Search: more on the Vauxhall Insignia
New badge, new name, but can Vauxhall overcome the mass-produced, repmobile stigma with the new Insignia? We headed to Loch Lomond to find out...Possibly the most important car of 2008, the Vauxhall Insignia is bigger, more spacious and with its new design language has been created with enough style to take sales away from top-end rivals such as Ford's excellent Mondeo.
Bold looks
Previous Vauxhall fleet and family cars have built a reputation for being forgettable mile-munchers, not so the Insignia. From it's bold chromed front grille, the coupe like profile, to it's curvy rear there's no doubt that this is the most interesting design from Luton via Germany for some years. On sale from January 2009 and priced from £15,935, the Insignia stands out from its rivals with its bold styling cues on the exterior and interior.
Clever design
On the outside, the four-door saloon, five-door hatch (and latterly a Sports Tourer estate) are identified by the signature crease in the bonnet and the blade form down the side of the car. The bonnet itself is one of the cleverer pieces of the Insignia design, disguising the fact that the Insignia is 50mm higher than the outgoing Vectra due to crash regulations. Other key Insignia exterior styling includes the sweeping front and rear light clusters with their blade-like detailing, which at the front can be seen as distinctive driving lights that will eventually be rolled out to the rest of the Vauxhall range.
Sports Tourer the pick of the range
Overall, I think that the Insignia is attractive. I'm particularly looking forward to the Sports Tourer estate version, that is my pick of the range and is more distinctive than the car it replaces. The shape suits big wheels and bright, modern colours.
The inside story
The inside of the Insignia is equally 21st Century. The sweeping new dashboard echoes the exterior styling, and is appealing. There's a Germanic feel to the tactile interior plastics, so quality appears to have moved up a notch too. Other interior highlights include the front interior door handles which follow the blade theme, the silver detailing for the instruments, with quality leather trim for the steering wheel and gearknob. Shame then, that the plastic trim round the centre console and the glovebox doesn't feel up to the standard of the rest of the car. Even entry-level S versions include standard features such as air-conditioning.
New technologies
Vauxhall is debuting new technologies in the Insignia. One of the cleverest has to be the Intelligent Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL). The system works by automatically adjusting to road and weather conditions, using a total of nine different lighting systems to help drivers see the road better while turning or driving on a country road at night. Other items of new kit include a clever front camera system that can warn drivers if they veer off the road and can detect certain traffic signs.
Safety first
Fitted with the full compliment of safety kit, including airbags, ABS and Electronic Stability Control as standard. The lnsignia hasn't been crash tested yet, but the only thing that could stand between it and a full five-star rating are its thick A-pillars that restrict front three-quarter vision.
Which engine?
I drove the 140PS 1.8-litre, 220PS 2.0-litre turbo and the 260PS 2.8-litre V6 petrol units. Plus, the 130 and 160PS versions of the CDTi diesels. Avoid the wheezy 1.8, in fact our pick of the petrol units is the 2.0-litre turbo. It's refined, gives away just 40PS to the V6, yet the top speed is 147mph, with the sprint to 62mph covered in just 7.4 seconds. It's no firebreather though as the Insignia's 1,650kg weight always leaves you wanting more power. There's little to choose between the two diesel units, but both could do with being more refined at idle.
What's it like to drive?
Like most modern cars the Insignia is fitted with an electric power steering system. In general this is fine, but in standard form it can feel artificial and there's also a weird self-centering action when coming out of corners. Flex Ride versions are fitted with Sport and Touring settings. Sport mode changes the instrument lighting to a fiery red, firms up the steering and suspension and brings almost Mondeo levels of driver entertainment. Available with a choice of two- and four-wheel versions, grip is obviously better on four-wheel drive models. What impresses most about all the Insignia versions I tried was the refined ride. Even with the biggest 19-inch wheel option, the Insignia always felt composed, whatever the Scottish tarmac could throw at us!
Summing up
Is it as good as class best? Well, it drives almost as well; has enough technology, is elegantly styled and at a starting price under £20,000, is very good value. The Insignia has certainly moved the Vauxhall brand up market, but what about the buyers?
Fancy a closer look? Check out our Vauxhall Insignia gallery
