Vauxhall Insignia 2017 review – The new car is a sleeker beast than its predecessor

But that doesn’t mean it has to be boring – and this new Insignia is a sleeker beast than the car it replaces. It’s even got a new name, to make sure the change doesn’t go unnoticed, with the more coupé-like profile gaining it the title Insignia Grand Sport. 

The new car is two inches longer but one inch lower, giving it a more striking, low-slung stance that works well, though it is not quite impactful enough to get noticed in a crowd. 

Its appearance is enhanced by the narrow headlights that give the Grand Sport a meaner look than its more rounded predecessor. 

From the side in particular it is clearly a long car but the design makes that extra metal look in proportion rather than being too bulky. Vauxhall is offering a range of six engines, all turbocharged, topped by the 260bhp 2.0-litre performance model that’s only available in top-spec Elite trim, with four-wheel drive and Vauxhall’s new eight-speed automatic gearbox. 

That car covers the sprint from 0 to 60mph in under seven seconds. 

The more regular models consist of a 1.5-litre petrol of either 140bhp or 165bhp, and a trio of turbo-diesels that should take the majority of sales. The most efficient in the line-up is the 110bhp 1.6, which has official emissions and average fuel economy figures of 105g/km and 70.6mpg respectively. 

That’s a figure significantly off the best in class, which is a bit of a disappointment given the Insignia is the new kid on the block.

The other diesels are a 136bhp 1.6 and a 170bhp 2.0, with this pair being the only others offered with the new automatic gearbox as well as the six-speed manual fitted across the range. 

Refinement levels are good, with minimal noise entering the cabin. The gearchange has a nice slick feel, aided by a well-shaped lever that fits nicely in your hand. 

Ride quality is pretty good too and the Insignia feels like it has been set up with a mile-munching bias, as the combination of steering and suspension don’t offer as much fun on twisty roads as some rivals, which, to be fair, isn’t the car’s core environment. 

The Vauxhall’s interior has been given a thorough going-over, which is welcome because it wasn’t an area of strength before. Initial impressions of the cabin are that it’s nicely laid out, with the eight-inch colour touchscreen angled slightly towards the driver. The system, though, could be more user-friendly, with more button prods required to perform certain everyday functions than you’d get with other systems. 

Graphics are also a little dated compared with the best navigation displays but the approachability of the cabin and controls is a big step up from the previous model. 

There’s enough interior storage to meet most needs, including hefty door bins. And rear-seat passengers will be pretty happy too. The three-and-a-half inch increase between the wheels is largely to the benefit of legroom and carrying four adults is no challenge in that regard. 

However, if they are tall there could be some headroom issues, thanks to that coupé-esque roofline. Vauxhall has felt the need to build a little indent into the rear headlining to create extra headroom, which just about works. 

The boot is actually smaller than the previous car, dropping by 40 litres to 490. It’s still a lengthy load area but it is pretty shallow, so big square items won’t be so easily accommodated. 

And it is now more than 50 litres shy of a Ford Mondeo hatchback and 135 behind a Skoda Superb. 

But the Insignia Sports Tourer estate model, coming in the next few weeks, is 20 litres larger than its 540-litre predecessor. 

The new Insignia is a decent, rather than outstanding new car. Until, that is, you get to the pricing. A couple of years back Vauxhall restructured its pricing methodology and shifted from one where list price was high but you’d be guaranteed a deal, to one that undercut its main rivals – in some cases by thousands of pounds. 

That doesn’t mean the company is being stingy with the equipment. 

Every Insignia Grand Sport is fitted with DAB digital radio, keyless entry and start, cruise control and automatic lights, while all bar the entry Design trim offer 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic wipers, dual-zone climate control and twin USB sockets in the rear as well as one in the front. 

Every car is fitted with Vauxhall’s pioneering OnStar system. A touch of the button in the roof lining puts the driver straight through to a call centre, which sends required destinations to the navigation system, where fitted, and connects with a smartphone app to show everything from tyre pressures to where it is parked. 

It can even remotely lock and unlock the car, as well as providing a wifi hotspot for up to seven devices. The system will also locate the car if it is stolen and can alert emergency services to its location if it detects the airbags have been triggered and nobody is responding to contact from the call centre. 

Vauxhall has also added a concierge-type hotel booking service – a genuinely innovative system only BMW can match at this time – offered on most of Vauxhall’s range, though the Insignia Grand Sport is the first to get it as standard on all models. 

The new Insignia is a big step forward. It looks good, that sleek profile offering something a little different in the mainstream motorway-muncher category and it is very keenly priced. 

Rear-seat space and equipment levels impress and although it isn’t the best drive in its class, has much more in the positive column than the negative – and significantly more than its predecessor.

LOGBOOK LOWDOWN

● Model: Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport

● On sale: Now ● Price range: £17,115-£27,710

● Engine range: Turbo-petrol – 1.5, 1.5 165bhp, 2.0-litre; Turbo diesel – 1.6, 1.6 136bhp, 2.0-litre

● Power: 0 to 60mph in 6.9 seconds, 155mph top speed (2.0 petrol)

● Average fuel economy: 70.6mpg (1.6TD)

● CO2 emissions range: 105-197g/km

● Rivals: Ford Mondeo, Skoda Superb, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda 6

● Rating: ★★★★★★★★✩✩