 was mammoth.

It also had a proper four-wheel-drive system – front biased but grippy – and a six-speed manual gearbox, to allow a 0-60mph time of 6.4s. Consider that an E36 3.0-litre M3 – launched in ’92 also – did that in around 5.6s. Only eight tenths slower, which against a race-bred BMW isn’t too bad.

Is fast though. Even today, where time has dulled most things and even rose-tinted glasses begin to rust. Sinking into the sumptuously padded armchair of this gloriously maintained, gloriously original and achingly pretty Calibra Turbo 4x4 sends a tidal wave of cosy, fuzzy memories cascading in. It’s like I’ve been transported back a quarter of a century, where the world is warm and sunny and full of hope and optimism; where your life's path lies excitingly ahead and anything is possible.

Including that 0-60mph time. A supermini can peel off a 6.4s time in 2025’s hyper-inflated world, but that’s strained pace – this feels fast because it feels natural, (reasonably) linear, and solid. Sounds just like I thought it might, too. There’s a definite ‘turbo-just-kicked-in-yo’ moment, but on the whole you just point, hold down the X button, and enjoy the ride.

A good ride, even with its lowered Bilstein dampers and shorter springs. The Calibra’s setup doesn’t feel entirely tied down, mind – its Cavalier roots betraying those looks – but nor is it loose; in 2025’s hyper-firm world, it feels more ‘relaxed’. Gearbox brings back good memories: a positive action, even if it’s positioned a little too far back.

This particular car is owned by Calibra nut Richard Gibson, and it’s a Limited Edition – the fourth of only 51 built – which means it’s one of the last ever Calibra Turbos that rolled off the line. It’s also got a great story.

One afternoon, Gibson saw it being driven by its previous owner – a former Vauxhall employee gifted the Cali as a retirement gift – did a U-turn and followed him into a supermarket car park to make him an offer on the spot.

The owner declined, but Gibson persisted, left his number, and later received a call after the owner had changed his mind. Gibson bought it instantly “for a pittance” and has never looked back. “They look like a modern-day classic,” he said, “and everyone wants the Turbo.”

Agreed. It’s comfortable. It’s fast. If you take care of it, it won’t cause you problems – Gibson’s never had the Calibra Turbo’s dreaded transfer box issues because he’s been sensible and diligent with his maintenance. The engine’s fairly bulletproof too.

And for Gibson at least, he would not wish for any companion in the world but his Calibra Turbo. “I’ll never get rid of it,” he said.

Vauxhall Calibra Turbo 4x4 (1992)

£27,500 when new, 2.0 4cyl turbo, 204bhp, 0-62mph in 6.4s, 34mpg, 1,380kg

HERO: Gorgeous looks, great engine
ZERO: Handling could be better, uninspiring dash