THE overwhelming response I had while driving the Insignia was ‘wow, is that a Vauxhall?’ Several people did a double-take when noticing the griffin emblem on the bonnet after first swooning over its sweeping lines.

It was an understandable reaction.

After all, Vauxhalls have hardly made hearts skip a beat in recent times.

The Insignia, though, is different gravy. It is a car to be desired – and not just because of the way it looks.

It is elegant on the outside and classy on the inside. It looks like a coupe but has the practicality of a saloon – even its unusual posterior is actually quite pleasant to look at after a while.

General Motors describes the Insignia as helping redefine its “design vocabulary”.

That is clearly marketing gobbledygook, but it has nevertheless set the bar high for all that follow from within its stable.

The car was launched with five different engines, our test car utilising the 2.0 litre diesel, which has more power and torque while offering increased fuel economy.

It doesn’t set the world alight, going from 0-60mph in 10.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 126mph, but nevertheless it’s very good at doing what it is supposed to, especially so on the motorway haul.

It’s a quiet unit but unfortunately that serves only to accentuate road noise, which can become bothersome.

That apart, I had no complaints.

Some people have criticised the Insignia’s ride, especially on the less well-maintained of roads, but I didn’t find it a problem.

In fact, it was as refined as anything else I have driven recently, and more so than many.

There’s an air of real of quality on the inside.

It may not be real, but the ‘wood’ surround, which sweeps around the front portion of the car suggests you are sitting in something far superior to a Vauxhall.

Everything has a deliberate flow to it, with arcing lines wherever you look.

The centre console and instrument binnacle is a lesson in how to do things neatly and simply, while at the same time making it look like a work of art.

You can tell that everything, down to the font of the numbers on the speedometer, has been debated down to the finest detail.

It all feels well put together, from the notchy six-speed gearbox that travels into the gate in assured fashion and the switchgear, that you just know will stand the test of time, to the seating, which is both comfortable and hard-wearing.

There is also plenty of equipment as standard.

The satellite navigation system in our test car is particularly worthy of a mention. It is one of the easiest to use systems I have come across and can be accessed by the convenient, if geekily named ‘infotainment’ controller located close to the electronic handbrake.

There’s plenty of room in the front and more than enough in the back, although the sloping roofline may affect the taller among us.

Its boot is roomy enough to accommodate most of what you would require of it, but should you require more you can put the seats down.

The Insignia is well worthy of its Car of the Year award, succeeding in almost every area in a sector that is as tough as it gets.

So if you haven’t looked at a Vauxhall recently, it’s time to look again.

Specification

Price (with options): £24,235
Engine: 2.0 CDTi 16v
Max power: 128bhp
Max torque: 221lb/ft
Max speed: 127mph
0-60mph: 10.4secs
Avg fuel consumption: 48.7mpg (combined)
Equipment (includes): airbags; ESP; electric height adjustable driver’s seat; leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob; cruise control; electric windows; alarm; DVD satellite navigation system with colour monitor; CD with MP3 format; steering wheel mounted controls; 60/40 splitfolding rear seat with load through facility; interior ambient lighting; electronic parking brake with Hill Start Assist; rain-sensitive wipers; tunnel detection for automatic lighting control; stereo radio with DAB; multi-function infotainment controller.