Test drive Opel Insignia hatchback from 2008 Sedan

Opel Insignia vs Audi A6. Two or one?

Opel Insignia. Price: from 741 800 rubles. Available: c 2009 years
Audi A6. Price: 1,928,300 rubles. Available: c 2008 years

With the introduction of its Insignia opelevtsy sights on something more than just creating a successor Vestra. They decided for some time to make its flagship brand, gently spread over two classes D and E. And if so, why not compare it with a car, whose authority in the E-segment is undeniable, with the Audi A6, for example,

Test pilots

Kalaushin Oleg, 40 years, the automobile journalist, the experience of driving 22 years old, personal car - Renault Logan

Igor Kuznetsov, 47 years, automotive journalist, 20 years of driving experience, own car - Nissan Quashqai

Why Audi A6? Why not, say, Mercedes E-Class or BMW 5? Series? Everything is simple. It's no secret that Mercedes was and is considered the vehicle for passengers, BMW has always been a machine for the driver. But Audi is equally good both for the first and for the second, in connection with which it is at this time and has been chosen by some measure. And who knows, maybe, the Insignia is indeed so good that it will be at least an indirect competition Audi A6. For example, A6 with a similar configuration with Insignia twice more. But whether it is better than twice? Or Insignia twice as bad? And to our comparison was more than adequate, we chose to test cars with the same engine power. But to begin with, as usual, on the exterior.

In appearance she Six self-confidence. And how could it be otherwise, since its shape is equally simple and refined. It is as if designed by nature, there is nothing superfluous, nothing flashy, but because of this it is like. And like it, judging by how things are selling this model more and more. Apparently, so in 2008 it was decided to expose it only slight restyling, so as not to hurt. And it does not hurt. The car really got better while maintaining the familiar features.

With Insignia everything is much more complicated. Withdrawing your car to the market, Opolevtsy were forced to make something that, if he didn't like it right away, it would necessarily hoo and hooked thoroughly. In this regard, Insignia literally shouts about himself by each element, whether it is the original optics with the daytime light LED ticks in the corners or dynamic stands on the doors. In general, the dynamics seems to be dominant when developing the design of this car, because even in Static Insignia, it seems the impression of a moving object. She literally clusted wind. Although the chances of catching at the latter on any insignia are small: the windshield coefficient of Cx \u003d 0.27. At Audi A6, by the way, it is equal to 0.29, which is also very good. And yet Opel according to this indicator, albeit slightly, but surpassed the opponent, provided that he is higher than Audi.

By the way, those extra four centimeters with which Insignia possesses, no way be felt in the cabin. And first of all, we are talking about the height of the roof level in the rear passengers. That the Audi is that the Opel sitting in the second row do not touch the head of the ceiling, but the roof is invisible prescribing them to the psyche. In this regard, in order to take a comfortable position, the seats have to crawl a little. And here it is not for the place that left engineers for feet sitting from behind passengers. It must be said that according to this indicator Audi and Insignia are about the same. It is convenient to sit in the first and second. And this is despite the fact that the Opel wheelbase is less than ten with small centimeters. However, everything falls into place when you start to find out the volume of trunk. Audi has a standing in 546 liters, and Opel is able to grant 500 liters of volume. Well, quite a reasonable solution: if there is not enough space for passengers, then it is better to slightly move back the second row of seats and sacrifice one suitcase than to listen to complaints about this.

You do not have to designers insignia to blush and for what now appears the driver and front passenger. The design of the instrument panel is made in the overall stylist of the car and compared to the predecessor (Vectra) really pleases the eye. Taming wave, namely, it looks like a shape of the instrument panel, much more pleasant to the eye, rather than brickwork. Ergonomics have become much friendlier. As one of the examples, it is possible to give a manufacturer's refusal from the uncomplicable positions of the levers of turns, whose algorithm of which required a long addiction. Yes, and keys on the central console have become much more convenient due to the increased size. The finishing materials are pleased.

The AUDI control panel is also decent, but compared to Insignia, brutal forms are largely dominated. It can be seen that, holding restyling, designers tried to change what is, for the better. But this desire was literally crushed by the traditions of the brand and, in particular, a specific model. And yet to revive the interior, leaving everything as it is, managed. Other materials served good service. Nevertheless, the Audi interior seemed less alive than Insignia.

As mentioned above, on the test we took cars with an identical engine power. 220 forces have 2.8 FSI at Audi and the same number of horses was good engineers 2.0? Liter turbocked Opel Motor. True, the Insignia engine for similar power has a large torque and in the larger turn range. But how does all this affect ride? To be honest, a person, not very knowledgeable in all these moments, shelves and turnover, notice a special difference in the behavior of cars on the road, most likely, will not succeed. Judge yourself. Overclocking up to hundreds is actually identical (only a stopwatch is capable of noting a lag at 0.5 seconds). Yes, and the maximum speed is also almost equal to the difference is only 2 km / h, it is with two hundred forty. So, with complete confidence it can be said that the dynamics of the car are quite comparable. They are as similar in controllability. And what about the difference in the wheelbase, you ask. Surely no difference? It may have been, and here only a smaller base insignia is very competently leveled due to the suspension setting, in connection with which insignia behaves on the road very similar to Audi A6. Simple, but still not identical. The steering is controlled by Insignia appeared more acute, but the feedback was better at Audi.


Opel Insignia.
Not having time to appear on the market, this car has already won the CAR OF THE YEAR 2009 title and the highest security rating by Euro NCAP. In addition to these regalia, the advantages of new items include rich equipment, a huge list of power units, as well as the possibility of choosing between mono- and complete drive. It is also important and quite competitive.

Driving
Exceptional dynamics, excellent handling, acceptable smoothness.

Salon
Spacious and convenient, provides a comfortable stay of 4 crew members. It has enough bulk trunk.

Comfort
Good noise insulation, generously designed by modern blessings of civilization.

Security
The highest score on Euro NCAP, there are innovative active security technologies.

Price
Predefines interest in this car by the buyer.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Dynamics, comfort, basic equipment, price.
- lack of space above the head in the second row.
 

Audi A6.
The sixteen renovated in 2008 began to resemble even more on the flagship of the Audi model range. High quality performance, rich finishing materials, spacious interior, extensive range of engines, the possibility of choosing between full and monophod, rich equipment All this makes it a certain orderrome for e-segment cars.

Driving
Exemplary controllability and enviable dynamics, exceptional ability to hold the specified trajectory even in critical situations.

Salon
Spacious and uyugen although conservative. High quality finishing materials, impeccable execution.

Comfort
Optimal seating shape, high-quality multimedia system, exceptional noise insulation, comfortable suspension.

Security
At the level of direct competitors.

Price
The car is not cheap, but it is worth it.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Performance quality. Dynamics, Handling, Comfort, Equipment
- price.



Our verdict
Undoubtedly, Opel Insignia direct competition Audi A6 cannot be made. However, similar dimensions, dynamic characteristics and the volume of basic configuration and options with which it places, pulled it enough to the segment E, thereby forcing the attention of potential buyers. Not the last role here, of course, the price is also playing. Maybe it is better to take two than one? If there are no problems with money, then choose unambiguously follows Audi. In any case, this model will still lead the sales lists for a long time.

Author: Oleg Kalaushin
Photo: Igor Kuznetsov
 

A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [November 2009]