The Insignia is Vauxhall’s new contender in the family car sector, replacing the lacklustre Vectra and going head to head with the likes of Ford’s Mondeo, Honda’s Accord and Citroen’s C5. Importantly though, this time round the Griffin badged manufacturer has decided to produce quality product that is more than capable of mixing its vehicles from premium manufacturers such as Audi.

From the outside, GM Europe have produced a well proportioned car using their new “blade design” language. Available currently in two body shapes, a saloon and a hatchback, both cars have a classy appearance, helped undoubtedly by strategically placed chrome strips and distinctive crease lines. An estate sharing the same design cues is also on its way soon to join the rest of the range, adding an extra dose of versatility.

Models start with the base, but hardly basic, Exclusiv trim level at £15600 in 1.8 petrol form and rise to £28280 for the all singing 2.8 V6 Turbo 4x4 Elite. Also due soon is Vauxhall’s performance version, the Insignia VXR which is promising to be an impressive piece of kit, if its VXR siblings are anything to go by.

The model I tested however was a mid range 2.0 CDTi 160 SE automatic five door hatchback. Priced at £21619 and putting out 158bhp, this is expected to be the best seller of the range, in manual form at least. The test car came sat on a set of optional 19” wheels which enhanced the look of the car, nicely filling the arches, although they did have an effect on ride comfort, a point I will come back to later.

Stepping in to the car will be a revelation for current Vectra owners. Gone is the bland slabby facia design, replaced by a swooping dash structure which wraps neatly on to the door panels. Add in to this the wood effect trim and the dials that look more like a fine watch rather than a car’s instruments and the overall effect is similar to that of the outside, one of class. Certainly, if the badge was covered on the leather trimmed steering wheel you would not necessarily guess this was a Vauxhall product.

The supportive seats are trimmed in a combination of cloth and in keeping with some of the other premium manufacturers, “man made leather” material. On initial inspection the effect is quite convincing although the longer you spend in the car, the less leather like it looks. That said, it is of a similar quality to equivalent materials used by Mercedes, and the placement of the material on the bolsters mean the seats will not look tatty after 100,000 miles, unlike a conventional all fabric trimmed seat. Getting comfortable is easy with multi directional seat adjustment, lumbar support, and a fully adjustable steering wheel.

Despite the external size of the car, the rear passenger compartment is not overly spacious, although it can easily accommodate six foot adults. Some of the perception of snugness can be attributed to the high window line and small rear screen of this car. The letterbox style rearward vision and thick C pillars also cause problems when reversing. Frustratingly, reversing sensors are not fitted as standard to this model and it is an option that is definitely worth considering. Moving to the boot, this is certainly not a car that is left wanting with regards to luggage space, with an impressive 520 litres with the rear seats in position. That said the boot floor is not flat and the rear lip is quite high.

The centre console switches are all logically laid out and clearly display their functions. Slightly frustratingly though, there are buttons marked phone on both the dash and the steering wheel, despite the fact the car was not fitted with the relevant bluetooth equipment. Also on the steering wheel are the buttons for the cruise control and stereo, not unique but a useful safety feature none the less. In the centre of the instrument panel is a large information screen displaying the trip computer readout, which is operated by the left hand stalk. Rounding off the various switches and buttons, this model and those above it are fitted with an electronic hand brake. Operated by pulling up or pushing down on the button, an audible electro mechanical whirring can be heard, a reassuring confirmation that the brake has been activated.

Moving off, despite the test car only having seven hundred miles on the clock, the Insignia felt punchy and quick, undoubtedly aided by the smooth shifting six speed auto gear box. Should the driver get bored, the box also features a stick operated manual shift function, which whilst not as good as the DSG style boxes offered by other manufacturers, is quick shifting and responsive. Whilst not a truly rapid car, the two litre engine is certainly quick enough to be satisfying with a 0-60 time of 9.1 seconds, and at no point during the test did the car ever feel like it needed more power. What are more impressive though, are the fuel consumption and emission figures, Vauxhall quoting 48.7mpg on a combined test and 154g/km, a good result for a car of this size and weight.

What is also exceptional for a car of this stature is its handling. The previous Vectra gained a reputation for being stodgy and boring, something the GM engineers wanted to eradicate for the Insignia. Bench marking competitor cars such as the Audi A4 and Ford’s Mondeo they have certainly been successful in creating a pleasing balance between handling and ride. Throw the Insignia in to a corner and you are greeted by accurate if not somewhat numb steering, however the front wheels do steer the car exactly where you want them, with no fuss and very little understeer even at the limit. Body control is kept tightly in check and when pushing on passengers are not exposed to uncomfortable sideways motions. It even has a degree of driver involvement that closely apes, if not quite matches the class leading Mondeo. Certainly from an enthusiast’s point of view this car is now a satisfying drive.

Coming back to a point I made earlier, optional 19” wheels with 40 profile tyres were fitted to the test car. Whilst they probably helped the overall grip and handling, they certainly affected the ride quality, giving it a slightly lumpen feel. Despite that, it was never crashy or uncomfortable and rode with a degree of sophistication that a lot of its competitors lack. It should be noted though, if you are looking for a more relaxing ride, stick to the standard wheels which will cosset the posterior more effectively, without really affecting the way it corners.

On the road the car is generally well insulated for noise, especially at motorway cruising speeds, where incidentally it feels slower than it actually is. However during round town and A road work, cabin noise levels are higher than expected considering the rest of the cars relaxed nature. Again this may be another side effect of optional wheels, but I am not the first tester to have noticed this trait. It is not that significant, it just takes the edge off the overall polish of the car. Brakes too are good, feeling strong and fade free, if not a little difficult to modulate.

Overall, Vauxhall have succeeded in creating a car that is leagues ahead of the Vectra and is capable of challenging for overall class leadership. Indeed, it is also good enough to claim the scalps of some of its premium rivals, notably cars like the Audi A4, where it is a better all round package. That said from an enthusiast’s point of view it narrowly misses beating the Mondeo for overall driver enjoyment, and arguably class leadership. When it comes down to it though, for the majority of its customers this will not matter and the slightly more elegant design will sway their decision. What ever way this car will definitely find lots of fans.