Used Vauxhall Insignia Hatchback 2008 - 2017 review

It might have been an attempt by its maker to move upmarket, but the Vauxhall Insignia has always struggled to shake off the stodgy image of its predecessor, the Vauxhall Vectra.

In some ways, that’s unfair. The Insignia is a dramatically better car than the Vectra. It has a classy, well-built interior with upmarket-feeling plastics. There’s loads of room in the front, and the hatchback bodystyle makes for a more practical boot that can take larger loads than the Volkswagen Passat or BMW 3 Series. Head room in the rear seats is less impressive, mind you, and bettered by the Ford Mondeo.

The Insignia also came with a huge range of engines. The diesels are the ones to have for their mid-range punch and frugality, even if early examples are a little noisy; their petrol counterparts are quieter and smoother, but non-turbo models feel rather insipid.

No Insignia is enormously fun to drive, though. Safe, stable and competent, yes, but steering that is remote and overly light saps any engagement from the experience.

It’s on the motorway that the Insignia is most at home. Here, the smooth ride quality damps out expansion joints and bumps – as long as you choose a model with smaller wheels; larger wheels with their lower tyre sidewalls tend to ruin the ride quality.

What's a used Vauxhall Insignia like to live with? Find out with our long-term review

Vauxhall Insignia prices have held up pretty well, meaning you’ll pay more for one than you will for an equivalent Ford Mondeo, and almost as much as you will for a Volkswagen Passat. Despite this, the Insignia still looks like pretty good value given the amount of car you get, and especially in higher-specification variants.

Prices start at £2000 for the cheapest Insignias, although this doesn’t get you a particularly nice example. Instead, it’s better to up your budget to around £3500, which is enough to get you an early example with your choice of petrol or diesel engines, a reasonable mileage and a full service history.

High-mileage diesel Insignias are rife and could be worth a gamble as many will have spent their lives cruising on motorways. They cost as little as £2500. Check the service book carefully to ensure any high-mile example has been serviced on time, every time and had the cambelt changed regularly. And one other word of warning: make sure you aren’t buying an ex-taxi – look out for wear to the seats and steering wheel.

For a car built after the Insignia’s mid-life facelift in 2013, expect to pay at least £8000. And you’ll have to fork out around £8500 for a high-mileage example of the hot VXR model, or around £10,000 for a tidy low-miler.

Not too much. Servicing should be cheaper than for a Volkswagen Passat or BMW 3 Series and roughly in line with that of a Ford Mondeo. And most engines are pretty economical; the most efficient 2.0-litre diesel gets an impressive 76mpg according to offical figures, which is better than any contemporary Mondeo.

If you’d rather a petrol, the 1.4-litre turbo is particularly attractive, with better economy figures than the equivalent petrol turbos from Ford and Volkswagen.

The 2.8-litre twin-turbo petrol engine found in the top-spec Elite and VXR models might sound tempting, but be warned: it’s terrifyingly thirsty.

A diesel engine is usually our preferred choice for the Vauxhall Insignia, simply because they’re the most common and, as a result, there’s no real premium for choosing one over a petrol example. That said, a 1.8-litre petrol, while anaemic to drive, should offer less mechanical complexity than its diesel equivalent.

If you can stretch to it, though, our favourite engine is the 1.4-litre turbo, which was introduced in 2011. Insignias so equipped are quite rare, but find a good one and it should deliver enough punch for stress-free acceleration and overtaking, while being smoother and almost as efficient as its diesel counterpart.

There are so many Insignia models to choose from that it’s hard to pick one standout model, and really which you end up with could depend largely on what you can find. However, were we able to, we'd choose an Exclusiv, Design, SE or top-of-the-range Elite model, or a Tech Line version, which came remarkably well-equipped. Sportier SRi, VX-Line and VXR versions suffer from stiffer suspension that spoils the ride quality. As the name implies, Nav versions of each model add satellite navigation.

Our favourite Vauxhall Insignia: 1.4 T Tech Line

If you really want a hatchback, the obvious rival is the Ford Mondeo. It’s every bit as comfortable as the Insignia and much more involving to drive. Its interior doesn’t look quite as smart, mind you, but there is more room in the back.

You should also try out a Mazda 6. Equipped with a splendid range of diesel and petrol engines, it’s very enjoyable to drive thanks to a responsive chassis. Earlier models have a slightly cheap-feeling interior, though, and the ride is a touch on the firm side.

If you don’t need a hatchback and are happy to live with a saloon, you could opt for a Volkswagen Passat. Its main attraction is a classy-feeling interior and some extremely efficient diesel engine options – and, of course, a more upmarket image than that of the Vauxhall.

Or you could go more upmarket still with a BMW 3 Series. Prices are higher than for the Insignia, so you’ll have to either spend more or accept less car for your cash, but the BM is more enjoyable to drive, more efficient and more desirable.

What's a used Vauxhall Insignia like to live with? Find out with our long-term review

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