Vauxhall Insignia
Our current favourite family car faces a challenge to keep hold of its crown
VAUXHALL’S Insignia Grand Sport was named Best Family Car at our 2018 New Car Awards, so it’s the model to beat here. In the past it’s offered top value for money and it continues that trend, because even though we’re testing a top-spec Elite Nav, it’s significantly cheaper than both rivals. With its new 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, it costs just £26,815.
Design & engineering
VAUXHALL has recently updated its Insignia Grand Sport range, but there are no big changes to the design. Meeting emissions regulations is the main focus of the range revamp.
It’s something that’s happening to many other models, and here it means the Vauxhall benefits from a new engine that happens to directly rival the 6’s new motor. The unit is nowhere near as big as the Mazda’s 2.5 litres, though; it’s a downsized 1.6-litre petrol with a turbocharger boosting power to 197bhp. Also, unlike the 6, the Insignia is manual only.
As with both rivals, the Vauxhall uses Macpherson struts at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear, which means it’s good to drive.
Its low list price ensures it’s good value, but you do notice where some cash has been saved inside. The interior design is plain and doesn’t have the premium feel of its rivals’, because the materials look and feel cheaper. Build quality is good enough, but still trails the Mazda’s.
There are several issues with comfort for the driver: the gearstick is set a little far back, while the steering column restricts vertical legroom, particularly for taller drivers. Still, the driving position is otherwise pretty good, as are the control weights.
Standard kit includes sat-nav, a digital display behind the wheel, LED headlights, heated seats and smartphone connectivity, so it’s a match for its rivals on spec despite being significantly cheaper.
Driving
THE new 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine is quiet, particularly at idle where it’s barely audible in the cabin. It’s also punchy despite being the smallest-capacity unit here, especially in the higher gears. It was fastest in our 50-70mph tests in fifth and sixth, taking 5.9 and 7.4 seconds respectively. The Mazda and Skoda posted times of 11.1 and 6.7 seconds respectively for their own fifthgear tests, and 14.7 and 8.9 seconds in sixth.
With 300Nm of torque from just 1,700rpm, the Insignia doesn’t require you to change gear too much to make progress. However, if you don’t want to select ratios at all, that’s not an option at the moment, because this engine is only available with a manual gearbox for now. It’s a pity it’s the Vauxhall that has this limitation and not the Mazda, because the Insignia’s shift is rubbery and not very satisfying. The manual in other versions of the 6 is excellent.
The disappointing shift action and lack of steering feel are a letdown, but the Vauxhall is far from bad to drive. Thanks to its balanced suspension set-up and fine driving position, the Insignia is nearly as good behind the wheel as its rivals here. It isn’t quite as agile as the Mazda, but at higher speeds it rides with more fluidity than the Superb. While the Insignia Grand Sport isn’t as well controlled as the Czech model, it strikes a nice balance between ride and handling.
The compliant ride means that it’s smooth on the motorway, but also deals with bumpy B-roads, so you can push it harder without losing grip. In fact the Vauxhall has lots of grip and, despite the low driving position, visibility is decent. However, the large 18-inch wheels on our test car did mean the hatchback felt a little harsh over potholes.
Practicality
Rear-seat space is one of the Insignia’s strongest points. There’s more than enough headroom in the back for tall adults, and even those with very long legs will find that they’re nowhere near touching the seats in front. Even when sitting behind a tall driver, there’s enough room for a bag in the footwell, too.
The hatchback boot means there’s a small bulge in the roof to allow for the hinge mechanism, but headroom is sufficient for this not to be too much of an issue. There’s plenty of light as well.
The 490-litre load bay is a bit bigger than the 480litre Mazda’s, but the hatch means it’s also easier to get large items in and out. However, the boot is a lot smaller than the huge 625-litre space in the Skoda, which extends to 1,760 litres with the seats down. Fold the Vauxhall’s flat and 1,450 litres are available.
Ownership
VAUXHALL’S poor 22nd position in our Driver Power 2018 makers’ chart is disappointing, as was the 21st-place result its garages achieved in the survey’s dealer rankings.
Traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, autonomous braking and six airbags are all standard on Elite Nav trim. There’s also the option of the Driving Assistance Pack Two (which adds active cruise control) for £570 and the Driving Assistance Pack Four (which brings a reversing camera, blind spot assist and rear cross-traffic alert) for £650.
Running costs
THE Vauxhall will depreciate more quickly than both rivals here, according to our experts. They predict that the Grand Sport will hold on to just 32.9 per cent of its purchase price after three years or 36,000 miles.
But because it’s cheaper to buy initially, the Insignia is actually the car you’ll lose the least on in total, at £17,993. The Mazda retains an estimated 37.8 per cent, losing £19,145, and the Skoda 35 per cent, shedding a predicted £19,871 over the same period.