Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer (2017 – 2020) Review

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer (2017 – 2020) At A Glance

4/5

+Spacious, good specification and plenty of choice on the used market.

-Some interior materials are a bit disappointing, still not the most spacious car in the class.

Insurance Groups are between 17–26
On average it achieves 81% of the official MPG figure

The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is the big estate spin-off of the regular Insignia, designed to compete with big rivals like the Ford Mondeo, Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat. It’s large inside, comfortable and as is generally the way with Vauxhalls, pretty good value for money too. It’s not the best to drive in the class, nor does it have the best interior, but there’s not a great deal wrong with it either, so if you can get a good deal it makes sense as a good value load carrier.

If you’re looking for load space, the Vauxhall Insignia is easily one of the best family estate cars around. Plus it’s relaxed and comfortable to drive with enough space for adults in the back. The engine range isn’t all that impressive and the interior could use better materials – but there’s still a lot to like.

The boot is obviously the most important bit of any estate and, on that front, the Insignia is great. The load capacity may trail behind estate versions of the Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat, but at 560 litres it is larger than a Ford Mondeo Estate and a significant step up over the outgoing model.

Getting awkward items like pushchairs in and out is easy since the load deck is low, wide and long, plus there is no load lip. If you need a little more space, one touch buttons flip the rear seats down almost completely flat, freeing up a huge 1665 litres of capacity. Garden centre trips and flat packs won’t be a problem.

As is typical for Vauxhall, the engine range is very broad. There are petrol engines with 140PS, 165PS or 260PS, along with diesels producing 110PS, 136PS, and 170PS. Since most Insignias end up as company cars, the 110PS and 136PS diesels will make the most sense because they have the lowest emissions.

The drive isn’t particularly fun, but it is quiet and relaxed. Not much wind or engine noise gets into the cabin even at motorway speeds and bumps are ironed out well. Yet through corners the Insignia Sports Tourer is reassuringly capable and has plenty of grip. And, if you need even more traction, you can get a 4x4 version.

Equipment levels are reasonable across the almost bewildering array of trim levels. All versions come with a touchscreen, air conditioning and cruise control, while navigation is standard on most trim levels. There are lots of safety gizmos on offer too including adaptive cruise control and lane assistance.

The Skoda Superb is more spacious, better to drive and has a much better interior finish. But for outright space the new Insignia Sports Tourer is excellent – and when you consider its extremely competitive pricing it starts to look like very good value for money, despite a few small flaws.

Ask Honest John

What should I replace my Ford Mondeo with?

"I need to replace my Ford Mondeo. What would you recommend? I like the size of Mondeo and the performance mid range of the 2.2-litre diesel suits my driving which is mainly country roads with occasional motorway. I do minimal town use. I need five seats and ideally a hatch or estate for occasional dog travel. My budget is £10k to 15k."
If you cover more than 12,000 miles a year, a diesel makes sense. Otherwise, we'd recommend a petrol or hybrid for your driving. A Skoda Superb Estate could be a good choice - it's very comfortable and popular with dog owners due to its huge boot. You could also look at the slightly smaller (but still very practical) Octavia. Alternatively, the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer represents excellent value for money on the used market.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can you recommend an SUV or estate car that can carry ladders?

"My 2014 2.0-litre diesel auto BMW 5 Series falls foul of the clean air zone (CAZ) requirements. It's been my third 5 Series, used for my work as a surveyor. The rear seats fold to accommodate my ladders and other long equipment. I'm looking to replace it with a CAZ compliant vehicle that fulfills the role. My motoring is a mixture of local journeys and longer runs of up to 300 miles round trips, including the London area. I have got used to a larger car, and automatic is a must. I'm not wedded to BMW and would consider something cheaper but of decent quality, finish and accessories. Comfortable seats and a quiet cabin are desirable. I have always preferred lighter coloured interior upholstery. I have tended to buy used cars at about 3 years old. An initial search suggested a Ford Mondeo estate, but I am aware that the fashion is now for the SUV type of vehicle, and I'm not a fan of estate cars, though I would consider one. Can you suggest a few alternatives that I might consider? My budget is flexible but, if my car is worth about £6,000, I would not wish to add much more that £14,000-£16,000 to that."
The issue with SUVs is that they may not be long enough to accommodate your equipment, unless you go for something large such as a Kia Sorento or BMW X5/Audi Q7. Other options we would be considering are the Volkswagen Passat or Skoda Superb Estate, the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer, the Volvo V90 and the Mazda 6 Tourer. A Skoda Kodiaq may also fulfill your needs but again isn't as long as the estate cars here.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Should I buy as Audi A4 Avant or a Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer?

"I am going to be in the market for an estate car in the next few months and have been looking at the Audi A4 Avant 1.4 TFSI and the higher trim Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer from 2017 onwards with the 1.5-litre petrol engine. Would you lean more towards one or the other or are there any others worth considering? I don't think we will be doing enough miles to make a diesel worthwhile. "
I'd go for the Audi because it's better in almost every measurable way, although you will pay a slight premium. Stick to smaller wheels and the Audi is more comfortable, quieter and should also be better on fuel. It's not quite as roomy as the Vauxhall, so if that matters I'd have a look at the Skoda Superb estate. It's huge inside and shares many parts with the A4, so the cars feel surprisingly similar to use. You can read our reviews of all three cars, below. Audi: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/audi/a4-b9-avant-2015/ Vauxhall: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/vauxhall/insignia-sports-tourer-2017/ Skoda: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/skoda/superb-estate-2015/
Answered by Russell Campbell

Which cars have a low boot lip and enough space for a big old dog?

"I have a big dog (a 10-stone Leonberger) and we're expecting it to have rear leg problems in later life. I'm looking for a reliable car with a low boot lip and a big enough cargo space to accommodate the donkey dog. What would you recommend? Our budget is around £11,000."
We'd recommend a Skoda Superb Estate. You'll be able to get the latest (2015-) model within budget – it's simply huge and has that all-important low boot lip. Alternatively, a Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is similarly cavernous and represents good value for money.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer (2017 – 2020) cost?