In-depth reviews

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer estate (2008-2017): owner reviews

“The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is a well built and comfortable family estate car, though the compromised boot space and poor used values hinder its appeal.”

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by Richard Ingram

8 Dec 2014

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Carbuyer Rating

3.6 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.9 out of 5

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

62%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Engine, Gearbox / clutch (2 cases)
Gearbox / clutch (2 cases)
Other (7 cases)
Electrics (2 cases)
Brakes (1 case)
Brakes, Electrics, Engine, Gearbox / clutch, Other (1 case)
Electrics, Other (1 case)

Review 1 of 60

Tell us what you think about your car?

I find myself disagreeing with the Carbuyer review in a many ways. Driving wise the Insignia is appalling around town, the tall gearing makes it hard work in stop/start and lower speed driving. In this respect I have driven VW, BMW and Skodas and all were better. However, speed up to 35mph+ and its as good as any modern car to drive, maybe a BMW responds better but it's sharp and goes where you point it – the review says it's not so good to drive but then says its precise. Is it a great car? Mine is 9 years old and has done 89,000 miles. Other than the dreaded bearings in the awful M32 gearbox giving up (a £275 3hr repair at the right place) it's only needed what any car would, shocks and a wheels bearing. It passed the MOT last time with 1 advisory of a minor oil leak which was an £8 seal that needs to be replaced. It's comfy and has plenty of room and equipment. It's not outstanding at anything but its more than good enough to me to keep for another 3 or 4 years. Would I have another one? Yes.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I believed is car to be good value for the price I paid. However in the two years I owned the car I had to replace the fuel rail at £600 and then 30 months into ownership the 6 speed manual gearbox developed a fatal fault. He car only had 70,000 on it at the time. Beware of reliability issues.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Drives really well. Very comfortable. So far I have had the car 6 months and covered over 10,000 miles. The car now has 40k on the clock and drives like new.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

A very good car with good build quality, finish and has been reliable. I was a little apprehensive to due to perceived badge snobs, bias reviews and when you look at this objectively, its as good as Audis, BMW and other makes. Even Alfa Romeos are up with the best. Vauxhall/Opel have raised their game like most manufacturers and deserve to be better placed. I like the very strong body,finish and weight which gives confidence to safety and longevity.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Reliable, smooth to drive. Quiet at speed on motorway.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have had no faults or recalls since purchasing this car

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Nice to drive except when it snows . For a front wheel drive vehicle it's terrible .

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Had no problems to date

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I've had no reliabilty problems.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

No issues

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have had no reliability issues so far

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

No problems so far.... touch wood

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Diesel engine more reliable than petrol.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Need more time with the car to form a better opinion

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have 30,000 miles in the car, it has been in for non-critical problems 6 times, but extremely critical and dangerous problems 3 times. The engine management system thinks the engine is overheating and just switches off, but in fact there is nothing wrong at all. Vauxhall keep assuring me that they have fixed the problem, even sending to Germany to replace a wiring loom, but now it has done it again, this time in the middle of a busy cross roads. Proeviously I was overtaking lorries on A14 and it just turned itself off, luckily one of the lorries saw I had a problem and slowed up and flashed me in. I was able to run it off the road and into the bushes, remembering of course the brakes and steering are pretty much ineffective with no engine power. Vauxhall apparently are aware they have this problem with others, not just mine. It is an extremely dangerous car to have on the road with this problem. Otherwise the car, when running, is ok. Navigation system is superb and the best thing about the car. Never had enough snow to make any comment on that score. Plenty of power when needed and no problem in any other area. Personally I think the touch screen system is a backward step from the controls on the center console. Vauxhall will probably come back and say they have fixed the problem but I will not be risking my family in this car again.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

This car is very good for carrying anything, apart from that it is not great. The Sri model is uncomfortable, not particularly fuel efficient i get 40 mpg on good runs. As for reliability it has been and still is hopeless, burnt clutch, expansion tank failure causing car to boil over and now it goes in to limp mode every couple of days. It has been in the garage a number of times and is still not fixed, add to that the 20 inch wheels which cut chunks out of the side wall on the Tyre every time you hit a pothole, and one has cracked needing £500 replacement.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Alarm keeps going off for no reason, dealer can't fix it

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Starts and drives OK

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Faultless, everything has performed exactly as expected every time

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Bought car after running an Astra Sri 1.9Cdti for 6 years. Was going to buy the hatchback but liked the look of the Sport Tourer. A nicely made, reliable car, well finished interior, and very comfortable to drive. 1.4 turbo engine is remarkable in such a large vehicle, plenty of power when needed, extremely quiet, and very economical. I commute from Birmingham to Nottingham daily and regularly achieve 49 mpg. Stop/start system excellent. My only gripe is catching my head on the edge of the tailgate and some tyre roar over certain coarse road surfaces. On the whole a good effort from Vauxhall, much better than an Audi A4 Avant I owned before the Astra.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

minor problems with the anti collision warning censors

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

some minor s/w bugs

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

hasn,t let me down yet apart from driving in the snow or lack of. the car just wouldn,t move

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

This is my second Insignia, it's a replacement because the last one had over £10,000 spent on warranty repair in 18 months! This one is better but the bugs are starting to surface now. In excess of 20 trips to my dealer in 14 months for diagnostics then back for repairs. Its a nice car to drive, comfortable and economical and safe car but the technology and build quality is beyond useless. At time of replacement we were told all of these updates were going to be released for the infotainment system in the new year (2014) but Vauxhall changed their minds so I'm left with an 8" display that only ever uses radio or phone as the sat nav is dreadful - deviating from the desired route adding hours onto a journeys through Europe with no warning. The trunk space isn't great either because of the sloped roof and narrowing entrance at the top nothing large will fit in through the opening despite the car being larger inside. This also means rear visibility is practically non existent, dependence on wing mirrors and parking sensors. This one has now had two sets of tailgate struts replaced, countless computer updates including the clutch as it would not release the electronic park brake or hill assist when pulling away. The water pump has failed and now the motor to fold my wing mirror has to be replaced. Two rear axle level sensors because the xenon lights kept failing when it rained, that finally turned out to be another update required which has almost disabled the system. Voice recognition is utterly useless as is the auto high beam function. First insignia failures: 3 months - no 5th gear, gearbox replaced 9 months - stopped shifting - gearbox replaced Boost valve replaced Turbo replaced Tailgate struts replaced Front wipers failed in rain on the motorway - replaced Rear wiper failed a week after - replaced Taillights burnt out almost catching fire - new light cluster and wiring loom Front fog light leaking - replaced Cd player jammed - replaced entire unit Recall to have wiring loom replaced going into front door - entire dash removed!!! Cant remember the other things... I will never buy another Vauxhall again and I recommend anyone considering one of these to run as far and fast as possible. Counting the days until I can replace it with a Skoda or Volvo. If you do get one I wish you better luck than I have had with my two.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Fuel pump needed replacing after 15000 miles

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

There are teething problems with the radio. This doesn't affect the cars performance, but it's annoying

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Good reliability

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

No problems through the winter weather

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

No issues

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Been very good so far - no problems at all.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

never broken down, but bits break off or fall apart

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Should be renamed insomnia! This is probably the worst car I have ever had the misfortune of driving. The electric boot open and closes on its own and sometimes jams open usually in undesirable areas. The Eco start has a mind of its own and the traction control can detach retinas. Avoid like the plague, I am now at the point of taking it for a long drive off a short pier!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

After years of BMW, Cadillac and VW, I chose the Insignia at a time when family needs meant load lugging, frequent long distance driving. People carrying and practicality were all paramount, as was saving money. This car has been incredible. It has moved entire student households (bikes and all); swept along Autoroutes, Autobahns and Motorways in limo like comfort and quiet; been hailed by the entire family for the comfort of the seats, wonderful sat-nav and voice control, and has generally handled anything and everything we have thrown at it, with all the good grace of a true professional. It has NEVER gone wrong, never had a puncture and never needed anything but a change of tyres and a service. Yes, the engine is a bit clattery around town and no it isn't a sports car from the lights. On an autobahn however, it climbed effortlessly to 120mph and stayed there wafting along quite silently. For UK A roads and Motorways it has all the oomph you could need. Around town it is hugely economical, comfortable and decidedly spacious in the back. It's also a fine looking, well built, sturdy car. We opted for the Infinity Sound system and it's one of the best systems with superb sound quality. Badge snobbery be blowed, it's a very, very good car. Why waste an extra £10k just to have some circles on your radiator? And the service from Plymouth based Evans Halshaw has been better than every previous London dealer we have dealt with. Nothing was too much trouble, staff have been wonderful, professional and friendly.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Never let me down, perfect.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

no problems at all with reliability

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Totally faultless

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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