| Week at the wheel | Vauxhall Insignia CDTi |

Inside & Out:

Few would argue that the Insignia's coupé-like exterior styling is anything less than aesthetic, but the cabin isn't as good as Vauxhall thinks it is. It's not bad, but the premium pretence that Vauxhall perpetuates about its new three-boxer gets a reality check the second you run your finger along the centre console. The plastics used in the Insignia are, largely, about the standard you'd find in a half-decent hatchback.

They are put together with aplomb though, and considering the amount of buttons thrown onto the dash it's amazing it has any coherence at all, let alone looks so neat and attractive. That said, the button cluster around the satnav screen creaks like an old shed door whenever the chassis moves left or right - the same issue we had with the Insignia ST we tried recently.

The Insignia's main strength is its driving position, which is genuinely sporty and shrinks the cockpit around you because the controls are so well placed, the seat is set low and the gear lever relatively high. We like that, and we also like the amount of rear leg and boot space the cabin offers. Back seat passengers will not like the lack of headroom though.

Engine & Transmission:

The 128bhp CDTi diesel would appear at first to be the sales rep's choice because it's the lowest powered oil burner in the range. However, it spits out exactly the same amount of CO₂ as the 158bhp version of the same 2.0-litre capacity and is, it follows, no more economical - yet it's tangibly slower because it has less torque and power. So, you're probably better off spending the extra £500 for the faster one, even before you know what this one is like...

Not bad, is the answer. It can feel a little sluggish at the traffic light grand prix, but it has enough torque to make it a relaxed and refined cruiser on the motorway, with enough overtaking oomph from low revs in sixth gear to avoid swapping cogs all the time. Any rattling din it may emit is kept well out of the cabin too, as are vibrations. It's adequate rather than brisk, but at no stage does the engine feel overwhelmed by the bulk of the car.

Ride & Handling:

Although the Insignia falls short of the standards set by its arch nemesis from Ford, the ride and handling balance of the Vauxhall is laudable. Like the Mondeo, the Insignia manages to be at once supple and resistant to body roll, so it takes corners with assurance and isn't too flustered by the pothole infested roads we suffer here. There's a sharpness to the steering that gives an impression of sportiness and cornering alacrity, although it's too light and lacking in feel to be considered among the best steering racks.

In contrast to the 1.6-litre turbo petrol Insignia, this diesel version feels in no way overwhelmed by the engine's torque - despite having to deal with a good chunk more of it. Thankfully, it also has every bit of the chuck-able nature we enjoyed so much in the estate; it's surprisingly difficult to coax the Insignia into understeer for a front-wheel drive saloon.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

As we've mentioned before, Vauxhall has a slightly unusual and complicated approach to its model range and the specifications thereof. Our saloon test car here came in higher SE spec, which thankfully does have a button for the back windows, but it's priced quite high - over £22k. If you really don't need the extra space in the cabin and the big boot, that kind of outlay will buy you serious hatchback. Something to think about.

But it is well specced (if not mind-blowing), with satnav included in that price (and a good, easy to operate system at that), electric seat adjustment, cruise control, controls for the wheel and rain sensitive wipers.

Economy is decent too, if not class leading. CO₂ emissions are 154g/km, which will sting you with a £150 annual VED charge and is some way higher than, say, the significantly more powerful BMW 320d. Economy of 48.7mpg combined is similarly reasonable, if not amazing.

Overall:

Vauxhall's Insignia might be leaps and bounds better than the outgoing Vectra, but it still can't beat the Ford Mondeo and it's nowhere near being a genuine premium contender. There's fun to be had behind the wheel and its ride comfort is particularly impressive, but the cabin quality is suspect in places, the performance of the 128bhp diesel only adequate and the price too high. We like it, but it's not the paradigm shift for rep-mobiles we hoped it would be.