Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 2.0 CDTi SE | Road Test Review

“Mid-size estate buyers are craving
more practicality than ever before
to cater for families and lifestyle
activities. But they’re not content to
compromise on style and running
costs. Enter Vauxhall’s sleek new
Insignia Sports Tourer...”

WHEN THE FIRST SALOON AND HATCH MODELS from Vauxhall's 2009 European Car of the Year — the all-new Insignia — went on sale at the beginning of the year, the prediction was for 28,000 sales in 2009 once the Sports Tourer estate versions were added in April.

However, such has been the demand for Insignia that 15,000 UK orders were taken in the first month of sale. Now, even before the Sports Tourer is officially on sale, Vauxhall have 23,000 sold orders in the pipeline and the 2009 sales target — despite the overall downturn in the new car market — has been raised to 30,000 units.

With 25% of sales for the two top levels of specification, it appears that some premium sector customers are now moving back to Vauxhall from similar-sized Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz models, as well as from highly-taxed SUV 4x4s and large MPV people carriers. Customers from both groups clearly like the space the five-seat Insignia Sports Tourer offers, as well as the load capacity: dropping the 60:40 split rear seats converts the Sports Tourer into an even more capacious load-lugger, expanding the 540-litre boot into a load-bay of 1,530 litres.

Another welcome option on some Sports Tourer models — as it already is with Saloon and Hatch versions — is the adaptive 4x4 system. There's also FlexRide, which provides drivers with a choice of three dynamic settings (Standard, Tour and Sport) depending upon their driving style and the prevailing conditions. Also, like its Saloon and Hatch stablemates, the new Sports Tourer is available with a choice of two base chassis: Sport, which is standard on all SRi models; and Comfort, which is standard on S, Exclusiv, SE and Elite versions.

Prices range from Ł17,865 up to Ł29,905 but the heartland sales model — likely to be the 2.0 CDTi 158bhp Exclusiv — costs Ł19,090 with a manual gearbox or Ł20,415 with the automatic transmission option.

Although it clearly has appeal for some defecting Audi, BMW and Mercedes drivers, the Insignia Sports Tourer's core competitors are the Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Citroen C5, Peugeot 407, VW Passat, Toyota Avensis and Renault Laguna — most of them new ranges.

The Sports Tourer is 78mm longer than the Insignia Hatch and Saloon but the wheelbase is the same. This gives the estate an overall length of 4,908mm and it looks even longer due to its low stance, wide rear haunches and extended roofline. Thankfully, unlike the Vectra, it isn't a 'brick on wheels'. The fact that the workhorse Vectra Estate had 1,850 litres of load space with the seats folded while the Insignia offers 1,530 will no doubt be criticised by some. However, the trade-off — thanks to the Sport Tourer's distinctive tailgate with large, fully-integrated tail lights that curves around the sides of the car — is its undeniably classy 'executive' look.

“The ride quality
is certainly better and
the suspension
more compliant
than the Mondeo’s...”

Inside the Sports Tourer the fixtures and fittings are the same as for the Hatch and Saloon. There is loads of rear seat legroom although the styling above the waistline narrows the cabin so rear seat head and shoulder room is tight. The specification and quality of the various trims on offer are high and the switches and controls numerous — and also a bit confusing until they are mastered. Standard-fit safety equipment is very comprehensive with ESP. There's also air conditioning, and all the windows and door mirrors and so on are, of course, electrically operated.

The handling is perhaps not as sharp as the excellent Ford Mondeo and the steering is lazy but the ride quality is certainly better and the suspension is more compliant when driven on the standard 17-inch alloy wheels.

Given the choice, I'd stay away from the harder suspension settings and larger wheels used for the SRi models with the Sport chassis. Overall the Sports Tourer is a comfortable cruising estate with sporty looks and it will, for sure, be admired in the golf club car park!

Worth noting is the new 178bhp 1.6-litre Turbo petrol engine that has been added to the Insignia range to run alongside the current 1.8, 2.0T and 2.8T V6 petrol units, giving customers a choice of six engines: four petrol and two diesel.

This 1.6-litre unit is part of Vauxhall's engine downsizing strategy. Its high-torque output of 170lb ft from 2,200rpm makes it very flexible and responsive even in the car the size of the Insignia. Top speed is 137mph and 0-60mph takes 8.7 seconds. The combined fuel economy is claimed to be 35.8mpg (although just 25.5mpg on my test drive) with CO2 emissions of 186g/km. This gives the 1.6T a road tax bill of Ł215 (from April, 2009).

Initially this unit is only going to take around 5% of sales but eventually it will, I'm sure, take over from the current 1.8. Currently the prices have not be announced for Insignia models with this engine but Vauxhall estimate it will be around Ł1,000 more than the older 1.8-litre unit, so work on Sports Tourer prices from Ł18,800 with the new 1.6T unit.

The core engine for the range will be the 158bhp 2.0-litre CDTi, four-cylinder turbodiesel with 258lb ft of torque — as tested here. It has the same CO2 emissions (159g/km) as the 2.0-litre 128bhp unit so the Ł150 road tax is the same, but the 158bhp unit is smoother, more responsive and far less noisy.

Officially, the 158bhp unit with its six-speed manual transmission will return 47.1mpg — the same as the 128bhp engine. During my test drive over a variety of country roads and a short burst up the motorway, the 158bhp unit returned 36.9mpg against the 128bhp unit's 38.5mpg. With the larger output engine costing just Ł250, it has to be the right choice.

Some will say that, for an estate, the Sports Tourer is more fashion than function. And while the Mondeo's poise and handling are better, the Insignia is the more comfortable of the two. Other plus points for the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer include the classy and upmarket good looks, very good quality, high level of specification, largish load area and attractive pricing. All things considered, it looks like the Sports Tourer could go on to become the 'Estate of the Nation!' — David Miles

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