Holden has ramped-up local evaluation of the stylish British-built Vauxhall Insignia small car with this freshly-registered test car spied by Car Showroom.
The undisguised research vehicle was parked out in the open in a Melbourne street.
Very handsomely styled, the Insignia has enjoyed glowing reviews as the British replacement for the Astra and would slot-in perfectly between the Cruze and the Commodore in Holden's local model range.
In Britain the Insignia is competitively priced just below the rival Ford Mondeo so Holden would need to keep local prices starting at or just below $30,000. Like the Mondeo, the Insignia range includes both hatchbacks and wagons.
Power comes from a choice of 2.0-litre turbo diesels offering 96kW and 118kw or three petrol engines - a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre with 103kW, a turbocharged 2.0-litre with 162kW or the sporty 2.8-litre V6 with 191kW and fitted to the range-topping SRi.
All engines comply with the strict Euro5 emissions standards.
Drive is to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission
Across the range, equipment levels are comprehensive and include driver-select chassis dynamics called Flex Ride which adjusts the suspension, steering and throttle response according to 'Sport', 'Touring' and 'Standard' modes. Active dampers are also available.
We liked the looks of the car we spotted - like the Mondeo, the Insignia exudes European style with an aerodynamic and upmarket appearance that is certainly much more contemporary than Holden's current Korean-sourced Epica.
It's a similar story inside with stylish, contemporary looks, quality materials, a comprehensive dashboard and instrument layout. For a mid-sizer, interior space looks reasonable.
We like the specification of the sporty V6-powered SRi model with its 18-inch alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension and upmarket interior with leather and alloy pedals.
If Holden can get the pricing competitive, the Insignia would be a worthwhile newcomer to our market. Ford's European-sourced Mondeo is a superb vehicle and the Insignia has received similarly high commendations from the European media.
