2010 Vauxhall Insignia Elite 2.0 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Luxury as cheap as it gets

Faults:

Not much in the two years I have had it, I have put around 20K miles on it reliably, but looking at the history, a lot of parts have been replaced, and major problems like common diesel issues were taken care of. Looked expensive, but that was one of the reasons I bought the car - the majority of common faults had been addressed.

General Comments:

After my 2005 Mazda 6 diesel died (decent car, just not as reliable as it should have been!) I found this Elite model Insignia in the used car lot locally in 2020, and it has the lot - black leather seats, full electrics. Massive spec on this car. Interior has the electrics you could want in a 2010 car.

Got a great deal on this car - these Insignia's are about as cheap as used cars get, they are not the best car in its class (that award goes to the Mondeo) nor are they the most well built, but if you want a good modern car for as little as possible, they are about the best you can get.

Inside as mentioned is very nice, wood effect, quiet and comfortable. 2.0 CDTi will get you around 50 mpg with reasonable performance. Center console controls are a little fiddly but you get used to it. Boot is massive and can carry 4 adults in comfort plus luggage no problem.

I plan to keep mine long term as despite its age it has performed well. If you find a nice one in the used bargains with history at a reasonable price, go for it. Lots of independent garages have a good knowledge of these car's common faults and can help you out with servicing and repairs for a good price. Even tax and insurance has been cheaper than most cars I have had before. Overall I like it more than I thought I would.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th July, 2022

2010 Vauxhall Insignia Exclusiv 2.0 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Excellent all rounder

Faults:

DPF warning light.

Various suspension parts and brakes.

Hatch locking motor can be temperamental - probably on its way out.

General maintenance - oil changes, etc.

General Comments:

Got this as a taxi when it was a few years old. Was very impressed with the look of the car. Comfortable, nice quality of materials inside, excellent to drive and ride in. Spacious as well, I'm nearly 6 foot tall and have no problems getting comfortable.

Engine pulled strong while doing well over 50MPG on average; can't say fairer than that. Brakes were tight and it handled much better than my previous Vectra.

Exclusiv model is the basic spec, but it still had plenty of electrics and equipment. If recommending this car to anyone else however I'd say go for the SRi - you get more equipment and even better looking alloy wheels. But if you don't care about that sort of thing, the Exclusiv spec will do just fine. It has all you'll ever need for motorway cruising.

As many other reviews have said about this car and modern cars in general - I hate the electronic parking brake! We were doing fine with a lever. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Vauxhall dealers are as variable as ever - some are good, some are just not interested. As with any car as it gets older and goes out of warranty, find a nice independent to look after your servicing and repairs at reasonable prices. These early Insignias I think were on the road as long ago as 2009, so there should be a good knowledge of them by now at independents.

Overall I think this car is good, and used as a taxi it has stood up well. Feels classier than it is and I think could cut it with German rivals - though it does not hold value anywhere near as well. The faults above are just general wear and tear apart from the DPF (Diesel Particle Filter) - a real pain on all modern diesels, not just this car to be fair. Looking to buy another privately for myself, I'll probably go for a petrol SRi, best option all things considered.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th July, 2017

21st Dec 2017, 16:10

You're not alone with your comment about the electronic handbrake;

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/6-reasons-why-the-electronic-handbrake-needs-to-die/

Of course, some will comment they like it and it is an "advancement", but I and many others beg to differ. A lever was fine. Incidentally, Mercedes had handbrakes on the dash to save space since the 80s, but at least they were mechanical - not electronic. A mate of mine just had his 2015 VW Golf battery go flat and had a hard time moving the car with the brake stuck on with no power to remove it. There is an emergency release, but we had to look for it. A total nightmare, bring back the lever!

25th Feb 2018, 15:03

You could debate forever new features in modern cars with regard to be it being good or bad. Personally I think the bigger issue with modern cars is electronics in general - they always fail sooner or later and replacements aren't cheap. For example on my Insignia the rear boot/hatch motor has just failed and is jammed shut (with lots of stuff in it!) - a real pain and a nightmare to fix. I wouldn't mind so much if the car hadn't cost me dearly on other various electronics, but I just don't see the point in it - a simple metal locking latch like on older cars even with central locking worked just fine without an electronic motor.

On the plus side the Insignia isn't a bad car, it's just nothing special, and as the reviewer stated, a petrol one is probably better in the long run to avoid expensive bills like injectors and DPFs which always seem to fail on modern diesels. At least with petrol the only concern getting older is the minor electronic issues unfortunately on all models.

25th Feb 2018, 20:45

Couldn’t you say everything will fail, sooner or later?

26th Feb 2018, 00:12

Sure you could, but we're talking about specific annoying unnecessary electrics that fail and cause major inconveniences.

26th Feb 2018, 07:25

No, just the electronics.

26th Feb 2018, 19:32

Very well stated. Unfortunately there is a very small amount (if not one) individual who has a strong belief that modern electronics that control just about the entire vehicle will never fail.