Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport

FIRST DRIVE Turbo 4x4 flagship is almost too clever for its own good

IT won’t be the most popular model within the new Insignia line-up – not by a long chalk. But the Grand Sport Elite Nav 2.0 Turbo 4x4 will certainly have the longest name in the range. It’ll also be the quickest, most powerful, most expensive Insignia you can buy when deliveries start this month.

Question is, does the fact that this Grand Sport boasts a level of specification comparable to a fully loaded kitchen also make it the best Insignia money can buy?

In some respects, yes, as the technical sophistication on offer is well beyond what you’ll find in, say, the more affordable 1.5 turbo model tested in Issue 1,465. But in other ways, no, because in places the extra tech detracts from the fundamentally fine way in which less complex Insignias drive.

Take the wheels and suspension. In this model you get multi-adjustable electronic suspension and 20-inch wheels, neither of which do the car any dynamic favours. The rims look great, but they spoil the ride quality. The suspension endows it with a curious chassis compromise, too.

In Sport mode, the ride is simply too stiff for most UK roads, while in Tour, the car develops a degree of unwanted float – even when being driven sedately along a motorway. And there’s a lot of roll if you try to drive it fast on more challenging roads.

Which is a pity, because in other areas the latest Insignia is an impressive car. As we’ve already discovered in the lesser versions, the level of space and quality on offer is hard to criticise; the boot is big and head and legroom in the rear borders on luxurious.

And the level of equipment is pretty much beyond compare at this price level, with an eight-inch touchscreen featuring Apple Carplay, as well as heated seats, adaptive cruise control, Wifi, state-of-the-art LED headlights, sat-nav, dual-zone climate control and a premium Bose sound system. To specify a Mercedes C-class to the same level would cost another £12,000, and even against more relevant rivals from Volkswagen and Ford, Vauxhall claims to offer more for less.

Apart from the unnecessarily complicated electronic chassis, the only major downside with this 2.0 engine is the 32.8mpg claimed fuel economy. There’s nothing wrong with a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds, nor the 155mph top speed. And the eight-speed auto gearbox also works well in practice.

“In places, the extra technology detracts from the fundamentally fine way lesser Insignias drive”