Country Tourer - a popular choice

21/08/2019 @ 11:26

Test Drive by Graham Breeze

Eagle-eyed motorists may well have noticed an increase in the number of Vauxhall Insignias on the roads of Mid Wales – particularly the 4X4 Country Tourer.

That’s because more and more drivers are becoming aware of the advantages of this impressive Vauxhall and its undoubted suitability to the Welsh landscape - thanks to an intelligent all-wheel drive system and torque vectoring.

All-new architecture has made the car more lightweight and spacious than ever before and when you add 20mm of extra ground clearance to the equation you soon see the benefits.

Looks are an important factor these days and the Insignia Country Tourer really looks the part, sporting all-round black protective cladding with silver front and rear skid plates to give a tough and rugged off-road appearance.

The Insignia Country Tourer is best described as offering a great blend of comfort, safety, space and style at a reasonable price, combined with overall ability and 4WD security.

Since its launch, the new Insignia has proven extremely popular among both fleet and family buyers, featuring cutting-edge equipment, great connectivity and elegant styling.

Sporting elegant lines, class-leading aerodynamics and a large coupé design inspired by the 2013 Monza Concept, the Insignia is up to 175kg lighter than its predecessor. Engines range from 110PS to 210PS. The Insignia is available in a range of variants: Insignia Grand Spot, Sports Tourer and Country Tourer, as well as the performance-tuned GSi.

The Insignia features state-of-the-art equipment, including the IntelliLink infotainment system, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone connectivity.

Adding to the premium feel within the cabin, the Insignia is available with a Bose sound system that delivers top-quality audio for an immersive listening experience.

Next-generation IntelliLux LED Matrix lighting is available, delivering performance without dazzling oncoming drivers. The Insignia sports a full five-star Europe NCAP crash safety score, owing in part to the latest safety technology such as Lane Keep Assist and Automatic Emergency Braking.

In fact the list of equipment on the 2.0 (210PS) BiTurbo D 4X4 auto Blue Injection model we tested was endless and included leather steering wheel, 16-way adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats, 18inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers and dark tinted rear windows in the £30,080 price tag.

Options fitted included a driving assistance pack, leather front seats, the LED headlight system, 8inch colour display, Heads-Up Display, power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, toeing pack, VXR interior pack, Winter pack and improved paintwork. That pushed the price up to £37,330.

There may be dark clouds looming over Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant with so much Brexit uncertainty but there will be no shortage of demand for this impressive performer. Expect to see even more on the roads of Wales.

Facts at a glance

Engine 2.0 (210PS) BiTurbo D

Capacity 1956cc

Max Power 210PS @ 4000rpm

Max Torque 480Nm @ 1500rpm

Max Speed 142mph

0-60mph 7.7 seconds

Fuel Tank Capacity 62 litres

Luggage capacity (rear seat up): 560 litres

Insurance group: 24E

Annual VED: £1240.00 FY £140.00 SR

Fuel Economy