We say The Insignia is refined and comfortable and, though it looks the business, it isn’t very good to drive.Performance There’s a wide variety of engines to choose from including a range-topping 2.8 V6 is good for 155mph and 62mph in 6.7 seconds. 2.0-litre diesel range powerful enough for daily duties and the obvious choice for buyers when emissions and fuel economy are added to the mix.Emissions CO2 emissions of 129g/km and combined fuel consumption of 57.6mpg in ecoFLEX 2.0-litre diesel beats close rivals. Same can’t be said for thirsty V6 powerplant which returns just 25mpg. The most efficient engine in the range is the 2.0-litre CDTi ecoFLEX unit with Start Stop. It returns 65mpg and emits 115g/km which is impressive for a car of its size.Driving The Insignia shows great composure around corners and is smooth and comfortable at motorway speeds. Unfortunately its vague steering means that it’s not quite as agile or responsive as the Ford Mondeo. Brilliant for driving long-distances and motorway cruising but loses points around the city and more demanding roads.Feel Not very refined, especially compared to the Mondeo. It uses quite a stiff suspension set-up which means it crashes over bumps and potholes. The seats are comfortable though and are perfect for long journeys.Space The Insignia has a big boot with 520-litres of space and lots of room for both lucky enough to be in the front. Space is limited in the rear though – surprising given the Insignia’s size – and visibility isn’t great.Equipment Entry level models are kitted with air conditioning, cruise control and front electric windows as standard. Alloy wheels come at an extra cost however.Price Good list prices, ranging from around £17,000 and rising to a little over £33,000 and decent running costs make the Insignia an affordable proposition. Its residual value should also be safeguarded given its reliability and build quality.Quality The Insignia marks a massive step up when compared to the Vectra that it replaces. It’s dull and grey but the materials are good quality, solid and well put togetherSafety Five star EuroNCAP rating, six airbags and ESC are standard on all modelsPros The Insignia is slightly cheaper than its rivals and its ecoFLEX models are cheap to run and kind to the environment. The interior is excellent with nice, soft-touch materials and not a lot of cheap plastic.Cons Space is at a premium for those travelling in the rear and they’ll ride in more discomfort because of a firm suspension set up.Alternatives Ford Mondeo
