Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer road tests and consumer car reviews

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 2009

I loved the car the moment I took it for a test drive at the dealership. I still love it 9 months on. There are a few niggles: The gear box can be very clunky and sometimes you feel you are forcing the change; visibility is slighlty restrictive when reversing due to the wide sides between front and rear doors; it’s been back to the dealer due to a faulty thermostat and a recall regarding the tailgate. Despite these issues I’m still very happy with it.

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 2.0CDTI SRI 2011

The Insignia seems very good on handling, especially on high speed motorway cruising and takes corners very well when pushed. The engine is no more noisy than other engines. The driver’s side tweeter cover in the door keeps falling off and the left side wing mirror casing is not aligned and looks badly fitted, but the car has a solid feel to it and feels safe. I cannot say many bad things about it, apart from the fact that I am 6’ 2" tall and do get back pain when driving, which is why I am considering getting an Avensis; whilst not being the most sexy looking car it is soooo comfortable. I have just driven a loan 1.8 petrol Insignia and it is horribly underpowered and has no acceleration, so forget that one. One last thing, cars fitted with DPF’s now have appalling MPG, shame on you EU, which is contradictory because whilst filtering out diesel particles, they actually cause cars to use more fuel.

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer SE NAV 2010

Mine is a 2010 model, completely satisfied with build quality and every aspect except the ride is sometimes a little firm. Handling is very precise. The automatic tailgate opening is fantastic, and the cabin layout is smooth, clever and prestigious. Auto box is faultless and smooth. There are more features than I can describe or use, and most importantly my wife likes it. There’s seems to be a big difference between the 2009 and 2010 cars from the reviews I’ve read.

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer Elite 2009

I waited for a long time to get my hands on a new Insignia with the right spec and when I found an Elite with 22000 on the clock within my price range I was a happy man. take into concideration I part exed my VW Passatt 2.0 TDI in for this 2.0CDI I was expecting good things. What a load of S**t!!!! in the 4 weeks I’ve had it it has been in Vauxhall’s in Swindon twice, the second time with a list of problem ranging from gear box to ipod not working, heated seats, which when fixed I drove off only to find the fitter didn’t put the seat in properly and I ended up tipping back, luckily I was not on the main road. Now I have mentioned gear box shudder at low revs, they have more or less said it’s in my head. Compaired to the ride of the Passatt I some times feel embarrased giving lifts because they think it’s my driving. What to do, oh what to do. I feel I’ve wasted my money and it’s hard work talking to Vauxhall. I should have listened to the Wife and stuck to VW.

Responses to this review

@Paul Macpherson: Sorry to hear that you’ve got problems. Your engine juddering at low revs could be related to what a few other Insignia owners have experienced and the culprit (for manual gearboxes) appears to be a faulty dual mass flywheel which can be fixed under warranty. Have a look at this forum for more info - http://www.insignia-enthusiast.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=558&hl= - Turtleneck from England

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 2008

Vauxhall have taken back my car today due to gearbox problems, only done 40000 miles. I have to wait 3 weeks for parts, sounds a bit suspect to me.

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 20 cdti 160 2009

A good looking car! It stops there, build quality not bad had a few rattles, trim around the doors do not align very well, boot try handle fell apart on day one as did the door handle insert on the drivers door. Problems from the beginning, things like noisy air con, gearbox selection, noises from behind dash, central looking failing to operate on my drive for 2 days, indicators doing their own thing, and the worst of all and the most worrying, gearbox-transmission knocking after gentle acceleration and backing off, Vauxhall says its a "normal characteristic" of the car. Anyone else having gearbox problems can e-mail me at stevewardle@hotmail.co.uk only then will Vauxhall take notice!

Responses to this review

41000 miles. Pops out of 4th gear on over run. Gear box noises when on light peddle around 40 - 50 mph - Richard Stiles from Essex

47,000 miles. At times selecting gears are difficult, especially 1st and 2nd. Feels like something stopping the shift and you have to force them in, once or twice not been able to get into gear and had to pull over, not great entering motorway slip road off roundabout - Mick from Hampshire