Vauxhall Insignia II (Z18) (2017 – 2022)

Reliability score : 7.6/10

The second-generation Vauxhall / Opel Insignia (Z18), also known as the Grand Sport (sedan) and Sports Tourer (estate), marks a major evolution compared to its predecessor. Based on the General Motors E2XX platform, it loses up to 175 kg, which greatly benefits its driving dynamics and fuel consumption. Sold under the Vauxhall badge in the UK, Opel in continental Europe, Buick Regal in North America/China, and Holden Commodore (ZB) in Australia, it is a truly global model. Although demand for family sedans (D-segment) has declined in favor of SUVs, the Insignia II remains an excellent cruiser, spacious and well-equipped. The 2020 facelift brought new engines (notably brand-new 3- and 4-cylinder blocks) and a technological update. This sheet focuses particularly on petrol engines, which hav

✅ Strengths

Excellent road handling, agile and lightened chassis
Generous interior space, especially in the rear seats
Very competitive price/equipment ratio on the used market
Careful soundproofing on petrol versions
Elegant design (especially in the Sports Tourer estate body style)
Smooth and reliable automatic gearboxes (8-speed Aisin and 9-speed GM)

⚠️ Weaknesses

Significant depreciation (advantage when buying used, disadvantage when reselling)
Poor rear visibility (Grand Sport sedan)
Disastrous reliability of the timing chain on the 1.6 CDTi
Risks of LSPI on GM petrol engines if poorly maintained
Quality of some plastics in the lower part of the cabin
Infotainment system sometimes slow and buggy (pre-facelift)

🎯 Verdict

⚖️ Final verdict The Vauxhall / Opel Insignia II is an excellent bargain on the used market, suffering from unjustified depreciation compared to its road qualities. In petrol engines, the 1.5 Turbo (140 or 165 hp) is the most rational and reliable choice, on the strict condition that maintenance has been scrupulously respected with the correct oil specification (Dexos 1 Gen 2) to avoid LSPI. The post-2020 2.0 Turbo (LSY) versions are also recommendable for more dynamism. To avoid absolutely: The 1.6 CDTi diesel due to its fragile and ruinously expensive to replace timing chain, as well as the pre-2020 2.0T (LTG) petrol models lacking a crystal-clear maintenance history. Favor a facelifted version (post-2020) to benefit from a more reliable multimedia system and optimized engines.