Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi SE Nav

Nov 28 2009 Edward Stephens

IT doesn't take long behind the wheel of the new Vauxhall's Insignia to realise why it took the coveted European Car of the Year 2009 title.

It's car which has the looks, the quality, the technology and - hardest of all to achieve - the ability to make you want to keep driving it.

The coupe-like shape of this large hatchback makes it one of the most striking cars on the road today and is a world apart from the Vectra it replaces.

It is sleek, aerodynamic - bringing with it benefits in fuel consumption, cabin refinement and performance - and has a presence which makes people stop and look.

There is a tendency to sit in it and expect to feel that you are in an updated version of the Vectra but nothing could be further from the truth. The Insignia is a whole new beginning for Vauxhall and with it the company has produced a real winner.

Inside there is a feeling of quality and style with exceptionally comfortable and multi-adjustable seats - with electric height adjustment - and a very business-like and up-market dashboard. The main dials sit in a pod immediately in front of the driver and between the rev counter and speedometer is a panel which displays information from the on-board computer.

One of the features I liked about this was that you can also configure the panel to display a digital speed readout so you can tell how fast you are going with the briefest of glances.

This car was the 160bhp 2.0 CDTi SE with sat nav and a six speed automatic gearbox.

The colourful sat nav took a little getting used to as it shows a wide range of streets that you are passing by but - unlike most sat navs - few had names on them. Having said that it proved to be the most accurate one I have used.

On tickover and under hard acceleration the two-litre diesel engine is not one of the quietest I have come across but when it comes to performance it really does deliver. Put your right foot down hard and the automatic gearbox reacts instantly dropping a couple of gears and projecting you forward with plenty of urgency.

At cruising speed on the motorway, however, the cabin is virtually silent and this model is a pleasure to use for long distance journeys, eating up the miles yet allowing you to get out at the end of your journey fresh and fatigue free.

The ride is excellent. While the suspension set up retains that element of comfort that is needed for a family hatchback there is just enough firmness to ensure that there is no body roll and the car can be cornered quickly and safely with plenty of grip to put a smile on the face of the driver.

Despite the coupe-like roof there is feeling of spaciousness about the cabin matched by a generous luggage area.

The hatchback has some 500 litres of luggage space with all the seats in place and a massive 1,465 litres with them down. There's also a useful ski-hatch for long loads.

On the safety front my test car had driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side-impact airbags and full-size curtain airbags.

When it same to economy I averaged around 37mpg over 300 miles of varied roads compared to the official figure of 41.5mpg, neither figure being as high as I would have expected.

Nevertheless overall the 160bhp Insignia diesel is certainly a car Vauxhall can be proud of and one which should sell itself to anyone who takes a test drive.

FAST FACTS

Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi SE Nav

Price: £24,660

Mechanical: 160bhp, 1,956cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed automatic gearbox

Max speed: 134mph

0-62mph: 9 seconds

Combined mpg: 41.5

Insurance group: 10

C02 emissions: 179g/km

BIK rating: 19%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles