Vauxhall Insignia car review
Model tested: Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTI 160 SE NAV H5 Auto
Price as tested: £24,660
Price range: £15,601 - £30,545
Insurance group as tested: 10
Insurance group range: 7 - 15
CO2 emissions as tested: 179g/km
CO2 emissions range: 154g/km – 272g/km
Company car tax %: 21-35%
EuroNCAP result: *****
Date tested: April 2009
Road tester: Andy Goodwin
Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 83%
The Vauxhall Vectra has been a common sight on British roads since its introduction in 1995. Whether buying, selling, policing, commuting or holidaying, drivers have covered millions of miles in Vauxhall’s saloon.
So its all-new replacement, the Vauxhall Insignia had better be good.
It certainly looks far prettier than the Luton stalwart we’re used too. But can it cope with the daily grind? We drove one for a week to find out.
Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor
The Insignia is so much better looking than the Vectra it replaces; it’s no surprise Vauxhall deemed it worthy of a new name. Sleek lines and the raked roof of a coupe give the Insignia an elegant shape and make it appear more expensive than it actually is. We liked the LED ‘running lights’ which add to the Insignia’s modern looks, and the rising swage line running along its sides.
9/10
Insignia drivers tend to spend long stretches at the wheel, and it has clearly been designed with this as a top priority. The seats kept us free from aches and pains even after several hours of driving. The dashboard is a substantial improvement in quality from its predecessor and has a feel much closer to BMW and Audi interiors than its lower price may suggest. Our only complaint is the sheer number of buttons on the dashboard, which can be confusing until you are used to the car.
8/10
Open the rear hatch and the boot space is a deeply impressive 520-litres with all seats still in place, just 8-litres less than the capacious Ford Mondeo. Fold the rear seats down and there is 1,463-litres of luggage space.
The Insignia is a big car, but its coupe roofline and thick doors and pillars make it less spacious inside than you may expect and rear headroom can be restrictive for taller passengers.
9/10
Lots of work has gone into the suspension setup of the Insignia both at the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire and on the roads around Europe. There is little body roll and plenty of grip, and the Insignia is a stable and poised car.
The electric power steering system robs the car of its feel, however, and we felt more removed from the driving experience than in the excellent handling Mondeo and Mazda 6.
The Insignia is most at home on fast and flowing A roads and motorways, where it soothes away miles.
Optional adjustable damping called ‘Flex-ride’ allows drivers to choose between a comfort and sport orientated chassis response.
8/10
There are three petrol and two diesel engines available from launch. The 158bhp of our 2.0CDTi test car made it quick enough, but it was also louder than engines from top competitors. We also couldn’t match the claimed 48.7mpg average fuel consumption, managing 41mpg on a 150-mile test route. The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol is faster and much smoother, feeling almost as quick as the V6 in most driving conditions.
Engine – bhp / lb/ft / 0-60mph / max speed mph
Petrol:
1.8 VVT – 140 / 129 / 10.9 / 128
2.0 T – 217 / 258 / 7.2 / 150
2.0 T 4x4 – 217 / 258 / 7.4 / 149
2.8 V6 – 256 / 258 / 6.7 / 155
Diesel:
2.0 CDTi 130 – 128 / 221 / 10.7 / 126
2.0 CDTi 160 – 158 / 258 / 8.9 / 135
8/10
The emissions and fuel consumption of the Insignia are not outstanding in its class, which is disappointing considering it’s an all-new model. Some of the petrol engines have worse emissions than in the Vectra and it’s only the 154g/km emissions and 48.7mpg claimed consumption of the 2.0 CDTi which impresses.
These issues could be resolved when ECOflex models arrive, with emissions expected to be less than 140g/km.
Engine – emissions g/km / combined fuel consumption mpg
Petrol:
1.8 VVT – 184 / 36.2
2.0 T – 209 / 31.7
2.0 T 4x4 – 215 / 30.7
2.8 V6 – 272 / 24.4
Diesel:
2.0 CDTi 130 – 154 / 48.7
2.0 CDTi 160 – 154 / 48.7
7/10
The Vectra has received four out of five stars for ownsership on our user review site Drive the Debate. The Insignia should prove to have even better customer satisfaction and reliability thanks to its continued use of proven engines and its improved design.
8/10
An excellent performance in EuroNCAP crash tests has given the Insignia a five-star score. It received 94 per cent for adult occupant protection, 79 per cent for child occupant protection and 40 per cent for pedestrian safety.
9/10
All models are generously equipped and some interesting new technology is available, including a video camera which can read road signs. All models can be specified with or without satellite navigation, which is a big improvement over the version fitted in the Vectra, and offers clear mapping and instructions.
Trim levels:
S includes:
Air conditioning
CD player
Trip computer
Steering wheel mounted controls
Exclusive adds:
17-inch alloy wheels
Central front armrest
Cabin lighting
SE adds:
18-inch alloy wheels
Auto windscreen wipers
Electronic handbrake
Elite adds:
Dual-zone climate control
‘Flex-ride’ adaptive suspension
Parking sensors
Electric driver’s seat
SRi:
Leather sports steering wheel
Alloy pedals
Sports seats
Front fog lights
Lowered suspension (-15mm)
8/10
The Vectra has been hugely popular with families and business alike, thanks to its generous talents at a low price. The Insignia carries on the tradition superbly and adds a big dose of style to make it a car you can now choose with your head and your heart.
9/10
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