Review of a Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer

Arguably the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is one of the best estate cars that Vauxhall has ever made. Essentially this car replaces the Vectra Estate and it looks heaps better. In fact it is a far more stylish car all round and altogether of a higher class. Perhaps that is why Vauxhall preferred the name Sports Tourer to Estate; it does sound considerably more sophisticated, and this car is. On the downside, although this car is essentially an estate, there is not as much carrying capacity as there was in some of the previous Vauxhall estate models. This car is also available as a four wheel drive version for certain engine configurations. All specifications and models can be found on www.motors.co.uk.

There are both diesel and petrol versions available but the most popular are the diesels of which there are two choices. There is a 2.0 litre CDTi which is available in two degrees of tuning, either a 130 bhp model which has a 0 to 62 mph acceleration time of 10.9 seconds or a 160 bhp model with a 0 to 62 mph time of 9.3 seconds. Neither are startling, but are adequate for a family estate. There are available with six speed manual or automatic gear boxes.

There is a 140 bhp 1.8 litre petrol engine, a 180bhp 1.6 litre turbocharged engine, a 220 bhp 2.0 litre turbo and a 2.8-litre V6 capable of delivering 260 bhp, which is the one you should choose if you really want your car to live up to all that the name sports tourer implies, but not if fuel economy is important to you.

Handling cannot be described as sporty and on the road this car feels like a typical Vauxhall estate car, but then it was never designed for throwing round corners. It is very comfortable and relatively quiet; climate control is standard.

When the seats are folded down there is 540 litres of storage space which is a little more than most competing estate cards such as the Ford Mondeo. There are electrically operated tailgate options and a feature that you will welcome have you ever opened the tailgate of an estate in a low multi-storey car park; there is a part-opened stopping point to prevent the tailgate being damaged by a low ceiling.

The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer does what is says on the tin and should not disappoint.