Vauxhall Insignia 1.6 Turbo Tourer

Nov 20 2009 Robin Roberts

BUILDING on the strength and success of its hatchback and saloon stablemates, the Vauxhall Insignia Tourer offers more practicality and loading capacity for those who need it.

The Insignia is a significant improvement over the former Vectra and the Tourer extends the range still further. There is an enormous range of saloon and hatchbacks, about 50, and the Tourer line-up brings approximately 40 more derivatives. Those add up to a bewildering choice for many.

I tried the Insignia 1.6 Exclusiv Nav, which is one of the less expensive versions and is likely to be among the more popular.

The 180PS four-cylinder 1598cc engine has been designed to give good, strong acceleration from comparatively low revolutions and reduce the need for gearchanging and high revs.

It has been carefully matched to a manual gearbox with a light and very smoothly acting clutch and the change action is both direct and short with good ratios for brisk acceleration and a long legged ability to cover the motorway miles with ease and economy.

The Insignia is very much a driver's car thanks to the excellent feel through the steering, its weight and assistance making light work of urban use while feeling very sharp on twisting sections. When you have to slow or stop, the brakes are also powerful and progressive and work without drama.

The layout of secondary controls brings everything to hand and the comprehensive instruments give the user a clear display.

Heating and ventilation is also extremely comprehensive but comparatively simple to use and effective for everyone inside.

If you're looking for oddments space, the Insignia will please with its multitude of compartments, bins, pockets and trays. The loadbed takes from 540 to 1,530 litres depending on the seating arrangements and its easy to transform the interior, to reach in from the side and to load or unload.

With the seats in place, the access is good, the room is adequate for anyone up to six feet and the front pair have a wide adjustment range. The shape and size of the front seats provide good location and comfort and along with the adjustable column I think any driver would find a truly satisfactory position.

The Insignia Tourer does a very good job of the extremely difficult role of balancing loading configurations and weight with ride quality. It is neither too hard nor too soft but just feels right in any situation.

Handling is similarly very competent on any surface and no matter how hard it is driven the Insignia behaves with impeccable manners. Everything is very well composed and there are no vices so you can push on with confidence, lift off if necessary and return to the throttle.

Used one-up, the 1.6 engine is adequate but its available power diminishes as load increases and you become aware of the lack of horses fairly swiftly. You could always look at one of the other engines in the range, but really the 1.6 is generally adequate for most journeys.

It is a very good all rounder, lacking only in power with this 1.6 tested, but it looses nothing in terms of dynamic appeal, refinement or sophistication.

FAST FACTS

Vauxhall Insignia 1.6 Turbo Exclusiv Nav Tourer

Price: £20,815

Insurance group: 11

Mechanical: 180ps, 1598cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 137mph

0-62mph: 8.8 seconds

Combined mpg: 35.8

C02 emissions: 186g/km

BIK rating: 25%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles