Category: Large Family 
Price Range: £17,640 to £30,995
Handsome-looking, comfortable ride, well-styled cabin.
Gutless 1.8 petrol engine, fiddly controls, some cheap touches.
Far more appealing than the Vectra it replaces, but it still lags behind the multi-talented Mondeo.
The Vauxhall Insignia replaces the less-than-impressive Vectra, a large family-sized car that never quite managed to compete with the Ford Mondeo. More sharply styled than the Vectra and with a much-improved interior, the Insignia is a far better-looking vehicle and features all-new underpinnings.
We've already driven the range-topping Insignia 2.8 V6, turbocharged 2.0T and 2.0-litre diesel versions, but one of the best-selling models will be the cheapest: the 140bhp 1.8-litre petrol.
Costing from £15,935, the 1.8i 16v VVT is the version that will be heading straight for company and hire car fleets.
Ultimately, the Insignia is going to be sold outside Europe under General Motors brand-names including Chevrolet, Buick and Holden. Its platform will also form the basis of other GM-family models such as the next-generation Saab 9-5, as well as the five-door hatchback, four-door saloon and estate forms it takes as the Insignia.
