The Vauxhall Insignia is riding the crest of a wave and was Britain’s best selling medium sized model in 2011.
While most of its success has been built on its appeal to cost conscious fleet buyers and drivers, the more fortunate user-choosers and private owners can pick the Insignia Sport Tourer VXR Auto as their preferred version unless they really can afford the all singing and dancing VXR8 at up to £51,250.
With the Sport Tourer you have a really useful additional loading capacity with a very clever tailgate which when open reveals rear lights, which makes it particularly safe to use in the dark on busy roads.
The nominal boot space of 540 litres rises to 1,530 litres with the back seats folded in the tourer and it’s a very useful and practical shape with a low deck and a full luggage cover when the back seats are used.
Vauxhall really has done a good job of making the Insignia ST a purposeful performance model.
At the other end, the beefy 2.8V6 engine comes with six speed manual or, as tested, an automatic box and that is a delightful match to the engine.
Power flows strongly and consistently with no hesitation and the silky changes gives a feeling of refinement and sophistication as well as powerful urge when overtaking. You will not find any gaps or performance lacking in this svelte Sports Tourer.
For all its snappy performance you do pay a price however. It is not particularly economical and its emissions figures are eye watering to anyone who is more familiar with a smaller petrol engine, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you have a very capable all rounder under foot.
The acceleration is very good, particularly when overtaking, and it cruises with utter composure on main roads and motorways. Where limits permit in Germany you can sit at 140mph all day if desired.
In this sense it is a true grand tourer capable of gobbling up the miles without any strain while you sit in comfort.
Access is very good, seats large and very supporting but it’s not the roomiest of interiors although you have a lot of adjustment available on the front seats. Oddments room is good throughout the cabin, the heating and ventilation is comprehensive and clear and the instruments are large but you need to become familiar with the multi-tude of switches for the secondary features.
Good layout for driver is safety feature as well Major controls are all grouped close to the driver. The steering is very well weighted, the turning circle good and there is no vibration or kickback from the wheel.
I liked the balance to the brakes and the undramatic way they slowed the Insignia ST from high speed without any problem but a lot of confidence.The ride is subtle and sophisticated, soaking up shocks without complaint while giving very good feedback about its handling and reassuring road holding. It is firm but not fiddly.
Visibility is good to front and sides, with excellent bright wide ranging headlights which turn with the wheels around curves and the big wipers are appreciated on very wet days. The rear, the curving shape and sloping profile mean you have blind-spots over shoulders and you need to take care emerging from junctions, but it’s not as bad as some smaller hatchbacks.
VERDICT
The difficulties of designing a sports tourer mean there has to be a compromise between ability to carry loads and agility in winding lanes and
I think the Insignia VXR has struck the right balance between these sometimes conflicting needs. It is well equipped, well built, performs with distinction and is a very hard act to better at the price. Big loadbed but don’t tip anything!
Fact file
Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer VXR Auto £36,730
Engine: 2.8V6 325ps 6sp
Performance: 155mph max.,
0-60mph 6.2sec, 22mpg
Insurance group: 36
Emissions: 259gkm
