JUST ANNOUNCED
Vauxhall Insignia
Prices £16,000-£26,000 approx
On sale Winter
What’s different? After a 13-year run, Vauxhall has dropped the
Vectra name for its large family hold-all, and replaced it with Insignia.
Details are scarce, but there will be the usual range of four and five-door
versions, a broad blend of petrol and diesel engines, an estate by the end
of the year and a sporty VXR variant at some stage in the future
Why should I care? With its swooping roofline making it look more like
a coupé than a saloon, it will grab people’s attention more than any Vectra.
But it remains to be seen whether the Insignia will be as good to drive as
the Ford Mondeo, something the Vectra failed to achieve. The car will be
seen for the first time at the British International Motor Show on July 23
Consider also
Ford Mondeo £15,205-£24,655
Renault Laguna £15,990-£23,900
Peugeot 407 £15,995-£26,250
IN THE SHOWROOM
Citroën C5
Price £15,595-£25,495
On sale Now
What’s different? Looked at from the side, Citroën’s new C5 could
easily be mistaken for an Audi or a BMW; that’s clearly no accident, because
even on the inside it’s evident the French producer has tried to emulate
German executive cars. Smart new looks aside, the C5 also has more
fuel-efficient engines, and there’s a longer wheelbase for enhanced cabin
space
Why should I care? Despite those left-field German-themed ads, the C5
is a solid, mainstream car designed to attract sensible buyers. Its driving
dynamics – especially of the range-topping V6 diesel – are closer than
they’ve ever been to those of its Teutonic rivals. An estate version is to
follow in July
Also consider
VW Passat £15,835-£27,590
Honda Accord £17,187-£22,402
Vauxhall Vectra from £16,695-£26,680
