Vauxhall Insignia


The Vauxhall Insignia is a pretty good car, and good value if you were to buy new (which we don't recommend). It's drawback though is that it is a mass market car; there are many of them available so resale prices are lower than they otherwise would be. There is a lot of competition, too , in this segment so buyers have a lot of choice. This means that you can pick up a good bargain if you buy a second-hand one, but if you buy a new one it will probably suffer from high depreciation.

Is it attractive?

It was designed as a fleet car, and to appeal to a family motorist. So, whilst the looks of it are not likely to stop you right in your tracks, it's not a bad looker either.

Is it reliable?

Generally speaking yes, but there are a few things to look out for. There is been an issue with the tailgate dropping suddenly, as a result of a leak on the left-hand tailgate strut. This could injure someone quite easily and it was the subject of a recall in 2015. There was a general recall of these models by Vauxhall so it would be best to check that yours has been fixed by contacting your local Vauxhall dealership; if it hasn't it should be fixed free of charge by the manufacturer. If you are tempted to buy an older model there have been issues with the steering wheel airbag detaching from its mountings in the event of a collision, and a problem with the window and the trap device, which could cause trapped fingers when raising the window. Again these should have been sorted out in a general recall.

Apart from these problems the car is generally considered to be pretty reliable.

Is it comfortable?

Up until 2013 it could be described as adequate, but no more. Seating was reasonable but there was a high level of interior noise. After the 2013 update soundproofing was improved and the latest engines are more quiet and smooth running. The roof line slopes down at the back and although there is perfectly adequate legroom people more than perhaps six feet tall may find head room a little cramped.

It is listed as a five seater but the middle rear seat is only small and not really suitable for a fully grown adult.

Is a powerful?

There is a reasonable choice of engines. Right at the bottom of the range is 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol driven engine, which will take you from zero to 60 mph in about 10 seconds. Not bad but hardly exciting.

Next Is the turbocharged diesel engine with 1.6 litre; this pumps out a very respectable 134 brake horsepower. Acceleration is even slower with nought to 60 in just under 11 seconds. There's a two litre diesel engine available as well; this produces 167 brake horsepower and 0 to 60 at just over nine seconds.

If you really want to shift however you could buy the VXR version; this boasts a 2.8 litre turbocharged V6 which can accelerate you from a standing start to 60 mph in a claimed 6.2 seconds; certainly fast enough for most of us.

Does it cost much to run?

Servicing costs are reasonable and spares are plentiful. Fuel consumption is quite good and you should expect a minimum of about 50 mpg, unless of course you by the VXR and have a heavy right foot.

Will it maintain its value?

Probably not. With large numbers coming onto the second-hand market at very reasonable prices there will be little incentive for buyers to pay very much for older models.

What should I look out for?

Build quality is not always perfect, and there have been a number of complaints about the electrics. Since these cars are designed for fleet use some of them may have been owned by hire car companies, or driven by business people in a rush, rather than careful private owners, so be cautious about just who any previous owners have been.