Vauxhall is renowned for offering its cars with a huge – and sometimes confusing – range of engine and trim combinations, and its Insignia is no exception.

But one new option you really don’t want to overlook is Vauxhall’s four-wheel drive system, which is now available with a diesel engine for the first time, giving it a unique selling point over two-wheel drive rivals like the Ford Mondeo.

We’re not saying every Insignia customer should rush out and spend the £1,750 premium Vauxhall will charge for four-wheel drive, but for certain drivers, the advantages are clear.

If most of your driving is in rain or snow, if you tow a large caravan or trailer, or if your house is at the end of a rugged track, the adaptive four-wheel drive system will come into its own.

We tested it as fitted to the attractive and spacious (540 to a maximum of 1,530 litres of luggage space) Sports Tourer, but it will also be available fitted to the hatchback.

The first 4×4 diesel Vauxhall

And, the four-wheel drive hardware isn’t just available on top-spec cars, but as an option with Exclusiv, SRi, SRi Vx-Line, SE and Elite trims and with the popular 2-litre, 160bhp CDTI engine we’re testing here.

It has received improvements to its engine management software and turbo, and is now quieter than before. Refinement is one of its strongest features, as is its mid-range acceleration. Where it can be caught out is at low revs, as the engine struggles below 1,750rpm, prompting you to quickly grab a lower gear.

If you choose petrol instead, there’s the 2-litre turbo with 217bhp – which has benefitted from a four-wheel drive option for longer – a 2.8-litre turbo V6 with 260bhp and 4×4 as standard, or the hot VXR model – using the same 2.8-litre engine, but with 321bhp.

All 4×4 models get Flex Ride suspension, with adaptive dampers able to operate in standard, comfort and sports modes, for a tailored handling and ride combination. We found the ride to be very comfortable, particularly with smaller wheels fitted.

Even the 20-inch alloys of the Vx-Line and VXR cars we tested ride perfectly well, even if their massive tyres inevitably do produce more road noise and thump harder into bumps.

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 4×4 gallery:

Adaptive four-wheel drive

Vauxhall calls the 4×4 system adaptive four-wheel drive because it constantly monitors power distribution between the wheels. Under steady driving in ideal conditions no drive is sent to the rear wheels, improving efficiency and fuel consumption.

When power is needed at the rear wheels, up to 100 per cent of torque can be sent to them in 0.080 seconds.

During hard cornering and emergency manoeuvres the Insignia 4×4 feels extremely stable, and despite its significant weight, its ability to send extra torque to individual wheels improves agility.

A further safety feature called Trailer Safety Assist (TSA) will also now be included with Vauxhall’s towing pack. This feature is an extension of the vehicles ESP system, which detects when a trailer is being towed, and assists the driver if it becomes unstable.

In the most common emergency scenario, where a trailer begins to swing on a motorway in high winds or after an emergency manoeuvre, TSA reduces speed and can even brake individual wheels to bring the car and trailer back under safe control.

Tow king

Fitted with both the 4×4 and towing pack (which also includes self-levelling rear suspension), the Insignia is a pretty awesome towing car, comfortably controlling a 2,000kg Caravan which was hooked onto our car during part of this test.

Going on sale from June 16, pricing for the Insignia 4×4 CDTI is still being finalised, but should range from £23,975 for the Exclusiv trim to £31,035 for the Elite Nav range-topper.

And, for those who want luxury as much as practicality, there’s a new leather interior available called Indian Summer, which features warm tones of Nappa leather and impressive quality stitching. UK pricing isn’t confirmed yet, but it should be close to £1,500.

We fully expect Vauxhall’s four-wheel drive system to prove popular with anyone who needs the added safety and performance of four-wheel drive, but haven’t been able to find it fitted to other popular saloons and estates.

Traditionally 4×4 has been the preserve of premium cars of this size, but not anymore.

Key facts:

Model tested: Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 4×4 2.0 CDTI 160
On the road price: TBC
Price range: Circa £23,975 to £31,035
Date tested: June 2010
Road tester: Andy Goodwin