Vauxhall Insignia SRi VX-Line 2.0 CDTi (160ps) ecoFLEX Start/Stop 4dr Car Review - March 2012

The Vauxhall Insignia is at its best when it is cruising on the motorway, where the ride is supple and comfortable and the problems with the steering aren't so noticeable, but it is when you get to the A roads that the niggles begin. The steering is slow and doesn't offer much feedback, while the ride can get a little bouncy and unsettled over poor road surfaces, which are of course very common in Britain. The driving position is fine with a seat and steering wheel that are both easy to adjust, and visibility is the only weak spot, particularly to the rear.

The engine performance delivered by this version of the Insignia is quite good, with the car going from 0-62mph in only 8.9 seconds. The top speed of 137mph is also great for long journeys, meaning that most motorway cruising is in the Insignia's comfort zone, but the lack of refinement with wind noise and the grumbling diesel engine is a disappointing element of the car.

One area in which Vauxhall have worked particularly hard is in the styling of the Insignia, and the bodykit here makes a further improvement to what was already an attractive car. Outside the lines are sleek and the roof slopes downwards at the rear of the car, which helps improve the look even if it does nothing for the headroom. Inside the interior is classy and nice to look at, but the centre console is quite busy with a lot of buttons that all look fairly similar, which can be an issue while driving.

The level of equipment with the Insignia isn't too bad, with alloy wheels certainly helping the exterior of the car. The CD stereo comes with an MP3 input for those who keep all their music on a portable player, and cruise control and climate control are both welcome features. However, the fact that electric windows are only an optional extra in the back of the car does seem a little stingy.

The saloon version of the model is quite practical, offering plenty of space for four adults, but the fifth seat in the middle of the car is a little limited because of the centre console intruding into the space, and the thick transmission tunnel. The boot also has a good level of space available. Vauxhall doesn't have a particularly glittering reputation for reliability, but it does offer a reassuring warranty with its cars.

The Insignia is also a very safe car, being supplied with six airbags to protect occupants in the front and rear in case of an accident, and also has a number of driving aids including stability control. These features helped the car achieve a five star rating in the Euro NCAP safety test.

This version of the Insignia isn't the cheapest available with a list price of £26,515, and many people who may buy the car for the fuel efficiency may find the savings won't recoup the extra cost for this efficient engine.

Being able to achieve an average 65.7mpg does make this a big draw for drivers who will cover many miles, and insuring the car is also fairly reasonable. One problem for some drivers will be that depreciation with the Insignia is quite significant, meaning the resale value isn't great. The Vauxhall warranty covers the car for up to 100,000 miles, which can be a decade or more for some families.