The first-generation Opel Insignia (Insignia A) marked a major turning point for the brand with the lightning bolt emblem, replacing the aging Vectra. Voted « Car of the Year 2009 », it appealed with its stately design, highway comfort, and onboard technologies (AFL+ headlights, FlexRide suspension). However, its very high weight (often over 1.6 tons unladen) penalizes dynamism, fuel consumption, and wear of consumables. A significant facelift (Phase 2) occurred in late 2013, bringing a redesign of the center console (removing the myriad of buttons), a new infotainment system, and updated engines. Although this report focuses on diesel engines (which are largely predominant in Europe), the Insignia was a global car, sold under the Vauxhall (United Kingdom), Buick (North America, China), an
The Opel Insignia A is an excellent, comfortable, and stately road car, but it hides serious reliability flaws in its best-selling engines. The 2.0 CDTI (110 to 163 hp) is a real lottery due to its oil pump seal: buy only if this seal has been recently replaced preventively. The 1.6 CDTI suffers from its fragile timing chain. If you are looking for a reliable diesel, opt for the 2.0 CDTI 170 hp (B20DTH) introduced in 2015, which is mechanically much more robust despite some AdBlue quirks. For petrol, the 1.4T and 1.6T versions are good choices provided the health of the M32 manual gearbox is checked. A car to negotiate firmly based on its service history.