Holden Vectra II (JS) gallery (1998–2002)
The Holden Vectra (JS series) brought localized Australian manufacturing, the addition of a station wagon body, and refined powertrains.
The Holden Vectra (JS series) arrived in late 1998, establishing local manufacturing at Holden’s Elizabeth assembly facility in South Australia for domestic sales and regional export markets. The JS range expanded the portfolio by introducing a versatile five-door station wagon alongside the existing sedan and five-door hatchback bodies. In 2000, the updated Series II (JS II) was launched, showcasing refreshed exterior styling with revised bumpers, updated front lighting, and an upgraded interior console. Mechanically, the previous 2.0-liter base engine was replaced by an all-aluminum 2.2-liter Z22SE Ecotec unit delivering 108 kW (147 hp), while the 2.5-liter V6 remained the flagship powerplant with 125 kW (170 hp). Power was routed via five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearboxes. Local chassis engineers fine-tuned suspension damping for unpaved and undulating Australian country roads. Domestic assembly concluded in 2002 as the brand shifted back to fully imported sourcing for the succeeding generation.
