Practical experience Opel Insignia – this is what owners think of their mid-sized car

The last generation Opel Insignia came on the market in 2017, to disappear from it in 2022. In the last year it was only available with diesel engines to reduce the CO2 emissions of the model range. A choice that probably contributed to the only 70 Insignias that Opel sold in our country that year. Of the 19 reviews that owners left on AutoWeek.nl, nine cars have a diesel engine under the hood, so that both fuels are almost equally well represented. Now think about that again.

Space Insignia Sports Tourer

Of the nineteen reviewers, fifteen opted for an Insignia Sports Tourer, the station wagon. Opel sold the less popular five-door liftback under the name Grand Sport. It will therefore come as no surprise to anyone that the space offered by the almost five meter long Insignia has been an important purchasing argument for many users. “What a wonderful car,” writes the owner of a Sports Tourer. “I remain enthusiastic about the comfort, the (huge) space and the possibilities for use. A trip to Ikea is fine if you need to transport some Pax cabinets. You can fold the rear seat down with a simple hand movement and slide it!”

A real pack mule, with enough space for passengers. “The most important thing for us is the space it contains. We have been on holiday by car a few times in recent years and that is so incredibly comfortable. The four of us are wonderfully spacious and there is more than enough space to take all kinds of luggage with us,” said a satisfied holidaymaker who concludes: “This makes traveling with this car very nice.”

Seating comfort AGR seats

There is also appreciation for the – optional – AGR-certified front seats, which have received a very positive assessment from several users. “Excellent AGR seats. You can sink deep behind the wheel. The headrests are excellent to adjust, excellent lumbar support. It’s nice that the seat angle can be adjusted properly (electrically!) It’s just a pity that the adjustment of the chair is done with a heavy-duty rotary knob. Just taking a nap takes time,” writes one of these users. Remarkably enough, the flag looks different about 50,000 kilometers later: “My son and I – both 1.97 meters tall – invariably get out of the car when we’ve driven for more than half an hour. How is that possible? No idea. We have already ‘occupied’ the front seats in at least 192 different positions and positions, but to no avail.”

Opel proactively pampers its drivers. This is how the driver of an Insignia Sports Tourer Business Executive describes: “When it is cold, the car automatically switches on the seat heating of the front seats (right only when someone is sitting). This is reduced with the heating of the interior.” Another example: “When you arrive at your destination, the seats automatically slide back, making it easier to get out and then get in.” This driver also greatly appreciates the available chair massage.

How does the Insignia drive?

The handling of the Opel Insignia does not get all hands together. The drivers are mostly positive, especially because of the agile feeling that the large car gives. Technically, things could be better, says a driver who previously gained experience with the old Insignia type. “The suspension is a bit stiff on short ledges, while it is very comfortable on long slopes. I think the dampers are stiffer than the springs. You notice that there is more movement in the car when cornering. As a result, I also find the old Insignia to be better and more enjoyable to steer.”

“The chassis and suspension are quite good,” reports the owner of a 110 hp Grand Sport diesel. “Going straight on the highway, the Opel is slightly less stable than the Volvo (V60 D6 Plug-in Hybrid, ed.), but the difference is small. In the corners, the Opel holds up well, provided you enter smoothly. A small correction is not absorbed without a shock. This is also noticeable with short irregularities in the road surface.” Tire noise is also too emphatic, according to this driver.

“You are obviously driving a big car, but it steers quite dynamically. Misses the last bit of refinement on poor road surfaces”, is the verdict of this user about his Insignia Grand Sport.

Maintenance, malfunctions and irritations

The Insignia has been running since 2017, so that owners of more experienced cars also share their findings. They do not report any major problems or reliability issues, but they do report a number of annoyances. For example, drivers regularly report creaks and rattles from door panels and dashboard, and a creaking driver’s seat also occurs.

In addition, the Insignia appears to have a sensitive chassis. “From day 1 I suffered from vibrations, especially at 115 – 135 km/h,” writes one driver. “I initially did not include this in the review, as I assumed it was a problem that would be remedied by balancing the wheels. Unfortunately this turns out not to be the case. In the meantime, both the dealer and two tire companies have made an unsuccessful attempt.” Another driver who experienced such vibrations was able to solve it with tires from a different brand.

Finally, two owners of a 170 hp 2.0 CDTi report premature clutch wear. In one instance it was already replaced after 44,000 kilometers, in another it lasted twice as long. “Unfortunately, this does not appear to be covered by warranty as this is a wear part”, according to this disappointed private owner. “I agree with that, but I’ve never had to replace a clutch even though I’ve driven several cars well over 200,000 km. Then 93,000 km is very fast.”

Are we going to miss the Insignia?

Presumably yes. Even though more and more people are opting for an SUV, the large Insignia offers more space for luggage and passengers. At the same time, the size, together with the price, also creates expectations about build quality and handling that the Insignia only partially lives up to. To conclude with a happy driver: “I am very satisfied with this Insignia and I am terribly sorry that this D-segmenter has also cleared the field. If I drive it to a total loss tomorrow, I can no longer order a new one.”