Road test - Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTI Hatch

Author: Ian Strachan

From Cresta to Victor to Cavalier to Vectra and now Insignia. One thing Vauxhall has always excelled at is upper medium family cars. The Insignia, voted 2009 Car of the Year, is no exception.

The design of this offering in hatchback spec is strong, well-balanced and pleasing. Its eye-catching, smoothly-rounded profile and assertive road stance set it apart from many of its competitors.

Inside too, the design is attractive as well as practical, with adequate leg and headroom and a huge boot. The award-winning seats are comfortable in the extreme.

I test drove the 160 bhp diesel powered CDTI in SRI specification which comes in at £22,925. Extras as standard include smart 18 inch alloys, steering wheel mounted audio controls, automatic headlights, sports seats, cruise control and electrically adjustable heated door mirrors.

The 2.0 160 bhp diesel unit is not the quietest engine on the market - in fact it's quite raucous when worked hard. That said, it manages an impressive 48.7 mpg for mixed driving, and pulls well throughout the range of a slick five-speed gearbox. 

Ride and handling is comfortable and confident. Instruments are clear and come to hand easily.

Safety levels are high, and so is carrying capacity, with an impressive load space which ticks all the boxes in terms of length, width and depth.

The Insignia is firmly placed in the best sellers list and the signs are it's going to stay there.

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