Introduction
As has been the trend for the last few years, SUV-style models are leading the way – may that be as a crossover or a jacked-up, plastic-clad estate vehicle.
Here is Vauxhall’s effort, the Insignia Country Tourer. This model takes the brand’s largest estate vehicle, increases the ride height and adds a more rugged exterior look thanks to plastic around the wheel arches, sills and bumpers.
To make it thoroughly capable off-road, the Country Tourer comes with four-wheel drive, and it also has all the practicality that you would need from an estate.
But with premium brands such as Audi, Mercedes and Volvo offering their own rugged estate, can Vauxhall’s alternative be a good option at almost half the price? We take a look…
Performance
For the Country Tourer we tested, Vauxhall fitted a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces 187bhp and a more-than-useful 400Nm of torque, which would help in off-roading situations.
The sprint to 60mph is done in just over nine seconds and you can push on to 135mph, while also returning good economy figures. Our test car used a six-speed manual transmission, but you can choose an eight-speed automatic, as well as a 200bhp version of the 2.0-litre turbo engine.
Ride & Handling
As with the standard Insignia, the Country Tourer feels well-balanced and planted on the road, but with the adaptive dampers and increased ride height to help with tackling rougher ground, the ride is also very supple and much more comfortable than we expected. This makes it an excellent long-range cruiser, as it can float over the bumps and ruts without any issues.
The manual was well-built and felt very smooth to use, but with the automatic you get a smoother feel that lends well to driving long distances. Also, with the adaptive setup, you can choose from Standard, Sport and Tour modes – but we recommend staying in Tour mode as it hits the perfect balance for the model.
Find great Vauxhall Insignia deals todayInterior & Equipment
The interior finish is very agreeable indeed, but there are a few hard touch plastics in place on the central dash that detract slightly from the cockpit feel. But the Country Tourer is mostly well-finished and a nice place to be, as you get soft-touch materials and everything falls to hand well.
Space-wise, the Country Tourer has plenty on-hand for both passengers and storage, as leg and headroom is plentiful for front and rear occupants. The boot has 560 litres for stowage with the rear seats up, which can be extended to 1,665 litres with the rear bench folded down.
To add to the appeal of the Country Tourer, it comes with most of the top spec Insignia features as standard. You get 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, the adaptive damping system and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which includes satellite navigation and full media system.
Other features are also available, such as Bose surround sound system and wireless charging, and you also get LED headlights with auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, head-up display and keyless entry and start – with Vauxhall also providing its OnStar personal assistant system.
Cost
Prices for the Insignia Country Tourer start from £25,950, and when you consider all the equipment and features you get with the model, that is very good value. That is £5,650 more than the standard estate version – the Sports Tourer – but it has a more niche finish.
Running costs will be very reasonable for a car of this size and practicality, as it emits 145g/km CO2 and uses a quoted 51.4mpg. It sits between insurance groups 20 and 22.
Verdict
With the Insignia Country Tourer, Vauxhall has made a car that drives well, has more than enough equipment and is reasonably cheap to run – making it a good all-rounder. Although there are still some minor faults, such as hard touch plastics and a bland infotainment system, the Country Tourer is a great value vehicle that has more than enough space and can be a great family vehicle. With the off-roading credentials too, this is an affordable and interesting option.
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