Vauxhall Insignia review
By Motor Match • 20/12/2023
Although the Vauxhall Insignia has been discontinued, it's still readily available on the used car market. Let's take a look.
What is it?
If you cast your mind back even just a decade, it was cars like the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia that were stable family cars, often bought for their value for money and impressive levels of interior space.
But the world has changed, and these days it’s crossovers and SUVs that buyers are now voting for. Ford dropped its Mondeo in 2021, and a year later Vauxhall did the same with its Insignia we’re looking at here. But can it still make for a good used buy? Let’s take a look.
What’s new?
The Insignia was the last of the Vauxhall models produced under General Motors before the firm was taken over by Stellantis, and this meant that even towards the end, it wasn’t as fresh as Vauxhall’s other cars.
This last generation of Insignia arrived in 2017, and would be available in three guises initially – a Grand Sport hatchback, Sports Tourer estate and a rugged Country Tourer model. By the end, it was only the hatchback that was available, with a final change in 2021 seeing the Insignia get more efficient engines, clever Matrix LED headlights and a new grille.
What’s under the bonnet?
Though you’ll find no hybrid or electric version on the Insignia, this Vauxhall was always available with a broad range of petrol and diesel engines.
Most used examples you’ll see for sale will be diesel models, with a choice of a 120bhp 1.5-litre or a 171bhp 2.0-litre. Both are available with a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes too.
Vauxhall did offer various petrol engines too, including a 163bhp 1.5-litre and a sportier 2.0-litre GSI model with 256bhp, though these are pretty hard to find.
What’s it like to drive?
Behind the wheel, the Insignia is a solid all-rounder but doesn’t shine in any particular area.
Most Insignias were bought to do big miles up and down the motorway, and this is an area where they excel, with superb seats (on high-spec models they’ve even been ‘approved’ by German back specialists) and a largely comfortable ride if you stay clear of models fitted with the big 20-inch alloy wheels.
The diesel engines also return great fuel economy, and though they can be a bit gruff at slower speeds, they are great on the motorway. The petrol engines, while smoother, are not great on fuel economy, so might not be a good fit if you do big mileage.
How does it look?
One area where you can’t criticise the Insignia is the way it looks. It doesn’t grab your attention, but is overall a smart piece of design with a classy stance, especially in the Grand Sport derivative. You can make it look a bit sportier with the high-spec versions, depending on your preference.
Styling tweaks as part of the 2021 update were fairly minor, so you might struggle to see a ‘before and after’, but look out for slimmer headlights with a new daytime running lights signature and new chrome detailing on the grille.
What’s it like inside?
The Insignia’s interior is easy to use and well-equipped as standard, with traditional climate settings alongside a fairly simplistic touchscreen. It’s not the most modern cabin, however, and the interior quality isn’t of the highest standard.
But you can’t fault it for its space. The boot is a great size at 490 litres, while the hatchback opening makes it more practical than a conventional saloon. Rear legroom is generous as well, though the sloping roofline can put a dent in the headroom available.
What’s the spec like?
While Vauxhall initially offered the Insignia with a huge plethora of trim levels, the line-up was cut back in its later years to just two grades – Design and GS Line.
The level of equipment is good, however, with standard features including 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, automatic climate control and an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Above this, the GS Line brings large 20-inch alloy wheels, wireless smartphone charging and keyless entry to name just a few features.
Verdict
Though the Vauxhall Insignia might not be the most desirable of used cars, if you want something practical that offers great value for money, it makes a great choice.
With generous equipment levels, a smart design and a range of engines, it could be an ideal option as a more conventional family car.
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