Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer SRi VX-Line 1.6i Turbo 5dr Car Review - March 2012

With a maximum power output of 178 bhp at 5500 rpm with torque figures of 170 lb-ft at 2050 rpm, this car is capable of a decent top speed of 137 mph. Considering the size and class of this car this is more than adequate and means owners will get a strong car for their money.

The model is an excellent motorway cruiser and the ride is generally fairly refined, although road noise can become an issue at higher speeds. Wind noise is well contained.

The steering lacks a little in terms of feedback when compared to some rivals, and the driving experience is not a particularly exciting one.

The SRi VX-Line model offers buyers the basic essentials as standard equipment which include power steering, central locking, stability control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, alloy wheels and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 connectivity.

Bluetooth connectivity is available for an additional £220 whilst a built-in sat nav costs £855. Leather seats cost £1,145 with rear parking sensors priced at £395 and a metallic paint finish also available for £495.

A generous boot space is one of the benefits of this model and an impressive 540 litre capacity is offered even when the seats are in place. With the seats folded down this expands to 1,530 litres – making it more than ample for the average family.

Reliability is expected to be strong and this means buyers shouldn’t have to face expensive maintenance costs. A five year 100,000 mile warranty is offered on the car for extra assurance and a service is recommended every 20,000 miles.

In terms of safety, the car performed well in the NCAP crash tests, achieving the top rating (five stars) for overall safety. Occupant safety was also rated at five stars with child safety achieving four stars.

These high safety levels are partly thanks to an advanced safety kit which is fitted as standard. This offers driver, passenger and front side airbags all as standard features. An alarm and immobiliser are also fitted.

Priced at £26,040 this model is fairly expensive when compared to other models. The range of basic equipment is adequate for families and the ample boot space mean the car is practical too. High safety levels are also available.

Efficiency is not as high as in the 2.0 litre diesel model which boasts ecoFLEX status as an economical car and the 1.6i Turbo achieves just 39.2 mpg on a combined cycle. This is better than the 1.8 petrol but means efficiency is only average. On top of this, green credentials aren't great as carbon emissions of 169 g/km put the model under tax band H.

Overall, the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer SRi VX-Line 1.6i Turbo is a decent family car which offers great performance levels. Unfortunately, efficiency isn't great, but buyers could certainly do a lot worse for their money.