New VAUXHALL INSIGNIA review at a glance:
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Advantages: Being able to predict the (immediate driving) future before it happens, banishes disturbing thoughts of the Vectra to the pantheons of history, wealth of model choices, a truly class act, massive boot space, more useful gadgets than PC World, premium feel cabin materials, built to last, comfortable

Disadvantages: It’s not really that different to the Ford Mondeo (again), restricted rear headroom a bone of contention thanks to coupe roof line, driver’s rear vision also affected by impractical design element, not as nimble/composed as the Mondeo, lacks a certain overall refinement

Summary: The first production car to be able to read road signs, it would be difficult to take a dim view of the all-new Vauxhall Insignia. Especially bearing in mind it fronts intelligent forward lighting too, another success for the GM-employed bright sparks who have conspired to make the Vectra replacement a comprehensively logical car, embracing some rather lateral design thoughts. The oil-burners will account for the volume sales, and yes, Mondeo Man will certainly sit up and take notice of the strongest Griffin-badged competition it’s encountered in a couple of generations.



New VAUXHALL INSIGNIA Review:
Newport Pagnall Service-users are going to be simply agog when they pull up next to the new Vauxhall Insignia, clearly confused at what’s sitting in the parking place normally reserved for the none descript Vectra. For as long as we can remember the Vauxhall Vectra (nee Cavalier) faced it out in the long-running sales rep-mobile fight with its chief adversary, the Ford Mondeo (nee Sierra).

But then, a couple of years ago, Ford unleashed its new Mondeo to critical acclaim. Even James Bond was seen in one, what better endorsement of a car’s cool and worthiness is there?! So Vauxhall really had to strike the ultimate pose, and quick sharp if they weren’t to finally capitulate to their oldest family saloon car foe.

Cue the all-new Vauxhall Insignia. With almost Teutonic premium looks and aspirations, yet with markedly un-German price tags. Spearheading what the General Motors-owned mass car manufacturer believes is its new corporate design direction, the Vauxhall Insignia is charged with ensuring that the Griffin brand becomes universally desirable in the eyes of more than just those with shiny suits and motorway service loyalty scheme cards.

Promoting 17 differing Insignia models, through eight body styles in the long term, four-door coupe styled saloons, five-door hatchbacks and five-door sports tourer estates will all join the eventual line-up; with power of movement obtained from petrol, diesel and even hybrid sources.

Having chaperoned the discernibly style-orientated and the technical adept would-be coupling, Vauxhall is behind the forging of a contemporary automotively-inspired relationship that was previously beyond its wildest dreams. A lean, sculptured torso that celebrates both wing and blade themes, complete with sweeping and curving headlight assimilations and topped with a newly-invigorated Griffin logotype take the Insignia to a new and un-chartered place. And this is no blurry-eyed romanticising, it’s the real thing.

An impressive cd factor of 0.27 in terms of ergonomics not only improves performance but lends its assistance to fuel consumption.

There swooping arcs and cutting-edge slashes that characterise the Insignia’s exterior, continue on the insides, with a beautifully curvaceous, blade like dashboard layout that invites itself into the driver’s personal space in a way that the Vectra had no comprehension of, nevermind ways in which to execute. The simple fact of the matter is the Insignia oozes class from its every pore, and whilst its detractors might argue that it’s a victory for ‘here and now’ style over lamentable substance, it’s a huge leap of faith for Vauxhall which should be rightly applauded either way.

Unfortunately the Insignia’s drive doesn’t keep up with its new appearance, and is far removed from the ‘sporty’ set up the manufacturer bangs on about. Don’t get us wrong, the Insignia is a smooth, solid performer on the open road, but the steering has that critical absence of feel that’s a pre-requisite for anything bordering on sporting pursuits when behind the wheel. And that’s despite the new FlexRide optional adjustable suspension dampening taking effect.

The Insignia is also pretty iffy when it comes to road noise too, with acoustics on rough surfaces being particularly prominent to the cabin-dweller, plus there’s evidence of wind buffeting the flanks when building up speed.

Six airbags and stability control soon restore any niggling doubts you may harbour about the new Insignia though, and with the added accumulative wellbeing bonus of anti-whiplash front headrests and all manner of other safety and security whistles and bells to alert the driver en route – like ESP, ABS and traction - occupants can rest assured.

A centrally-perched command centre - complete with screen - keeps the driver informed with any up-to-the-minute changes in the Insignia’s set-up, whilst affording them instant access to all key automotive instruments. This, the Insignia’s brain if you like, is also the portal where the driver has proven to him/her that the car can read road signs too. The first production car to have this functionality plumbed in.

This front-facing, bumper-mounted camera system continually monitors the road directly ahead of the Insignia, relaying all the relevant information back to the driver; crucially before the naked eye can determine what imminent dangers lie in wait. Or just whether or not you need to lower your speed as you’re approaching a 30mph zone, that sort of thing mainly.

And then there’s’ the Intelligent AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting) which boasts nine light functions which come into force and self regulation depending on the Insignia’s trajectory and steering angle. It also pre-empts the arrival on your immediate landscape of oncoming vehicles, and dips its own headlight accordingly. Clever stuff.

Apart from the safety aspects, as standard you can expect to find, fiddle and activate the following accruements in the new Insignia base model, the S; cruise, air-con, seven speaker CD player, trip computer and steering wheel-mounted instrumentation. Further up the pecking order and it’s all about single-zone climate, 17” steel wheels, electronic handbrake, automatic wipers, four-way lumbar support, MP3-compatible six-disc auto-changer, et al…..that personalise both the Exclusiv and SE variants.

Higher up still, nearing the top of the Insignia pile is found the SRI and Elite models, which bag such wondrous attachments as dual-zone climate, front and rear parking sensors, front fogs and that intelligent forward lighting doodad and FlexRide suspension.