Who’s ready for a new and exciting range of medium size cars for work and play? A Sports Touring Wagon and a 4-door Sedan provide Opel with the right weaponry to take on the wide range of cars available in this particular market segment. Opel Insignia has this assignment.

The new Opel Insignia range is highly desirable, and with a long swooping, curved roofline it’s a beautiful picture to behold. Style is evident from every angle you care to look at the Insignia’s appealing bodywork. And with a nice clean set of 17-inch alloys as standard (18 and 19-inch alloys optional), extensive use of chrome on the window surrounds and exhaust tips, Bi Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps and a Sharkfin Antenna, the Sports Tourer and Sedan are all set up for capturing attention.

One of the delights about driving the new Opel Insignia is that both the Insignia Sports Tourer Wagon and the Insignia Sedan love the open road. With a comfortable ride and impeccable handling the Opel Insignia provides its occupants a magical experience for any long journeys between States. For an even sportier ride, the Opel Insignia Select models come with a lowered chassis for enhanced sporty handling. The standard Multi-link rear suspension and McPherson strut front suspension ride the roads with confidence, and offer the driver a nice stable impression.

Opel Insignia brings a five-star Euro NCAP crash test result to Australia. This sets it in the leading bracket of safe medium-to-large cars on the road. With all the latest safety features like dual front airbags, dual front side airbags, dual curtain airbags, ESC, TC, ABS, active head restraints and a pedal release system, all Opel Insignia models are well and truly loaded.

At 4830 mm for the Insignia Sedan and 4908 mm for the Insignia Wagon, the car matches up nicely against say the Honda Accord Sedan (4740 mm) and BMW 5 Series Sedan (4899 mm). On the inside the lengthiness equates to good space for seating and a commendable amount of luggage space (500 litres) with the seats up.

Opel Insignia versions provide comfort seats which provide a good blend of suppleness and support. Insignia Select models equip their versions out with Siena leather appointed seats and trim. Both equipment levels offer the Insignia with a front centre armrest, LED ambient lighting, electric windows, front and rear reading lights, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning and a front accessory power outlet.

I’m sure you’ll want to drive the new Opel Insignia. so, as the driver, you’ll like the nice feel of the leather covered steering wheel and its audio controls, cruise control, and Front and Rear Park Assist function. Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity with voice control is standard in Insignia and Insignia Select models. Select means a few additional extras like satellite navigation, automatic headlamps and sports alloy pedals.

So how does an Opel Insignia go? Under the bonnet you have a choice. Both engines are two litres and turbo powered, but one dines on petrol and the other sups diesel. Let’s look at the petrol version first.

With plenty of pulling power, the VVT Turbo Petrol is incredibly decent to drive. Between 2000 and 4000 rpm the maximum of 350 Nm of torque is available. A peak of 162 kW is found at a graciously low 5300 rpm. This lack of engine strain equates to smooth, powerful performance and excellent economy. A run out on country roads returns 6.3 litres/100 km. Acceleration for the 0-100 km/h sprint is a slick 7.8 seconds for the Insignia Sedan and 8.1 seconds for the Insignia Sports Tourer.

Turbo Diesel power is not going to be overshadowed by the petrol alternative. The 2.0L CDTi Turbo Diesel is equally as aggressive with its torque, 350 Nm is available between 1750 and 2500 rpm. 118 kW peaks at 4000 rpm to make this a swift and stress-free drive. Economy is obviously going to be a diesel strong point, and with a combined fuel economy figure of 5.7 litres/100 km we can’t argue.

All models run the engine muscle through a slick six-speed automatic transmission. Unbraked trailers can be towed up to 750 kg, while up to 1700 kg and 1800 kg can be towed using the Sedan or Wagon versions, respectively.

With such a successful and interesting history, it is such a pleasure to have Opel cars available in Australia.

The current Opel Insignia models include the:

• Insignia Sedan
• Insignia Select Sedan
• Insignia Sports Tourer
• Insignia Select Sports Tourer

For any more information on the new Opel Insignia or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Opel dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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