It’s possible that you don’t know much about the Opel Insignia. This is a presentable d-class sedan, which is sold poorly in Ukraine. But this is Opel, and the models of this German brand have always been popular with us! So when I found out about the negligible number of Insignia sold here (namely, 29 new sedans for the whole of 2019), I thought: is it really that bad?
Opel Insignia front view
However, we must immediately clarify that Opel in our market fully appeared only at the end of 2018. Of course, the office simply did not have time to properly bring this model to the market and establish the work of dealers. In any case, this situation even fuels interest in the car, so now we will try to figure out what is wrong with the Insignia (or what is wrong with the buyer). We will try to find all the advantages of the car and tell you how it is better than its competitors, and how it loses to them.
History
Opel cars have always been present in abundance on our roads. Ascona, Kadett, Omega, Astra, Vectra, Frontera, Monterey and Senator – even now, many of these Opel’s can still be found in the stream. And although these models were also frequent guests in welding workshops, it will be difficult to blame the Opel brand for the unreliability of cars. When I see another Kadett somewhere in Kiev traffic, I get the feeling that cars of this brand can regenerate.
Opel Insignia side view
Of course, from the point of view of consumer qualities, Opel has always been interesting to customers. And no matter what evil tongues say, models of this brand have repeatedly become cars of the year in Europe. As for me, it is well deserved.
Interior and trunk
Interior Insignia – an abundance of smooth and neat lines, although the overall design does not Shine with modern solutions. And although from a pragmatic point of view, this is probably good, but the eye literally has nothing to catch on to. And the color scheme is kind of sad. The quality of the finish is not impressive, but, in truth, there is not much to criticize it for. On the other hand, few people in this class are impressive (except for the Mazda 6, where things are better with materials). The same salon should be described as “normal”, no more.
Opel Insignia salon
There are no complaints about the Assembly, but what is there is a sense of comfort (apparently, because of the high-placed torpedo). Temperature control is carried out on rotating knobs, and hard climate control buttons are duplicated on the Central display. The main thing is that there is not a single touch button, and for this I am deeply grateful.
Opel Insignia multimedia
The seats deserve special praise. These are not simple chairs: the “AGR” label indicates an increased level of ergonomics. They are extremely convenient, the range of settings is at a good level, and there is a very effective adjustment of the side support. The length of the pillow does not cause complaints, however, for tall drivers, the back may seem slightly short. But this does not affect the overall comfort of the chair. If the range of adjustments to the departure and height of the steering wheel were slightly larger, then here I would be able to get behind the wheel no worse than in the Volkswagen Passat. But for sure, drivers with a height of up to 190 cm in the interior of the Insignia will be comfortable.
Opel Insignia seats
Part of the dashboard is digital, with a huge on-Board computer screen (although in this case we would like to see the entire dashboard “in digital”). In the top-end configuration, the Central display of the multimedia system has a large diagonal (8 inches, as in our car), and the system itself is equipped with more functionality than the basic one (with a 7-inch display). More specifically, the system supports a variety of playback formats, there is standard navigation, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite the fairly wide functionality, everything is designed quite simply (not to compare with multimedia VAG). On the other hand, the system works without freezes and crashes. In short, this-a little outdated morally – “multimedia” is convenient and easy to use, and prettier than in Toyota, which is not bad.
Opel Insignia instrument panel
Of the useful little things, it is worth noting the wireless charging, which is conveniently located in the armrest. The charging area is rubberized, so the phone will not hang out or get scratched when moving. True, a” hidden ” smartphone can be easily forgotten, and Opel (unlike Audi) does not know how to remind you of a forgotten gadget, but the phone will not be visible.
Of the things that I did not like in the cabin, I would note the steering wheel levers. They are made somehow rough, and the efforts themselves are not fully verified. And in General, this tool looks flimsy.
But the trunk in the Insignia is really practical. First, the car is a liftback, so the trunk lid opens with glass, and the volume of 490 liters allows you to load almost anything here. Secondly, with the rear row folded, you can transport one or two bicycles in the Luggage compartment without any difficulties. This can’t be done in either Mazda or Toyota.
Opel Insignia trunk
And everything seems to be very good (high-quality finish, available space for dokatku), but in the trunk was not without nuances. The floor is not hard enough, and it is good to install some nets or fences in the side niches, otherwise things will fly apart. In short, you can’t do without an organizer. Still, in my opinion, the engineers for some reason complicated the process of opening the trunk: first, you click on the icon (as in VW), but the lid does not open completely, but only rises so that you have already opened it completely.
Opel Insignia rear row of seats
The rear row is one of the most spacious in the class thanks to the large wheelbase (2829 mm). Second-row passengers have access to heated seats, air vents, two USB charging ports, and a wide armrest.
Technique and dynamics
Currently, the Opel brand belongs to the PSA group (formerly called PSA Peugeot Citroen). In this regard, I was sure that our Insignia is built on the French platform and will be close in spirit and characteristics to the Peugeot 508. But it turned out that this is absolutely not the case, because the Insignia is the last Opel designed by the Germans as part of General Motors. This means that the platform is still from GM (with the index 2XX). Many “Americans” (Buick, Chevrolet, and even Cadillac) are produced on this modular “cart”.
Opel Insignia engine
Under the hood of the test car installed 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine produced by the same GM, and not the French, as many might assume. By the way, this power plant has been modified, and now there should be no problems with the oil pump (as in the previous version).
In General, two engines are offered for the Opel Insignia in our latitudes. A diesel engine, like ours, produces 170 HP and 400 Nm of torque (I must say that the torque indicator of this engine impressed me). An alternative to diesel is a 1.5-liter petrol engine with 165 HP and 250 Nm of torque.
Opel Insignia acceleration to 100
We didn’t break any special records in the acceleration to the “hundred” – everything is within the class. If you try to squeeze out the maximum result (hold the brake pedal, turn off the ESP and switch to manual mode), then the diesel Insignia accelerates to 100 km / h in 8.85 seconds. Which is even slightly faster than the passport 8.9 s. At the same time, the test car is “shod” in 18-inch wheels on winter tires. In real life – without these “tricks” – acceleration is approximately 9.4-9.5 seconds, which is also a good result. A full stop at 100 km / h took 3.19 seconds and just over 42 meters.
Opel Insignia wheels and tires
As for the gearbox, there were no “robots”: our version is equipped with a time-tested hydro-mechanical “automatic” Aisin eight-stage (TG-81SC). This is exactly the version that is suitable for the moment of 400 Nm. The same box is equipped with Toyota, Lexus, Volvo, BMW and even cargo VW Crafter. In Insignia, this “machine” works almost flawlessly. It may not be as fast-firing as modern “robots” with two clutches, but one thing is for sure: you don’t feel any shifts here, and the box always confidently selects the gear you need. Due to the sufficient engine torque, you always feel a serious margin under the pedal, and the “automatic” also knows about this, so you will not get accidental down switches. Although with a very sharp pressure on the accelerator pedal – for example, when you are driving in last gear-the “automatic” can drop as many as four steps. To tell the truth, such things are rarely seen now. If you compare the behavior of the car with competitors, then “cheerfully” go around the city on the Insignia is much easier than on the Mazda 6 or Toyota Camry. You always move by pressing the pedal a third (well, maybe half) motions. I like this behavior.
Opel Insignia automatic transmission selector
It is easy to feel the moment when the engine starts, both by vibrations and by noise. And in General, the sound insulation here is not of high quality. However, after a while you realize that its weak point is in the motor shield. On the move, the “presence” of the engine becomes much less. At speeds over 100 km/h, the situation in the cabin is far from ideal, but not at all critical. As a result, the diesel Opel Insignia in terms of noise insulation holds the average class bar. You can get used to it.
But I could not adapt to the Start/Stop system. When the brake pedal is released, there is a jerk. If here the engine started independently when the car in front starts (as on a VAG car), it would be better. In the case of the Insignia, after starting the engine, the car immediately pulls you forward, which is why you get a twitch. But if Start/Stop is disabled, the start process is really smooth.
Drive
I have already praised the engine and gearbox of our liftback and believe that their combination is one of the best in the class. The steering in the Insignia also deserves the most flattering ratings. Its settings are native “German”: with a well-defined “zero”, excellent feedback and predictable effort. If I closed my eyes (which, of course, I shouldn’t do on the road), I could – it feels like – confuse this system with a power steering system.
Opel Insignia behavior in the city
What I can’t praise the Insignia for is the suspension. Of course, it allows the car to stand well on a straight line and in turns, and at high speed there is a sense of control and safety. But mostly this was achieved solely because of its tightness. Unfortunately, in order for the car to “steer” well, we had to sacrifice comfort. If the engineers unclenched the suspension, then immediately there would be a buildup that would force you to go slower and more accurately.
Opel Insignia on the road
In General, everything is good, but tough. If we talk about comparison with competitors, the suspension is not as tenacious and comfortable as, for example, in the VW Passat. We can not say that the chassis is not energy-intensive: the suspension does not” break through ” even on serious bumps, it just works them out a little nervously and shakily. By the way, the clearance – by the standards of the class-is quite decent here: it is equal to 14 cm. It is possible that the situation with the softness of behavior will help to solve the installation of 17-inch wheels, which are equipped with the basic modification (we have, let me remind you, 18-diameter wheels).
Positioning and advantages
In my opinion, the Opel Insignia is a clear and vivid representative of the so-called “business class”. And I have no doubt that many people will want to contradict me. Like, Opel does not belong here, but the Toyota Camry is just what you need. But let’s see if this is really the case.
Opel Insignia ground clearance
The size of the Insignia is at least comparable to Toyota. Handling and behavior on the road in Opel is also on the level. Of course, the chassis is more rigid, but this is the specifics of the model. But in terms of configuration and options, the Insignia is equipped richer than the Camry, even in the “top” (at least in our country). As we have already found out, there is wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, heated all seats and front ventilation, as well as heated steering wheel.
And in General, the concept of “business class” is now quite vague, and almost anyone can be included here. It’s not about size and options. If we talk about our current car, it is clear that the Insignia can give a head start to many of its competitors, at least in terms of equipment.
Opel Insignia matrix optics
And here you need to point out another very important detail: even in the basic version, you will get an Insignia with matrix optics (and this can already be considered an exceptional situation). Each headlight has 16 LEDs installed, and this is in a car that starts at $ 26,000. Opel calls its optics one of the best in the class, and I can confirm these words. In normal mode, they Shine great. In addition, they perfectly illuminate not only everything in front of the car, but also what remains on the sides (the lighting angle is approximately 110 degrees). When cornering, the headlights illuminate the corresponding side more intensely. With the high beam on, the diodes “cut out” both oncoming cars and those who are moving in the same stream as you. As a result, I was pleasantly impressed with this optics, and it really is one of the best headlights in its class (if not the best).
Conclusions
Try to find another full-size d-class sedan with a consumption of just over 7 liters per 100 km in the city and about 5 liters on the highway. Unless the hybrid version of the Toyota Camry can demonstrate such fuel consumption, but there the price for the car differs significantly.
Test Insignia costs 35 thousand dollars. This is a lot, but given the configuration, the situation is natural. “Base” will cost the buyer 26.5 thousand rubles. In this car, there will be no leather trim, electric controls and adaptive cruise control. Also in the basic version, the display and functionality of the multimedia system will be smaller, and the list of active security systems will be more modest. In addition, all-round cameras are also available only in the top configuration (image quality, by the way, is average).
Opel Insignia rear view
On the other hand, the basic version already offers matrix headlights, normal cruise control, lane-keeping function, pedestrian recognition system, heated steering wheel and front seats, dual-zone climate control and Keyless on all doors. We can say that the basic model is equipped with almost everything you need (with the exception of just a few points).
Therefore, it turns out that the Opel Insignia is a very, very good car, and the only thing that should be treated with increased attention is the harsh suspension. On the other hand, suspension stiffness is a subjective issue, and only your own driving experience will help you understand whether the Insignia settings are right for you.
I think there should be more Opel Insignia on our roads. The car has an excellent design and a good set of consumer qualities that have always been appreciated by motorists. If I was looking for a car in this class, I would definitely look at the Opel.
