The Delivery Magazine Reviews The Vauxhall Insignia

The Insignia represents a transformation from Vauxhall's previous large family car, the Vectra. It is a far more stylish looking car in all its guises, but the estate version, called Sports Tourer, is perhaps the most handsome. Quality levels match the best available and the Insignia feels more upmarket than the car it replaced. Most Insignias will use one of the diesel engines offered - a 2.0 CDTi available in either 130bhp or 160bhp outputs. The performance is competitive and the 130bhp version will sprint from 0-60mph in less than 11 seconds, while the 160bhp engine takes 9.3 seconds. Standard transmissions for these engines are six-speed manuals, but they are also available with a six-speed automatic. The entry-level engine is a 1.8-litre petrol engine boasting 140bhp and it's quite a lively engine with almost as much power as many other 2.0-litre engines. New to the Insignia, range with the Sports Tourer is a 180bhp 1.6-litre turbo. It offers extra performance over the standard 1.8-litre engine. Above it in the range sits, a 2.0-litre turbo with 220bhp and at the top is a 260bhp 2.8-litre V6. The top of the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer range is the Elite, which comes with the choice of charcoal or beige leather-clad seats, which are an option on the SRi, and very comfortable. The hide adds a touch of class to an already superior feeling cockpit. The nicely curved fascia seems to wrap around the front occupants and at this level, the wood-effect trim shows off the soft-touch materials and the chrome highlights to best effect. The centre console tapers out from the central tunnel where the rotary control panel is situated alongside the gearshift and broadens to accommodate the main control panel, which features an array of large, businesslike buttons. Above this is the navigation and information screen flanked by the central air vents. The steering column is adjustable for rake and reach and just behind it, the instrument dials are shrouded by chrome binnacles, adding to the smart appearance. The driver's seat is electronically adjustable and the parking brake was electronic, too. The Elite level also includes dual-zone climate control, Intelligent Adaptive Forward Lighting, front fog lights, powered folding door mirrors, front, and rear parking sensors. When it comes to drivability, the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is one of the best in its class and that, together with the interior ambience and space, is what makes it a winner with discerning drivers.

Fun and Flexible

It’s a dilemma faced by thousands of car buyers they want the style and practicality of a 4x4, but feel unable to justify the compromised dynamics, economy and performance of a big off-roader. Now Vauxhall can offer a car which fulfils all their needs the stylish Antara, both inside and out are matched by a quality feel which will mean that owners of larger 4x4s will be able to downsize to an Antara without feeling short changed. The Antara is a five-seat compact 4x4 it's comfortable, easy to drive around town, cruises’ well on motorways and is generously well equipped.

There are two engines available - a 2.4 litre 140PS petrol engine and a 2.0-litre 150PS CDTi diesel, Vauxhall expects the turbo-diesel to be the top seller, taking more than 90 percent of sales. With 150bhp, the 2.0-litre CDTi has a useful amount of power; it gets from 0-60mph in 11.1 seconds and onto a top speed of 111mph. There's a choice of a five-speed manual and automatic gearboxes on the diesel. Antara has an 'on demand' four-wheel drive system, which means that there's no need to worry about low ratios and engaging a separate gearbox when the going gets rough - Antara does all the thinking and provides power to the wheels that aren't slipping. There's even a hill descent control system that aids the driver when going downhill off-road.

The driver’s environment is very businesslike with chunky, no-nonsense, steering-wheel with chrome highlights, in front of easily-read instruments. The gunmetal-effect, centre console is topped by a small, recessed information screen but is dominated by three, large central, air vents, there’s plenty of space for five adults to enjoy their journey in comfortable seats. There’s plenty of storage, too, in the various nooks and crannies, under the front passenger seat and the useful bins in the cargo area. With all of the seats in place there are 370-litres of luggage space, if you take advantage of the 60:40 split and fold the seats, this increases to 865-litres. A neat option is a pull-out bike rack from the rear bumper, which means that there's no need to fit a cumbersome aftermarket bike rack to the rear. Vauxhall’s re-entry into the 4x4, SUV market is bound to be a crowd-pleaser and not just with those loyal to the company. Even with so many newcomers to the segment, the Antara might just have the edge in looks alone, but then, it depends on your needs and wish-list.

Daddy’s got a brand new car

There is nothing quite like the Zafira VXR on the market a car that offers performance and driving dynamics combined with the family friendly flexibility of a seven seat MPV. It uses the same 240bhp turbocharged engine as the Astra VXR, and corners flat - or at least flatter than any MPV deserves to and will sprint from 0-60mph in just 7.2 seconds with a top speed of 144mph the Zafira VXR is the fastest MPV on sale in the UK.

There are quite a few styling tweaks to differentiate the VXR from its humbler brethren. Big brakes with distinctive blue callipers help reign in the cars power. As well as the VXR honeycomb grille, there’s a bigger front bumper with central air intake and integrated fog lights. Side sills and a modified rear bumper assembly are also fitted and twin exhaust pipes will give the overtaken a clue that this isn’t the usual people carrier. There’s a tailgate spoiler and big 18-inch alloy wheels. Nineteen-inch rims are also offered if you want to make the rest of the school runners jealous.

The interior has been boosted to the tune of Recaro sports front seats while the fabric on the instrument and door panels is coordinated with the seating. VXR logos adorn the gear lever and sports steering wheel while options include electronic climate control, front and rear parking sensors and a Bluetooth-compatible mobile kit.

Apart from the cosmetic VXR changes the driving position is pretty much standard Zafira, which means an excellent car-like driving position, reach and height adjustable steering wheel, gearstick sited conveniently on the dashboard and good overall visibility. The ratios of the six-speed manual gearbox are quite well judged, which means you get meaningful response just about anywhere in the speed range. Overtaking is laughably easy. The only problem is that other road users are sometimes taken by surprise at the Zafira's ridiculous fast pace. All Zafira VXRs come with electronic controls that look after damper settings, electronic stability programmes and braking systems in a way that allows fast, stable progress.

This sporty environment might not be what you’d expect from an MPV, but it doesn’t mean Zafira VXR loses any of its versatility. The current model is six inches longer, 1.5 inches wider and a shade taller than the outgoing model, and retains the seven-seat configuration. Now go take one for a test drive you wont be disappointed.

Vauxhall Meriva

The Meriva range has recently had a makeover and now sports a new face with a more prominent front grille and re-styled bumpers. At the rear, the Meriva gains dark rear lamp lenses and classy chrome strip across the tailgate. New paint schemes and wheels combine with a revised cabin, featuring extra chrome detailing and fresh fabrics, to complete the stylish new look. The Vauxhall Meriva has evolved from the same stable that revolutionised the MPV market with its 7-seater Zafira so it carries a fine pedigree and it makes a good impression.
Behind the wheel, there is a functional look to the dash with clear instruments and well-placed controls with some functions located on the steering wheel for extra convenience. The elevated seating position gives a good view of the road and is comfortable to drive with a smooth ride, the steering is precise and it feels accomplished on the motorway as well as around town and on A and B roads. The news is as good for those in the back as in the front, with plenty of space. The seating arrangement offers good versatility as all three-rear seats can be moved independently of each other to increase boot capacity and when needed they fold flat into the floor giving a very large load area. The front passenger seat can be folded onto itself for extra load carrying (not on the VXR).
The Meriva is available with a choice of three petrol engines and two diesel engines. The petrol line up includes a 1.4i 16v Twinport unit the powerful 1.8i 16v and a new addition in the form of the 1.6-litre 105PS Twinport engine used in Astra and Zafira. With 5PS more than the outgoing Meriva 1.6, the newcomer is livelier yet more economical; having a top speed of 112mph. Joining the existing 1.7CDTi 16v unit for the first time, is the high-tech 1.3CDTi diesel, as used in Corsa and Tigra, delivering a lively top speed of 98mph. The award-winning 75PS unit features common-rail injection and four-valves per cylinder to ensure excellent economy and smooth responses. For those wanting the ultimate in performance there's a VXR with an 180PS turbocharged 1.6-litre engine and distinctive styling. This family runabout can hit 60mph in under eight seconds and do almost 140mph.Vauxhall has vastly improved the over all look and quality of its interiors in recent years and Meriva is just one of the beneficiaries. The Vauxhall Meriva certainly offers good adaptability for everyday use.

Vectra 3.0CDTi SRi

The Vectra's audience hasn't changed but the car has; it's more attractive, nicer to drive and the cabin boasts an upmarket feel. You will appreciate exactly how important this is if you rack up the miles in the course of your work. Driving ability aside, the Vectra is also good value for money thanks to its generous equipment levels and - depending on the engine variant - economical to run. All of which will be of paramount importance to anyone charged with running a company car fleet. With a completely new face and other new design details inside and out, the new Vectra 3.0 CDTi SRi estate is very slick and dynamic looking with 0-60 in just 8.7 seconds. The most distinctive feature of the new model is the newly designed front end – a further development of Vauxhall’s dynamic design. Further distinctive characteristics are the newly formed bumper and three-dimensional headlamps, which stretch into the bonnet. With their cylindrical, chrome-coloured lamp units behind clear glass, the headlamps are the eye-catching highlight of the front of the Vectra . Other distinctive features are sharper tapering of the front bumper, and the prominent grille. Designed as a stand-alone component, the distinctive Vauxhall ‘V’ is the dominant feature of the grille. The black lattice structure of the centre and lower air-intakes, as well as the large side air-intakes with integrated fog lamps, emphasize the dynamic appearance of the front end.
The interior of the new Vectra is well defined by a look of high quality. A superior finish is apparent not only in the materials used, but also in details such as the attractive leather-look grain in the top section of the instrument panel that flows into the door trim. The cockpit makes a lighter, more modern impression, thanks to the new contours of the instrument panel, the rounded corners of air vents and the chrome-edged controls. The car's generously proportioned and supportive front seats come with plenty of adjustment, and all-round head and elbowroom is good. All models have new three-spoke steering wheels that are designed to offer more comfort from the driving seat. The car's steering is more communicative, while the high power diesel engine, combined with slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox adds an extra, and welcome, layer of performance while road and engine noise has been kept to pleasing minimum. The detail changes are welcome and bring Vectra right back on a par with the latest competition.

An i for detail

The new Astra's design is both bold and modern and incorporates the unmistakable Vauxhall V-shape corporate nose and styling characteristics that include the elegant crease line that runs from the radiator grille into the cabin and on down the rear of the car. The Vauxhall Astra Sri 1.9 CDTi is powered by a 1.9 turbocharged diesel engine, which produces 150bhp at 4000 rpm enabling it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds and continue to a top speed of 129 mph. The new Astra is excellent to drive around town and it is equally at home on the Motorway and dual carriageway where it cruises effortlessly. The 1.9 litre turbocharged engine offers more than adequate power through all the gears and as you would expect of Vauxhall it is quiet and refined. The new standard six-speed manual gearbox is superb, offering precise and fluid gear changes whilst sixth gear allows easy Motorway cruising and better fuel economy.
The interior styling of the Vauxhall Astra SRi is modern, stylish, functional and uncluttered with chunky and tactile switchgear. The charcoal plastic interior is of a good quality and is enhanced with a metallic/carbon fibre effect trim and aluminium pedals for added sports appearance. The leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob are tactile and the speedometer, rev counter and fuel indicator are backlit and have matt chrome rings. In addition, and standard on the Sri, at the press of a button (Sport Switch), a sport mode can be selected that varies the shock absorber settings as well as sharpening steering and throttle response, increasing the driver excitement further. Air-conditioning with rear passenger compartment heating ducts is standard as is a pollen filter, which prevents dirt, dust and pollen from entering the cabin. With the new Astra Sri, Vauxhall have developed a very capable car, which exceeded our expectations and felt good to drive.

Load ‘IN’ Go with the new Vauxhall Zafira

The new Vauxhall Zafira’s elegant and dynamic looks are accentuated by eye-catching details such as large air inlets in the front bumper, visibly hi-tech, three-dimensional headlamps and taillights. The stylish new Zafira features dynamic design and driving performance as well as a larger, high-quality interior. Thanks to its long wheelbase (2703mm/106.4in) and clever packaging, up to seven passengers have even more room in all three rows. The Flex7 seating system ensures maximum versatility for all transport needs whether it is for carrying passengers or parcels. In a matter of seconds, the Zafira can easily be turned from a seven to a six, five, four, three or two-seater, without having to remove or stow away the seats. In the driver-oriented cockpit, the gearshift lever is positioned higher for easy, comfortable operation, making space for a U-shaped aircraft style hand brake lever integrated in the centre console, and an additional storage compartment. The optional panorama roof system, with integrated storage compartments, makes its debut with the new Zafira, creating a pleasing, light atmosphere for driver and passengers. The centre roof console running the length of the ceiling has five different-sized storage compartments. In terms of comfort and space, the new Zafira is a step ahead of the first generation model. . Familiar from the Astra and redeveloped for new Zafira, the IDSPlus chassis (Interactive Driving System) with electronic CDC (Continuous Damping Control) ensures exciting driving. Adaptive forward lighting (AFL) is available for the first time in an MPV. There are two diesel and four petrol engines from the ECOTEC family with power outputs of 100 to 200hp.The top-of-the-line engine is the 200hp 2.0 turbo, taking the Zafira to a maximum speed of around 137mph. Vauxhall’s new 1.9-litre common-rail turbo-diesel engine joins the line-up.