Vauxhall’s new Insignia driven in the UK
FIRST DRIVE Bigger, better new family car has high hopes. Can it shoot down premium rivals?
WITH buyers migrating to an everimproving range of SUVS and executive saloons in their droves, large family cars like the Vauxhall Insignia have started to drop away down the sales charts.
They still sell in decent numbers, though, which is why Vauxhall has invested in an all-new model – the Insignia Grand Sport. It has high hopes, too, with its sights set firmly on premium competitors like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, as well as traditional rivals such as the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo.
The Insignia Grand Sport sits on a new platform, which has allowed the car to grow substantially; it’s now almost as large as full-size executive models like the Mercedes E-class. The wheelbase is significantly longer, too, thanks to shorter overhangs than before, and this allows extra legroom for passengers in the rear.
The interior design will be familiar to anyone who has driven a current-generation Astra, and while it’s technically a new design, many elements are very similar, including the steering wheel, media controls and other instruments.
Material quality is good, and the fit and finish are even a match for the excellent Skoda Superb – but some hard plastics and a dull design mean the Insignia Grand Sport will never beat an A4 or 3 Series for perceived quality.
Once you’re on the move, though, the new model is rather impressive. The ride is smooth in town, and while you’ll notice bigger bumps when moving a bit faster, the compliant suspension set-up keeps things very composed in the cabin.
It’s quiet, too. Engine noise is almost non-existent at motorway speeds and wind and road noise are kept at bay as well. All of that means it’s just as good at cruising up and down the motorway as a Passat, or even an A4. That’ll be hugely important for the people buying this kind of car, which is overwhelmingly driven by fleet buyers.
Throw the Insignia into some corners and you’ll discover that it’s also good to drive. The steering is heavy enough to make the car fun without ever feeling tiring to use, and there’s enough feedback, too. There’s a bit of body roll, but weight savings over the previous model (175kg on average) mean it’s agile for such a big car; it feels almost as nimble as the smaller Astra.
It’s more rewarding to drive than a Mondeo and feels livelier than an A4, but for driving fun, even an entry-level 3 Series is a better choice. Against traditional rivals, though, the Insignia Grand Sport is up with the best in class in terms of the nimbleness and composure it shows on the road.
While the new 138bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth and reasonably efficient, it feels a bit flat in the Insignia. It’s just about torquey enough for in-gear overtakes, but
“Engine noise is almost non-existent at motorway speeds and wind and road noise are kept at bay”
even if you change down you’ll find there’s not much grunt at the top end of the rev range. It feels underpowered for its size.
We suspect that the predicted top seller, the 1.6-litre diesel, will be the best option – and with economy of 70.6mpg, it’s much more frugal than this 47.6mpg petrol car.
The manual gearbox isn’t as slick as the one you’ll find in the VW Group models (the A4, Passat and Superb), and the stick itself isn’t very comfortable to hold. But there is a pleasing weight to both the shift and the clutch, giving the Insignia Grand Sport a substantial feel. The driving position is comfortable, there’s plenty of adjustment for any size of driver, and even though you sit fairly low, the shoulder line is also low enough that visibility is good.
The view out the back isn’t such a strong point, however. Our car featured parking sensors as an option, and it’s one we’d recommend because the Insignia does feel a bit cumbersome in tight car parks.
Where the Vauxhall has the edge over its competitors is on price; at £17,910 without options, our near-base-spec car is very well equipped for the money.
Even options such as a heated windscreen, alloy wheels and climate control look reasonably priced – especially next to the extortionately expensive extras on premium rivals.
“There is a pleasing weight to the gearshift and the clutch, giving the Insignia a substantial feel”