Vauxhall Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi (160ps) ecoFLEX Start/Stop 5dr Car Review - February 2012

For a large family car the Insignia’s diesel engine is very efficient. It has an impressive fuel economy of 65.7mpg, however this impressive fuel economy means that the overall performance of the Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi does suffer.

When it comes to handling the Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi falls behind market leaders such as the Ford Mondeo TDCi. Its soft suspension means it is less responsive, especially at higher speeds. One area in which it does redeem itself is during motorway driving. The Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi feels very stable and the ride is very smooth at high speeds, if a little noisy.

The Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi has an impressive number of options available at no extra cost. You get electric windows in the front, climate control, alloy wheels, cruise control and satnav. Leather seats are available for £1145 and rear parking sensors will set you back a further £395.

All Insignia models are fitted with a futuristic looking touch screen centre console. However the console can be a little troublesome. There is a lot of scrolling necessary to see all the options available, and some drivers might find it frustrating when trying to adjust seats and other settings.
The exterior styling is impressive and hides the high amount of interior space well. The Insignia looks like it is built for quality. Appearing solid yet stylish, it is light years ahead of the old Vectra and possibly the best looking car that Vauxhall currently makes.

The Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi is roomy enough to comfortably hold five adults for a longer journey, however rear passengers might find the headroom restrictive if they are taller than average because of the sloping rear end. The seats are very good, making for a comfortable ride on even the longest motorway hauls.

The boot is very spacious and bigger than most drivers would require. However it is still slightly smaller than the Ford Mondeo TDCi, though the difference is not big enough to be a deciding factor when comparing the two cars.

The Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi scored the maximum of five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests, which is what you would expect from a car of this size and price. In addition to this there are number of extra safety features as standard. These include automatically adjusting headlights, anti-whiplash head restraints, six airbags and stability control.

One of the major advantages the Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi has over its rivals is its relatively affordable running costs. The diesel engine requires fewer fuel stops, and the low emissions of 115g/km mean the road tax is cheaper than many of its rivals.

This particular model is one of the most expensive in the Insignia range, and many buyers in the price range would prefer a three-pointed star or BMW roundle on the front of their car to a griffin. The Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi is simply a little bit too expensive.