Vauxhall Insignia (2008-2017) review

Item: Vauxhall Insignia (2008-2017) Review
Author: Phil Hall

Quick overview

Good economy from diesels
Lots of examples on the used market
Cheap to buy

Interior quality not as good as rivals
Petrol engines best avoided
Not a car if you want to stand out...

The 2008 Vauxhall Insignia represented a big leap forward for Vauxhall. When it was launched, this Vauxhall Insignia was seen as stylish and attractive, especially compared to the drab Vauxhall Vectra it replaced. The whole cabin feels like a quality product with tasteful styling elements and good build quality.

Infotainment, comfort and practicality

The interior is fairly spacious although taller rear seat passengers may find that headroom is in short supply. However, boot space is plentiful and when the seats are in place there is a moderate 530 litres of capacity on offer whilst folding down the rear seats can expand this to an impressive 1470 litres.

Reliability is expected to be strong in this model thanks to a high build quality. A 100,000 mile warranty is provided to reassure buyers.

The Insignia should also be very safe thanks to a raft of safety features. It also scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

2008 Vauxhall Insignia (2008-2017) engines: how does it drive?

The Vauxhall Insignia SRi 1.8i 5dr delivers 138 bhp at 6300 rpm and 129 lb-ft of torque at 3800 rpm. This gives the car a decent top speed of 129 mph and a 0-60mph time of 10.8 seconds. Unfortunately, the diesel models are faster and more economical, making the SRi 1.8 a bit of a dud.

On the plus side, the handling is very good. There is plenty of grip on offer and body-roll is well contained through the bends. The ride is also very comfortable, except at low speeds, making the Insignia a serious contender in a competitive marketplace.

Value for money: how much does a 2008 Vauxhall Insignia (2008-2017) cost to buy and run?

Choose the 1.8i engine and you'll struggle to top 37.2 mpg on the combined cycle and road tax costs will also be high as carbon emissions of 179g/km put the car under road tax band I. Insurance premiums should be reasonable, however, falling under insurance group 16. If low running costs are important to you, buy a diesel.

Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, stability control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and an advanced stereo system with both CD and MP3 connectivity. Alloy wheels also become a standard feature.

Rear parking sensors can be added for £395 whilst a leather seated interior is priced at £1145. Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in sat nav are still only available for an additional fee, costing £220 and £1200 respectively.

Verdict: Should I buy a 2008 Vauxhall Insignia (2008-2017)?

The Vauxhall Insignia SRi 1.8i 5dr is a bit of an oddity in the Insignia range. With rival manufacturers downsizing and turbocharging their petrol engines, Vauxhall has stuck with a good old-fashioned naturally aspirated 1.8-litre petrol engine. The downside is that it's neither particularly fast nor particularly economical. Buy a diesel instead.