Pros and Cons of the Vauxhall Insignia Hatchback

When the Vauxhall Insignia hatchback won the European Car of the Year award shortly after it was revealed in 2009, Vauxhall boldly claimed that their new beauty was a good enough car to take on luxurious favourites like the BMW 3 Series and the Audi 4. In reality, the Insignia isn’t as impressive to most car owners, or at least not enough to take on executive saloons. However, with its four wheel drive and massive range of engines, it isn’t a car to be ignored.

The Good

• Interior- Space is something that the Insignia certainly doesn’t fall short on, especially in the front. There is also more than enough legroom for rear passengers. It also boasts plenty of compartments for storage.

• Boot Space- This car offers plenty of space for most drivers in the boot, with 530 litres of space. When the folding back seats are down, that space improves to an almost unheard of 1,470 litres of room. Loading and unloading items from the boot is easy too, with the Insignia’s wide boot opening and easy-to-use lid.

• Engine Options- When it comes to Vauxhall parts, one of the most important under the bonnet is the engine, and the Insignia offers several to choose from to suit any driver’s needs. You can choose from the 2.0 litre ecoFlex diesel, the 2.8 litre V6 turbo petrol, and several other choices in both manual and automatic designs.

• Safety- One of the best things about buying an Insignia is how safe it is to drive. The Euro NCAP crash tests for safety gave this car a five star rating, all models come with six air bags, and ESP, or electronic stability control is a standard feature. Plenty of other safety options are available as well, like Xenon headlights and tyre pressure monitors.

The Bad

• Entry Levels- Purchasing a Vauxhall Insignia might sound like a dream, but only if you’re willing to pay for the bells and whistles. Entry level models come with the basics, like cruise control and air conditioning, but many of the accessories and equipment that make this car beautiful aren’t available. If you purchase an entry level car, this may mean you’ll have plastic wheel trims and manual window winders.

• Headroom- The sloping design of the Vauxhall Insignia may look brilliant, but it does little for the interior of the car. In fact, it takes away a lot of headroom in the rear. This could be a problem if any adults need to sit in the backseat.

The Ugly

When it comes to maintaining car parts, many Insignia owners often wonder if the cost is worth it. Why? The most expensive models, those with the bells and whistles, lose their resale value- fast. While you may want to keep this car for years, you must consider whether putting time, effort, and money into Vauxhall parts and maintenance is really worth the end result.

Thinking of buying an Insignia hatchback? While this car definitely offers some brilliant features, consider carefully whether you’ll want to upgrade or sell it in the future and whether replacing or repairing any car parts that might break down will be worth the cost if the resale value is too low.