Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer

We say One of the best looking estates on the market and the interior is sleek and there's a strong range of engines under the bonnet.Performance 2.8-litre V6

We say One of the best looking estates on the market and the interior is sleek and there's a strong range of engines under the bonnet.Performance 2.8-litre V6 engine is the best performer with a 0-60mph sprint time of seven seconds flat and a top speed of 154mph, but the 2.0-litre diesel option is good also. The latter is probably the best option taking everything into account.Emissions 139g/km is good for a general marker but the 274g/km from the V6 will be expensive. The 160bhp 2.0-litre CDTi ecoFLEX engine is the most efficient however and a good option; it returns 62mpg and emits 119g/km in CO2 emissions.Driving Like the Insignia saloon, it’s a great motorway cruiser but a boring drive on the whole. It’s solid rather than exciting and takes corners with limited bodyroll, despite a firm suspension setup. That suspension also makes for quite an uncomfortable ride at times, especially on bumpy roads.Feel The engines can definitely be heard, but this isn’t a deal-breaker. Road noise could well be though which is disappointing because the cabin and interior is genuinely attractive and comfortable.Space The boot is cavernous at 540 litres but the sloping rear windscreen limits vertical space. There’s lots of room in the rear for passengers but legroom isn’t great.Equipment Air conditioning, cruise control, heated mirrors and electric front windows are standard on base models. Alloy wheels and climate control come in the next package.Price It’s competitively priced, relatively cheap to run and residuals should be okay. Plus, it’s backed by a 100,000 mile warranty. Prices start from around £20,000 and stop just short of £35,000.Quality Some good quality materials are used both inside and out, as well as plenty of adjustable options with the steering wheel and drivers seating position. There’s definitely an upmarket feel to the interior with lots of soft touch surfaces and you could be excused for thinking you were in a more expensive car.Safety Six airbags, stability control and anti-whiplash front head restraints are standard on all models.Pros The Insignia Sports Tourer is a stylish estate, both inside and out, and comes with a range of impressive diesel engines that are cheap to run.Cons Unfortunately the quality interior is let down by wind, road and engine noise as well as an overly firm suspension setup at times, particularly on rough road surfaces.Alternatives Ford Mondeo estate, Mazda6 Estate.

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