Opel Insignia Sport 2.0 Turbo Review: (in) Sign (ia) of the Times

What we like:

Superbly equipped

direct and precise steering

quality feel

rear end styling

engine's mid-range torque

What we dislike:

Expensive

could be faster off the line

badge not as prestigious as the Four Rings

Blue Propeller or the Three-pointed Star

looks nondescript from the front.

The Insignia not only offers a well-designed cabin but a spacious one as well. Rear passengers will appreciate the generously proportioned seats and the good amounts of leg and headroom as well as the air-con vents.

Up front, the driver gets electrical adjustments for the supportive and comfortable seat. The dashboard looks contemporary thanks to the big LCD screen displaying radio settings in the middle and the cowled instruments but the myriad of buttons on the centre console somehow looks cluttered at first. Thankfully though the buttons are laid out in a logical manner, making them intuitive to use. The instruments are backlit white in normal or Tour driving modes, select Sport though and they become orange - not a necessary feature but a nice touch nonetheless. The driving environment is rounded off by a smart looking three-spoke steering wheel.

Build quality is right up there with its German rivals thanks to the tactile switchgear and the soft touch materials.

While similarly priced German executive models come pretty bare and devoid of much kit, the Insignia comes kitted with luxuries that can only be found in bigger and moiré expensive models. This includes ventilated driver seat, an electronic parking brake, front and rear parking sensors, a head unit with DAB transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlamps with daytime running lights and so on.

Priced at almost within reach of the likes of base spec executive models from more prestigious marques, the Insignia doesn't make a very strong case for it self at first. Whatever it is, the Opel badge doesn't have the image or badge snobbery of the Four Rings, Blue Propeller or the Three pointed Star. Ignore the badge though; the Insignia is more than good enough to be a worthy rival to the likes of base A4, 3 Series and C-Class variants. The Opel is not only sumptuously equipped but drives and goes well too.

Opel has certainly signaled a fresh, new start with the Insignia. If the new Astra is any bit as good as the Insignia, it could well be a big threat to the Volkswagen Golf over here. For Britain's reps though, they'll not only have a more relaxing drive on the motorways but also more fun on the B-roads on the way to their meetings with the Insignia.

Credits: Story and Photos by Raymond Lai