Used Vauxhall Insignia (Mk1, 2008-2017) review - How much will it cost?

The Vauxhall Insignia was built with company car drivers in mind, so running costs will be low, unless you choose the VXR version. Meanwhile, steep depreciation means even the newest models could be yours for less than the price of a new Dacia Sandero.

Prices

There are literally thousands of used Vauxhall Insignias to choose from, so you can afford to be picky, whatever your budget. The bottom end of the market is littered with £1,000 ‘spares or repair’ cars advertised with various problems – avoid these cars unless you're handy with spanners and are prepared to spend the same price again fixing the issues.

You’ll find more joy with £2,000 in your pocket, because there are plenty of early examples available. Buying a post-facelift Insignia adds around £1,000 to the price – it’s well worth the expense. You’ll have the pick of the market if you’re spending £15,000 on an Insignia, but be prepared to lose a large chunk of cash in the first couple of years.

You can check out the latest used prices for the Vauxhall Insignia Mk1 on our sister site BuyaCar.

Economy and CO2 emissions

Company fleets accounted for most Vauxhall Insignia sales, so by far the majority of cars on the market are diesels. The efficient ecoFLEX diesel engines make the most sense for used buyers, achieving 99g/km CO2 emissions when specified with 17-inch alloy wheels and low-rolling-resistance tyres, and claims 74.3mpg fuel economy. That’s very impressive for such a large car. One of the most powerful versions of this generation of Insignia is the 2.0 CDTi model, which has CO2 emissions as low as 114g/km and fuel economy of 65.7mpg.

Among the petrol options in the Vauxhall Insignia range, the 1.8i isn’t a very economical choice (it claims 40.4mpg and 169g/km). The 1.4-litre turbo is much more attractive, with CO2 emissions of 123g/km and 54.3mpg economy.

As you’d expect, the 2.8-litre twin-turbo VXR SuperSport is a real gas-guzzler, while the nippy 2.0-litre SIDI petrol Insignia is hardly the most efficient option, either, with 39.2mpg economy and emissions of 169g/km.

Running costs

All Insignias need to be serviced every 12 months or 20,000 miles. Services alternate between minor and major, priced at £149 and £199 respectively (although this excludes VXR models, which have to be quoted for separately). The 1.6 and 1.8-litre petrol engines have a cambelt, as does the 2.0 CDT, and it should be renewed every six years or 100,000 miles, at £269. The brake fluid has to be renewed every two years or 40,000 miles at a cost of £45. An air-con service (due every two to three years) costs £99. 

The Insignia has keen insurance group classifications by class standards, which should help to keep costs low. The popular 1.6 CDTi ecoFLEX sits in either group 17E or 18E, while the 1.4T model starts in group 15E and the 1.8i in group 14E. Don’t expect the 2.8 VXR to be cheap to insure, though: it sits in group 36E.

A lack of badge kudos and the fact that big savings are available means that the Insignia doesn’t hold on to its value well – in fact, it’s one of the weakest performers on the market in terms of residuals. So when buying new, you need to ensure you negotiate a large discount. Thankfully, as Vauxhall includes plenty of kit as standard on the car, you shouldn’t need to spend too much money on options.

Overall, the Insignia isn’t a great investment over the short to medium term – the Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat fare much better here.