2010 Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer SRi 1.8 16v petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Still very modern

Faults:

Oil leak (oil cooler) around £280 to replace.

Coolant leak at thermostat (£200).

Clutch, probably the most expensive item at around £500 (parts and labor).

General Comments:

The 2010 Insignia "Sport Tourer" is basically just the estate version of the more common saloon/hatchback cars you see about.

SRi model has lovely alloy wheels and the car looks really nice in light blue.

Inside the interior is sporty and comfortable. The seats support you well and the car has plenty of space and practicality for long journeys.

To drive, the stiffer SRi spring means even though this is a heavy estate car, it can corner well. The ride is still pretty smooth as well, but a little rough on some rutted roads; may get annoying for some.

Radio is very high quality for its time.

Biggest disappointment is the engine - I had heard horror stories about the 2.0 CDTi engine's reliability, so avoiding diesel I went for petrol. This 1.8 has been reliable enough and OK so far, but the performance and economy is very poor. 0 - 60 mph takes over 11 seconds, and the car feels far too heavy for this engine. You also need to do a lot of motorway driving and long drives to get anything like an acceptable 37 MPG, otherwise you are looking at only 30 - 33 MPG pottering around town, which with petrol prices these days is not really good enough! Tax is also a joke at over £300 per year. Insurance is cheap enough however, and repairs are reasonable, so it can still be described as an economy car. I'd go for the later turbo charged 1.4T engine for better performance and economy; this old 1.8 petrol is not suited to this heavy estate Insignia, maybe in lighter saloons/hatchback version it is better.

Engine aside this has been a great car for a cheap purchase a couple of years ago; feels very very modern for almost 15 years old and I plan to keep it long term.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 6th October, 2024

17th Oct 2024, 16:13

Bolt a supercharger to the 1.8 and create the world's first and only Vauxhall Insignia SRi Sports Tourer 1.8 Kompressor. That should massively improve the performance. Fuel economy? Who cares; get the CDTI 170 if you're worried about that.

2010 Vauxhall Insignia SE 1.8 16v petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great looking car and nice to drive

Faults:

Thermostat coolant leak. Oil cooler replaced as well.

The rest was just wear and tear for age and miles.

Gearbox a bit too notchy.

Condensation in the headlights.

Cosmetically the car looks great for its age, but it is well kept and garaged. Serviced on time and all belts replaced.

General Comments:

This Insignia is a very sharp looking car in the common grey metallic. My SE model is a high spec on these early cars.

Very smart exterior - 18 inch alloy wheels look fantastic, the car has the look of a coupe rather than a saloon/hatch.

Seats 4 adults in comfort. Rear headroom a little limited for taller passengers, otherwise no complaints. Luggage area is massive, and as mentioned the SE model has all electrics and half leather seats with walnut dash. The car is as comfortable as you can get in this class.

Pretty good to drive, the clutch is smooth and the controls are light to the touch. Handling is OK. 1.8 petrol engine is a bit lethargic, but averages around 35 mpg with mixed driving. Not bad for a petrol engine in a heavy car. The car is at its best on long motorway cruises.

Overall I cannot fault this car and hope to keep it for a few more years yet. Despite the age and miles getting on, they are not worth much at this time, but find one on the used market that has had most of its common issues addressed at a nice price, go for it! You'll have on of the best looking and driving cars on the market at the price.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th April, 2024