2013 Vauxhall Insignia SRi Nav 1.8 VVT petrol
Summary:
Very nice
Faults:
Oil cooler leak.
Brakes.
Wheel alignment.
General Comments:
Smooth, good looking, reasonably priced to buy used, the Insignia is an all round great car.
Pleasing shape, very coupe like despite being a large family/executive car.
Good looking inside, smart design on the dash, seats are very comfortable on the SRi.
Good to drive, handles very sharp. 1.8 has mediocre performance and economy however - I recommend going for the later 1.4T petrol engine or the diesels.
Vauxhall dealers are terrible - expensive and uninterested in older cars. Try seeking out a friendly local mechanic to keep costs down for service and repairs.
The Insignia is a fine choice if you get a looked after car at the right price.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th January, 2025
4th Sep 2025, 13:42
Are you kidding me?
The 1.8 is a horrible engine.
It's gutless, heavy on fuel and not reliable at all with head gasket and PCV problems.
7th Sep 2025, 18:17
Head gasket issues on the 1.8 are caused by people not keeping an eye on oil and coolant levels.
There is common areas to leak, such as the expansion tank and thermostat housing.
I do agree it is gutless and not great on fuel, but I had an Insignia 1.8 a while back and it was a very reliable car if cared for. I did the timing belt, every oil change and dealt with any leaks quickly, and I got 165,000 out of mine before it got scrapped (due to age and other issues, not the engine).
7th Sep 2025, 21:02
1.4T petrol is marginally better than the old 1.8 in regards performance and economy, as already mentioned. Both are cheap to insure as well. Boring engines, but cost effective if you don't do much mileage.
Also correct as has been said is avoid the diesels unless you drive 20K miles + a year. Although powerful and economical, the 2.0 CDTi has an oil seal issues at higher mileage which is expensive to rectify. And any diesel badged "ecoflex" has expensive issues with the glow plugs.
1.6 CDTi does not fare much better and has a dodgy timing chain which is expensive to change.
2.8 V6 VXR models is fast and exceptionally rare but far too expensive to run for most people.
Shame really, the Insignia is a fine car, I can comment as I have driven pretty much every version as a taxi. If you do your homework and pick the right engine and transmission for your needs, and a nice trim level, it can be a very nice reliable car if preventative maintenance is carried out.
28th Aug 2025, 16:52
The 1.8 strengths is in reliability.
I'd put up with its dull performance and mediocre economy any day for the sake of this. The other engines you mentioned in this car are a lot more troublesome at higher mileage.