Opel Insignia Grand Sport: Get Out Of The Way!

24 January 2018 Redazione News, Tested

OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT

GET OUT OF THE WAY!

Words: Tommaso Mogge

Photography: Gian Romero

Certain things are hard to explain, just like the fact that regardless of the pace you are keeping on the motorway’s third lane, there is always a rental van tailgating you and flashing its lights. If it’s not a van or a white Audi, it’s an Opel Insignia. I have always wondered what was the secret behind so much hurry or the motivation that unites these three categories and so I decided to try to put myself in the shoes of one of these subjects. Here I find myself with the new Insignia Grand Sport, a four-door version of the sedan on which Opel has paid much attention and has deservedly collected interesting sales and acclaim in recent years.

Obviously preferring a diesel engine, given that it is a 365days per year car and the 2.0 CDTI with 170 hp – top of the range – is able to offer more than substantial fuel savings, with a mixed cycle calculated at 5.2 l/100km. The Insignia is not small, it comfortably accommodates five people on board and all the useful luggage to spend the summer or winter holidays without leaving anything at home, weighing 1.657kg, but strong of an elastic engine that knows how to exploit its 400Nm of torque at just 1750 rpm. Accelerating, like every traditional turbodiesel, the thrust lasts just enough – up to 2500 rpm – but by insisting on the throttle, it knows how to get away well, in any situation. Traction is up front and the gearbox, also available with the automatic ‘box, is in this case a 6-speed manual: soft, with maybe a bit long ratios, but communicates with the clutch in a precise manner, demonstrating dexterity in the chaos of the city, despite the dimensions of the car itself require an extra eye than usual. However, there are parking sensors and maneuvering cameras to facilitate during the most difficult moments, while the leather seats are comfortable, although the material is not soft as you would expect. Precise, simple and neat assembly of the dashboard, with an 8-inch touch screen that integrates satellite navigation, stereo and on-board info.

To make our Insignia aesthetically pleasing there are tinted rear windows and 18-inch alloy wheels, while in my opinion the best episode happens at the front, with the new grille that makes the look young and sporty, despite performance is not necessarily among the main targets of this sedan. I jet on the motorway and thrust the accelerator, noting the precise progression of the 4-cylinder. The body seems soft, but preferring the Sport mode to the one called Tour, the suspension becomes significantly more responsive, the steering wheel and the pedals too. This means greater safety, especially when traveling at high speeds, which are easily accessible once launched and with the road ahead empty, alternatively, there is always the possibility to glue your fingers to the headlights and rule the third lane (sort of), just like I said before!

With just over € 30,000 you access a top of the list model, while getting carried away by the available options is easy to exceed the threshold of € 40,000 (as for the specimen tested here), but what Opel offers is a complete sedan, which has further thinned the gap with its rivals that hold the same flag, but that cost something more. I found that, although it is not a car for drag strip races, it behaves well on long distances, combining excellent fuel consumption with surprising elasticity, especially considering that the engine is still a 2 liters with less than 200 horses. Maybe it will not be the car of your dreams, but after all not even the classic white diesel Audi would be the one, just as the rental van – it is perfectly useful to meet your every daily need. Flawless.

OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT 2.0 CDTI (2017-)

Layout   –  front-engined, front wheel drive

Engine  –  4 cylinder– 2.0cc – turbodiesel

Transmission  –  6-speed manual gearbox

Power  –  170 hp @ 3.750rpm

                      400 Nm @ 1.750-2.500 rpm

Weight  –  1.657 kg

Acceleration  –  8,7 sec.

Top Speed  –  226 kph

Price  –  from € 32.500

Price as tested – € 41.600