SECTOR: D-segment hatchback, saloon and estate PRICE: From €19,000 (approx) FUEL: 3.7 – 11.0l/100km CO2: 95 – 259g/km 

It’s hard to believe that the Opel Insignia has really been around for five years, in which case, it’s probably overdue a facelift. In truth you will need to be an Insignia expert to spot the difference. New is distinguished from its predecessor by some subtle redesign work to the front and rear. There’s a wider and lower front grille, while at the rear, the chrome logo bar is lower than before, extending into the tail lights and incorporating the reversing lamps. Tail and stop lamp functions are carried out by red LEDs. Importantly the subtle bodywork changes help to reduce aerodynamic drag. Hatchback models boast an impressive drag coefficient of 0.25, while for the Sports Tourer, the figure is 0.28.

There is also a new addition to the Insignia Sports Tourer, the Country Tourer, which features raised ground clearance and an all-wheel-drive-system. There are new engines too, which help to extend the Insignia’s fleet appeal. These include new 120hp and 140hp ecoFLEX models powered by new variants of the 2.0-litre CDTi diesel engine. There is also a new 165hp variant of the 2.0-litre diesel. The 120hp and 140hp ecoFLEX models get an active front air shutter to smooth airflow even further, when cooling air is not needed for the radiator. With fuel consumption of 3.7l/100km and CO2 emissions of 99g/km for both 120hp and 140hp models, they should find favour with business drivers. Two new petrol engines join the range too, the 170hp 1.6-litre direct injection SIDI engine, first seen in the Cascada convertible earlier this year and a 250hp 2.0-litre direct-injection SIDI engine. The 1.6-litre engine offers CO2 emissions of 139g/km and combined consumption of 5.9l/100km, while the 2.0-litre engine emits 169g/km of CO2 and gives 7.2l/100km in combined consumption.

For petrolhead die-hards, Opel has launched the Insignia VXR, powered by a 325hp V6 petrol engine with a 273km/h top speed.

It’s inside where most drivers will notice the difference, if they choose the new infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen. The system is part of the Intellilink family, first seen in the Adam earlier this year. The centre console has been re-designed with a touchpad, in addition to the touchscreen and steering wheel remote controls. Two and three finger swipes perform different functions with the touchpad, emulating the functions on a touchscreen smartphone.

The system comes with a second display, which replaces the speedometer directly ahead of the driver with a display screen showing a digital speedometer, but with a conventional analogue dial. It can also show a range of information including navigation, audio and smartphone functions, in the centre section of the dial. It looks good, although we found the touchpad was slow in operation.

The Insignia remains a good car to drive. It does not have the fluidity or accomplishment of the Ford Mondeo, but it’s not so far behind.

The new ecoFLEX diesels must be seen as stopgap engines, because they are sure to be replaced by the new 1.6-litre CDTi diesel first seen in the Zafira Tourer recently and now following in the Meriva. But they give fleet drivers low-emission, low-consumption engines that will be welcome, particularly where there are tax advantages for the low CO2 output. Refinement could be better from the 2.0-litre diesel but it is easy enough to live with.

The new 1.6-litre petrol engine offered impressive performance with low noise output. While it lacks the diesels’ torque, it’s not that far behind.

Verdict:

The revised Insignia offers subtle changes, masking big improvements while introducing impressive new engines. Is the best yet to come? 

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