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

The Insignia’s 2.0 litre diesel returns an impressive 62.8mpg. For its size this is a very impressive figure, especially when you consider that the smaller Astra 2.0 CDTi SRi estate actually returns fewer miles to the gallon. The top speed of the Tourer is also surprisingly high for an estate car at 134mph.

Predictably the Insignia Tourer SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi is not as nimble as other estates in its class. Its steering is a little light and it can prove to be fidgety on imperfect road surfaces. This problem becomes even worse on the models with the wider 18 inch wheels. However the Tourer does redeem itself with decent motorway performance, providing stable and smooth progress.

The diesel engine is inevitably significantly louder than the petrol models and the car is noisy on rougher road surfaces and at high speeds there is a problem with wind noise, especially from the sides.

The original Vauxhall Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi definitely took a leap forward in styling. Compared to the Astra and Vectra the Insignia looks more 21st century. In line with this the Insignia Sports Tourer has some well-formed lines and styling points.

The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi has an impressive array of features at no extra cost. Amongst these are climate control, electric driver’s seat, CD player, cruise control, heated mirrors and alloy wheels. However you will be charged extra for leather seats, satnav, parking sensors and heated seats.

Predictably for a car of its size The Insignia Sports Tourer SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi scored the maximum possible five stars in the Euro NCAP test overall, four for child safety and two for pedestrian safety. This is the average for most large estate cars.

The Sports Tourer SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi is equally as spacious as the other cars in its class; however it suffers when you compare boot space. Since this is a major factor for someone looking to buy an estate it feels as though Vauxhall have really let themselves down. The rear seats do not fold as well as other more practical cars such as the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Estate.

There is more space in the cabin, but not enough to compensate for the disappointment of the boot. One positive for the Insignia is the range of safety features that come as standard. This includes automatically adjusting headlights, anti-whiplash head restraints, six airbags and stability control.

The size and power of the Insignia Tourer SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi puts it in insurance group 23, higher than the similar Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Estate. The Tourer has impressively low carbon emissions, having been measured at 119g/km. This puts it in the road tax band C, making it cheaper to run than the Mondeo estate. This could prove to be a significant saving over the course of year, especially when you include the lower fuel costs of the Insignia Tourer.

The Insignia Tourer SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi costs £28,005 and this is steep considering the low-rent badge. However, there are cheaper models in the range and if saving money is important to you, you should consider the more basic - and cost-effective - versions.