Vauxhall Insignia 2.8 V6 4x4 (2008) CAR review

So, what could possibly add the best part of £13,000 to the asking price of the automotive equivalent of bangers and mash?

Well, power is provided by a turbocharged V6 pilfered from Saab’s 9-3, developing 257bhp and 258lb ft of torque, swelling to 280lb ft on overboost. A six-speed automatic box is fitted as standard, with no manual option coming to the UK. Four-wheel drive is also standard, once again courtesy of Saab, in the form of an adaptive system which combines a Haldex clutch with a 'torque vectoring' differential to divert torque both fore and aft, and side to side.

Then there’s FlexRide, a 'mechatronic'’ chassis control system with Standard, Tour and Sport settings, an electronic limited slip differential, adaptive headlamps offering no less than nine different beam characteristics, and a camera which can read speed limit signs and operate a lane departure system.

So what works, and what doesn’t?

The powerplant is something of a gem. It’s as smooth as the left buttock of an Hawaiian tropic gurl at a Le Mans pit-lane walkabout and delivers plenty of oomph with a 7.1 second 0-62mph time and a top speed limited to 155mph. Indeed, the only disappointment is that it isn’t quite as vocal as you’d like when pressed.

FlexRide is much like any other adaptive chassis control system. In other words, you’ll find yourself endlessly prodding the button to try and assess the relatively small differences in dynamic qualities each setting offers, before realizing that the Standard setting is constantly adjusting parameters on your behalf anyway, thus obviating any need for a three-setting system in the first place. Unless, that is, you’re especially thrilled to see the instrument binnacle back-lighting change from white to red when you stab the Sport option.

Those fancy headlamps are certainly effective too. But, as previously mentioned in the context of over 80% of all accidents being caused by poor visibility, I wish someone would put this much effort in to redesigning the windscreen wiper.

And as for the camera which reads speed limit signs… A carefully constructed test demonstrated that the thing works very well. But so do my eyes, which somehow managed to pick up every sign a good hundred yards before the nanny lens.

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