Insignia’s new Grand design
VAUXHALL’S Insignia is probably the most company car of company cars, with four-in-five plying their trade up and down Britain’s motorways as work tools. But that doesn’t mean it has to be boring – and this new Insignia is a sleeker beast than the car it replaces. It’s even got a new name, to make sure the change doesn’t go unnoticed, with the more coupé-like profile gaining it the title Insignia Grand Sport.
The new car is two inches longer but one inch lower, giving it a more striking, low-slung stance that works well, though it is not quite impactful enough to get noticed in a crowd.
Its appearance is enhanced by the narrow headlights that give the Grand Sport a meaner look than its more rounded predecessor.
From the side in particular it is clearly a long car but the design makes that extra metal look in proportion rather than being too bulky. Vauxhall is offering a range of six engines, all turbocharged, topped by the 260bhp 2.0-litre performance model that’s only available in top-spec Elite trim, with four-wheel drive and Vauxhall’s new eight-speed automatic gearbox.
That car covers the sprint from 0 to 60mph in under seven seconds.
The more regular models consist of a 1.5-litre petrol of either 140bhp or 165bhp, and a trio of turbo-diesels that should take the majority of sales. The most efficient in the line-up is the 110bhp 1.6, which has official emissions and average fuel economy figures of 105g/km and 70.6mpg respectively.
That’s a figure significantly off the best in class, which is a bit of a disappointment given the Insignia is the new kid on the block.
The other diesels are a 136bhp 1.6 and a 170bhp 2.0, with this pair being the only others offered with the new automatic gearbox as well as the six-speed manual fitted across the range.
Refinement levels are good, with minimal noise entering the cabin. The gearchange has a nice slick feel, aided by a well-shaped lever that fits nicely in your hand.
Ride quality is pretty good too and the Insignia feels like it has been set up with a mile-munching bias, as the combination of steering and suspension don’t offer as much fun on twisty roads as some rivals, which, to be fair, isn’t the car’s core environment.
The Vauxhall’s interior has been given a thorough going-over, which is welcome because it wasn’t an area of strength before.
Initial impressions of the cabin are that it’s nicely laid out, with the eight-inch colour touchscreen angled slightly towards the driver.
The system, though, could be