Vauxhall Insignia Hatchback (09 on) - Review

Vauxhall Insignia comfort is just about acceptable. The Insignia is a surprisingly noisy car - something that could never be said of the Vectra. On rough surfaces there’s an unpleasant amount of road noise, while at motorway speeds wind noise becomes apparent. It’s a better story in the back where there’s plenty of headroom (despite the sloping roofline) and enough legroom for two adults to sit comfortably. Although there’s a third middle seat, it’s narrow and has very little foot room because of the transmission tunnel that runs down the middle of the floor - as a result it’s only really suitable for children. The seats are comfortable and top models have the option of dual zone climate control.

A very large boot and fold-flat seats mean that the Insignia hatch should suit the needs of most families. Those looking for extra space might want to consider the estate with its huge load area. Inside there’s a large air-conditioned glovebox and a number of useful practical ideas such as a small pouch on the front of the driver’s seat - the right size for tissues, sweets or glasses. The small central cubby between the two front seats is disappointing though. The armrest on the top is also situated too far back and doesn't slide forward, making it pretty useless for all but the tallest of drivers.

The dash is well laid out and functional, while the driving position is highly adjustable and very comfortable – ideal for spending hours on the motorway. Visibility isn’t great though and the forward view is restricted by thick windscreen pillars, while the sloping roof hinders the view out of the back. The entertainment and navigation system is controlled through buttons on the dash while high-end models use a scroll-wheel located close to the handbrake, much in the same way as BMW’s iDrive system. However, the central console is still cluttered with too many buttons and not very user-friendly.