• Older engines tend to be more expensive to run
• New diesels promise cleaner CO 2emissions
• Insurance is cheap though, as are servicing and parts

Vauxhall Insignia hatchback running costs are generally low. Insurance is very competitive for this type of car, and Vauxhall parts and servicing tend to be good value for money – independent garages are very familiar with the Insignia and there’s a large pool of third-party and OEM components available, as the car was (and is) sold globally including markets such as China.

Petrol models are not as competitive as contemporary rivals, in terms of fuel economy, but the engines are easy to maintain at higher mileages and the main drawback of the Insignia is the car’s size and weight. This also means that while the torquey diesels perform better, they’re equally poor when compared with similar models from other manufacturers. The diesels also cost more to maintain and have some inherent weaknesses that reduce their appeal as a used buy.

The 2013 facelift introduced low CO2 models that are cheaper to tax, and between 2013 and 2016 Euro 6 compliant versions joined the range (check the specific car you’re looking at on the TfL website if you need a ULEZ-friendly diesel). These feature AdBlue, which adds another system to go wrong on used Insignias.

Vauxhall Insignia A (2009-2017) reliability

The Insignia is built to a higher standard than the Vectra, so experiences fewer irritating problems with rust, trim and electrics. It has a few foibles, such as the electronic boot switch, the electronic handbrake, and the radio/infotainment system, but they are generally fairly easy and inexpensive to repair. DIY maintenance is well documented by enthusiasts.

The tendency for the 2.0-litre CDTi engine to fail due to loss of oil pressure is the largest red flag when buying a used Vauxhall Insignia. If you budget for that issue to be addressed when buying a car that’s in otherwise good condition, it should be a dependable vehicle for many years.

Recalls

There have been a couple of recalls over the Insignia’s lifespan, something that affects many manufacturers and models.

Steering wheel airbag may not deploy correctly

It has been identified that in the unlikely event of a collision, where there is a need for the deployment of the driver airbag, it is a possible that the drivers airbag module may separate form its mounting on the steering wheel horn plate.

Window anti-trap may malfunction

The anti-pinch or auto reverse function of the window regulator may not work correctly to ECE R21 requirements. So it is possible to trap items including fingers and limbs between the window and its closure.