A class above
THE smooth new Vauxhall Insignia will ruffle some feathers among rivals.
Bigger, lighter, more economical and better equipped than the original Insignia launched in 2008, the Insignia Grand Sport - is now on sale as a five-door hatchback from £17,115 to £26,445.
It will this summer be joined by a Sports Tourer semi-estate version costing about £1,500 more for each model in the range and which pushes up luggage space from 490 litres in the hatch to 1,665 litres.
Developed from the 2013 Monza Concept shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Insignia Grand Sport features sharp edges and accentuating curves.
It retains improved and updated petrol engines of 140 or 165ps 1.5litre and 260ps 2.0-litre blocks. On the diesel front there are 110 or 136ps 1.6 engines and 170ps 2.0litre models and later this summer will be joined by a 210ps bi-turbo 2.0 diesel. Six speed manual gearboxes are fitted but top versions also get an eight-speed automatic with FlexRide suspension and chassis-tuning as well as torque vectoring twin clutch rear differential in their four-wheel-drive powertrain.
Emissions range from 105g/ km for the 1.6-diesel to 136g/ km for the 2.0-litre and 133g/ km for the 1.5-litre petrol and 199g/km for the high-powered turbo.
The new Insignia has a bigger footprint with a longer wheelbase and wider track and this has created more leg and shoulder room but there is also added headroom and the occupant comfort is enhanced with better seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as the groundbreaking OnStar assistance system for emergencies or concierge services.
A new Exclusive paint option provides bespoke colours and trim finishes.
A lot of work has gone into cutting weight and it features an aluminium bonnet which also enhances pedestrian protection, and model for model the new car is about £1,500 less than the previous nearcomparable models.
This lower price and enhanced safety features help to keep down the benefit-in-kind business tax rates and Vauxhall is aiming the new Insignia at the user-chooser fleet driver.
Under the new vehicle tax regime, the 1.6 diesel Insignia will cost £140 a year in road tax and carries a 23% benefit-in-kind rating.
Britain is the biggest European market for Insignia and at its peak in 2011 about 46,000 were sold, twice the number in Germany.
We sampled a couple of new Insignias and our first model was the 170ps 2.0-diesel, which had a long travel clutch in the six -speed manual powertrain.
It was not particularly quiet when idling or pushed hard through the intermediate gears but it did pull well. Official fuel economy is 54.3mpg. It came with 18in wheels and was firm but not hard, while the 165ps 1.5-litre petrol version seemed to ride better on the 17in wheels and tyres and was a lot quieter and composed.
My favourite was the top-of-therange 260ps 2.0 4x4 Elite Nav. The selectable drive modes really makes a difference, the performance is very effortless and useful and the new eight-speed automatic was superbly smooth after instant kick-down. It’s one of the best autoboxes available.
The Insignia is available for testdrives at Bristol Street Vauxhall, Scotswood Road, Newcastle.