Any one had a look at the Insignia CountryTourer launch date later this month. Opinions please.

Have tested regular Insignia 4x4. 2.0 petrol with 230HP.

The car is much bigger than O III, but inside it's size of the pevious generation of Octavia. I mean couldn't find place for my legs on back seat.

The engine on paper is much stronger but acceleration is poor. The car weights almost 1800kg and you feel it driving and visiting petrol stations. In city 13l/100km means you are ECOdriver.

On central console was too much buttons.

There is Haldex IV. Opel has so called "rear differential lock" but it's only something like EDL by VAG cars.

By the way by OIII EDL and XDS works on all wheels.

I generally get a hire car about twice a month to drive about 6 or 7 hours each trip, almost always the Insignia or Insignia estate (depending on what Enterprise have to give us for an "E" class car).

 

I would echo eldawido's comments about the 4x4 for the rest of the range. 

 

My thoughts are as follows,

 

Pros

• They handle well, nice cornering and are pretty relaxed and quiet for long distance.
• The seats are comfy
• All the engines (1.6 petrol, 1.8 petrol, 2l diesel) on a long run seems to do about 50mpg as long as you don't go mad with the right pedal.
• They have proper indicator and light switches, rather than the single position switches on the Astra or Corsa
• In the estate the whole back of the car is the boot lid making for really easy loading.

 

Cons

• The car is pretty large but never feels like you benefit from it inside unlike the new octavia where two 6 footers can sit one behind the other with ease. 
• I find that the Insignia feels really cheap inside, the steering wheel feels especially tacky, and the sat nav controls are really easy to hit by accident.
• None of the engines I've had, 1.6 petrol, 1.8 petrol, 2l diesel have felt particularly quick and the car always feels a bit like it's been on the pies (heavy and lumpen) although at least the auto box isn't too bad unlike a lot of vauxhaul cars (1.6 astra auto - shudder).
• It's really expensive - or certainly seemed it.  I get a fair discount through my employer but the Skodas seem like far better vaule to me (might be just what model/extras you want though).
• Dials are not particularly great (I always find it best to switch the "maxidot" display to display the current speed as I find it difficult to quickly glance at the speedo.
• Electric handbrake - JUST NO!  I can't stand them, I hate them with every fibre of my being.  Why why why!  I've never had a vauxhaul insignia with a standard handbrake, only an Opel Insignia.

GullyG, Agree with you about the Insignia. I get 3-6 a year as hire cars like you.  Pretty much what you said plus not enough leg or headroom in the back, micky mouse door mirrors, Comedy windscreen wipers that make that whole car shake slightly when sitting in traffic when raining. The tailgate on the hatch is not all its cracked up to be as its actually not that wide and I struggle to get my bicycle in the back, yet many other cars swallow it easily.  It doesn't look much wider on the estate although I haven't tried one.   Its not a bad car by any means, just compromised in a few areas and yes I hate the electric handbrake as well.

Edited 3 September, 201312 yr by Pesmog

Does it also have those crappy microswitch indicator stalks?

I recently drove the new Corsa as a courtesy car and hated every minute of it, and It was all down to the indicators.

There was no positive reinforcement when using the indicator, you move it up or down, it flicks a microswitch and returns back to the central position.

No reassuring clunk as the signal cancels, just a barely audible click.

 

I fear change. 

By the way by OIII EDL and XDS works on all wheels.

In O3, if I remember correctly, only 1.8TSI (not available in UK) and vRS get XDS. Same story with multilink rear suspension. Plus 1.8TSI was the only version that could be ordered with 4x4 and DSG. Skoda effed it up royally this time.

Does it also have those crappy microswitch indicator stalks?

I recently drove the new Corsa as a courtesy car and hated every minute of it, and It was all down to the indicators.

There was no positive reinforcement when using the indicator, you move it up or down, it flicks a microswitch and returns back to the central position.

No reassuring clunk as the signal cancels, just a barely audible click.

I fear change.

The insignia has proper stalks, or certainly everyone I've ever driven.

I too hate the stupid indicators and lights on the Astra/corsa but you explained it far better.

You can get quite large discounts on Vauxhalls.

 

But personally I'd get an Audi Allroad (other than badge issues) through Drive the Deal and save a fortune.

I know the Octy will be on the new platform, but it's still tempting to get an Audi on the old platform if it's only a few grand more as resale will be better.

I'm currently sat in my Insignia Estate hire car and whilst its not a bad car it's also not great either.

I've got the 1.6 Turbo petrol and its slow. Really slow. Struggles to pull away going up the smallest of incline which just means your constantly changing gear.

The boot door is huge. The whole of the rear is basically the door. This makes it difficult and heavy to close although access is very good.

Size wise it looks big but inside the interior is quite cramped. Not much room in the back. For the fixtures and fittings in the car they are ok. Seats are comfy and Iike the feel of the steering wheel. Only thing is that the switches feel too plasticky for me.

Overall it's ok but I'd stick with an Octavia III!