It's safe to say that the old Vauxhall Insignia was a bit...bland.
It was a common sight on motorways and synonymous with sales reps and company car drivers but
private buyers just didn't see it as cool, which was a bit harsh given that it's so frugal
and well-equipped.
With this brand new version then, Vauxhall has upped the ante.
To put it in line with Skoda Superb, Ford Mondeo and pricier options from BMW and Audi
and now it's got a new name; it's called the Insignia Grand Sport, claiming to have even
more space, even more kit and somehow cheaper than outgoing Insignia.
Is it all too good to be true?
We'll find out, starting with what it's like to drive...There's a wide variety of engines
to choose from with the Insignia Grand Sport, ranging from 1.5 litre petrols to 2 litre
diesels.
But let's be honest, most people are going to go straight for the 1.6 litre diesel we've
got today.
It's a good choice too, offering flexible performance despite being the cheapest to
run.
That said, if you regularly fill all of the seats in your car, you may wish to look at
one of the more powerful engines.
On standard suspension and relatively small alloy wheels, the Insignia Grand Sport rides
over most bumps well although, it will start to fidget over rough surfaces.
Adaptive dampers are optional but we'd definitely stay away from larger alloy wheels which are
likely to spoil that ride.
When it comes to handling, the Insignia Grand Sport is much better than the outgoing model;
the steering feels well weighted and accurate and road and wind noise is not too bad, you
can hear the diesel engine a little bit and the petrol engines are even quieter.
Well, the interior is a big step up from the outgoing model of Insignia and these seats
come as standard even on the entry-level model, Design and they're supportive and comfortable...the
only down-side is you have to spec mid-range to get some lumbar support.
There's plenty of adjustment, so you can find a comfortable driving position and once you're
there, forward visibility is excellent thanks to these slim pillars...rear, not quite so
good however if you go for tech-line or Elite, you get parking sensors front and rear as
standard or you can spec them.
There's also a reversing camera on the options list as well.
Now, our only real complaint is that, although it's a massive improvement, there's still
a few areas that are a bit iffy.
For example, these indicator and windscreen wiper stalks make a bit of a cheap twang,
when you use them.
A 7 inch touchscreen is standard on the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, however if you go for
Satnav, like we've got in this car, you get this 8 inch touchscreen.
Overall, it's easy-to-use and the icons are large enough so that you can use it on the
move.
Plus you can connect your phone to Apple Car Play or Android Auto.
The only downside is when you're trying to scroll through the radio stations, it can
feel a little jerky and not quite so easy-to-use.
You also get Vauxhall's OnStar service, which has a 4G WiFi hotspot and a dedicated call
centre.
It can send instructions to the Satnav and even call emergency services if you're unfortunate
enough to be involved an accident.
Now though, I'm going to connect my mobile phone and see how easy it is to set a destination
in the Satnav.
First of all I'm going to connect my mobile phone...so if I click on "pair device" and
go to my bluetooth, and hopefully I will find the Vauxhall here somewhere.
"Set pin"...I'm quite happy with the one it generated.
"Pairing new device", yes, yes that matches, ok...wow!
That must be the quickest connection ever, I am super impressed Vauxhall!
Will you be as good with setting a destination in the Satnav?
Will it be just as easy?
"Ok"..."destination"..."address"...let's go for, let's go for Dartmouth, go and see some
boats.
"Dartmouth"..."Street"..."Highstreet"...or higher street, highstreet might not even exist.
Ah, there we go!
"Higher Ferry"...we'll definitely see some boats there.
Tick, "go".
Wow!
Super easy.
There's plenty of space here up front and your passenger will really feel like they
can stretch their legs out, and there's also a lot of storage spaces, for example there's
quite a deep storage space there...and another one there...we have cupholders here, decent
size door bin and glovebox is a pretty good size.
Move to the back and it's a bit of a mixed bag, the seats are comfortable because they
actually have a bit of lumbar support which is a criticism of BMW and Audi's backseats
where it's lacking and there's plenty of legroom...although because of the sloping roofline, taller passengers
may struggle with headroom.
Move to the middle seat and you've got to put your feet on this big lump in the floor
or either side and even for 5ft 4 me, it is a little bit squishy!
The Insignia Grand Sport's boot is big enough for a couple of sets of golf clubs or some
holiday luggage, but most of its key rivals offer more space.
Plus while the rear seats do fold down to increase that room more, you can't get a variable
height boot floor even as an option.
One of the big things going for the Insignia Grand Sport is its price tag, and that's before
you've rangled some discounts out of the dealers and benefitted from attractive finance options...and
if it's a company car, the benefit in car payments should be cheaper than a lot of rivals.
Go for the 1.6 litre diesel engine, as most buyers will and running costs should also
be fairly cheap and team it with out recommended design trim level and you'll get everything
you'll need, including keyless entry and start, air conditioning and Satnav.
Every Insignia comes with automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assistance too.
The Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport is now more appealing to company car drivers and private
buyers than ever before...but there are more luxurious and more practical rivals around.
That said, if you're looking for a well equipped, motorway cruiser, it definitely deserves a
place on your short-list!
Now, if you're thinking of buying an Insignia Grand Sport then head over to our new car
buyer marketplace where we can save you money on your next car, and head over to whatcar.com
for our full review of this car as well as other key rivals, and of course remember to
hit subscribe to never miss a video.