Opel Insignia 2011 Review - International

Opel Insignia

Over the decades General Motors typically hasn't had much success with mid-size cars in Europe, North America or Asia. Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have dominated the market segment in the US and Asia, while the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo have triumphed in Europe.

The European-sourced Opel Vectra – sold here as a Holden between 1997 and 2005 (and built here between August 1998 and November 2000 alongside the Commodore) failed to make the same positive impact as European-sourced small cars. Indeed, talk to any owner of the original, troubled Vectra sold in Australia and you'll feel like making a sizeable donation to their bank account to ease some of the emotional pain and financial suffering.

The reputation of the Vectra was so bad even in its homeland that Opel changed the name of the car when the new model arrived in 2008. It's now called the Insignia and, as they say in the car game, it's a clean-sheet design.

With the Insignia, however, Opel has finally turned the corner. In fact, the car has taking out numerous awards in Europe and North America (where it's sold as a high-end Buick). It's also selling better than before – and at a higher profit margin.

With that sort of spring in its step, it's no wonder the Insignia will make the initial Australian line-up when Opel hangs its shingle in Australia from October next year.

The car itself is a few millimetres taller, wider and longer than a Volkswagen Passat – and has a slightly longer wheelbase to create more occupant space.

In Europe there are six petrol engines from which to choose, ranging from a 1.6 non-turbo (!) to an Australian-made 2.8 V6 turbo unit used in the high performance OPC Insignia. There are also five turbodiesel engines – all of the same capacity but with a range of power outputs and economy levels.

Australia is likely to get the 2.0-litre turbo petrol (162kW/350Nm) and the most powerful of the diesel options (118kW/350Nm). Although a six-speed manual is standard in Europe, both engines will come only with six-speed automatic transmissions in Australia.

As with the other Opels sampled on a mix of German roads in days after September's Frankfurt Motor Show, the Insignia impresses with its technology (lane-keeping, radar cruise control and speed-sign recognition -- the last not coming it to Australia), its refinement and its secure on-road feel.

It steers well, has ample grip and a luxury feel of which the Vectra could only dream.

The 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine impressed the most, with effortless performance and way more urge than its capacity suggests. For me, it was the highlight of the car.

The diesel was competent, but as with the same engine in the Astra, it's a touch noisy and not as smooth as the petrol. At least power delay was minimal (again with a qualifier: for a diesel).

Perception of quality was good. Although much of the switchgear and components in the Insignia are shared with the Astra, the larger car seems to have a more upmarket feel.

Alas, however, it's difficult to deliver any kind of verdict without knowing the price.

We suspect Opel will price the Insignia somewhere between the Honda Accord Euro and Volkswagen Passat in Australia –  so low $30,000s starting price – but in reality it needs to be at the sharper end of these two formidable competitors. Otherwise the Insignia will merely end up rounding out its life in Australia on Opel's company car fleet.

And there's just one more thing: the Insignia shares its underpinnings with the upcoming Holden Malibu (the Epica replacement), a Korean-made car that will almost certainly undercut the price of its European cousin.

Although the two cars will look vastly different (Opel claims there will be no customer 'cross-over' from the Holden version) the reality is they are the same vehicles in different skin.

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