Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer review

A wide range of petrol and diesel engines are available, the cheapest being a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with either 138bhp or 163bhp. We’ve tried the higher-powered option, finding it flexible from low in the rev range and fairly fuel-efficient. Given the small price, emissions and fuel economy penalty over the 138bhp version, we’d say it’s worth considering, particularly if you don’t do many miles.

There’s also a 1.6-litre petrol with 197bhp available with a manual or automatic gearbox. This really starts to push the list price up, but does provide considerable extra punch. With the automatic gearbox, it pulls away quickly from a standstill and builds through revs smoothly with gear changes that are almost unnoticeable. What is noticeable, though, are the CO2 emissions, which are higher than those of the smaller petrol unit and bring a big jump in company car tax costs for business users.

As for the 207bhp version, this feels barely any quicker. So the facts that it is one of the least economical 2.0 diesels on sale – it officially averages 38.7mpg but will undoubtedly do less in the real world – and is only available with the decidedly expensive GSI Nav and Elite Nav trims, make it an engine we’d recommend avoiding.

Driving an example with the standard suspension and relatively small 17in wheels, we found the Insignia Sports Tourer handles crests and compressions on smooth roads in a relaxed – if slightly floaty – way. But throw in some craggy surfaces and the ride quickly deteriorates; the car fidgets noticeably and thumps over sudden obstacles such as potholes.