Test drive Opel Insignia sedan since 2008 sedan

Comparative Middle Class Test: Opel Insignia in front of Honda Accord and Mazda6

With the new Insignia for Opel, everything should change for the better. Will a native of Russelshaim be able to withstand Mazda6 with a fresh diesel engine and a chic Honda Accord?
Perhaps, before Opel, they had never paid so much attention to the new Insignia: people turn around, seeing her gaze for a long time, ask about her at the gas station and are interested in the impression of the quality of the descendant of Vectra. One fifty -year -old man at first even accepted the fresh creation of Opel for the new Audi model.
Of course, this is not Audi at all. But the German subsidiary of the General Motors concern set high requirements for its new product, and this is immediately visible. The image of the model is characterized by dynamism and nobility with this Opel car again striving to break forward. In our comparative Insignia 2.0 CDTI test, CDTI should be measured by the Honda Accord 2.2 I-Detc and Mazda6 MZR-CD with a completely new turbocharged diesel engine.
Body and equipment
The convex corporal roof roof roof already means something that you are convinced of, sitting in the car. The point is that in the front row passengers are conveniently sitting, but in the second row it is quite close due to the steeply decreasing rear of the roof. Adult passengers tall above 1.85 meters touch the roof of their heads.
Inside the Honda is also not enough space for a sense of comfort. In this regard, Mazda shows itself from the best side, which, although it has a traditional shape, is spacious. In addition, this participant in the dough has the largest mass of full load and, having a 519-liter luggage compartment, gains additional points. The disadvantages of the 6th model lie in partly cheap materials of the cabin and a slightly less diverse choice of options in the field of equipment that ensures safety.
The steeply tilted cockpit of Opel and its wide central console look sports, as if belonging to the Alfa Romeo car. Sweetzer: when you press the button, the tools of the toolbar change the color from bright white to dynamic red. The materials of the finish leave an extremely positive impression. But a great many buttons at first confuse them to get used to them, what can be reproached for the candidate.
The same applies to the Honda dashboard: its overloaded control panel on the steering wheel and the central console requires more more attention. Deep chairs will also taste, rather, ambitious drivers who prefer a sports driving style. Only Mazda is familiar in management, if you do not look at the sacred onboard computer.
Comfort on the road
Flexride-Premium is the name of the adaptive Opel chassis, which is additional equipment and costs 930 euros. The electronic system for adjusting the shock absorbers is automatically tuned to any road conditions, in addition, the driver can activate one of three programs using the button. If you select the Tour mode, then Insignia will show itself from the soft side and masterfully overcome even painfully long distances, despite the tires of 245/45 R18, which by default are equipped with the COSMO equipment model. This is also facilitated by the front seats that support the body well in all directions and, together with the advanced additional support for the hips, ensure the comfortable position of the driver at the wheel.
Honda seats, which, however, almost the same way Mazda, jumps at the joints and small waves of the roadway, are also characterized by good support. Suspensions of both Japanese have rather hard settings, with increasing load, Mazda is more prone to swing. And the chairs of the 6th model could differ in better support. But this is a truly quiet car for traveling with good sound insulation, while the rumbling and rattling turbocharged diesel engine Opel is not entirely suitable for its generally quiet character that promises comfort. The Honda motor works calmly, almost imperceptibly, and the noise level produced by Accord seemed to us low.
Engine and transmission
A new engine is installed under the hood of Mazda6. The 2.2-liter Common-Rail diesel with the adjustable position of the turbine is offered in three versions depending on the power (from 125 to 185 hp), two balancer shafts provide smoothness. The motor behaves great, even if we are talking about a ruthless cold launch in the morning. Confidently and without vibrations, the 163-horsepower engine disperses Mazda to hundreds in just 8.4 seconds.
When checking the ability to develop torque, Mazda again shows the other competitors of the stop signals. Only the lever of a 6-speed box switches with small jerks.
The Opel engine has 160 horsepower, so that it almost does not lag behind the Mazda unit. At the same time, he draws his power of only two liters of working volume. The deficiency in the strength of the motor does not experience this unit more than enough. So, Insignia starts easily, the programs switch without difficulty and accurately. As already noted in the previous section of the test, the 2.0 CDTI engine could be more perfect. In addition, Opel showed the largest fuel consumption of 7.2 liters per 100 km, Mazda occupies the middle with a flow rate of 6.6 liters, the Honda has reached the best result of 6.4 liters. The low consumption helped Honda even win in this standings. Although the Accord with its 150 horsepower is nominally the weakest rival, its flexible motor conquers sympathy thanks to the harmonious disclosure of its potential, and the 6-speed box has well-selected transmissions that are distinguished by the close location of the gear numbers and accuracy.
Dynamics
Are the middle class sedans suit only for smooth movement? Nothing like this! Those days have passed long ago, so our three candidates are capable of more. Take Insignia: one press on the Sport button is enough, and the electronically adjustable suspension turns from a soft glider into a real athlete. Opel easily and confidently passes. In addition, the Flexride system ensures that the steering serving servo is more accurate, although the steering wheel could still be more informative.
Even more agile disappears around the angle of Mazda6, which demonstrates almost neutral behavior. Moreover, this car is controlled very accurately, but its servo drive does not provide sufficient contact with the surface of the road. If the driver of the Mazda disables the DSC (ESP) system, then on steep turns, the machine tends to the rolls.
For Honda, this phenomenon is unusual. Like Opel, this Japanese competitor remains calm with the VSA (ESP) system. However, compared with Insignia, an accord is noticed more pronounced non -combustion. It is not controlled so accurately, but its electric-mechanical servo drive works more pleasant and does not sin in such an easy move as Opel and Mazda.
The three rivals made an absolutely positive impression when undergoing a braking test. The German showed himself best here, stopping at a speed of 100 km/h for only 34.9 meters.
Prices
Together with the new Mazda diesel engine, it also used a new recirculation system for exhaust gases. In addition, the 2.2-liter unit is equipped with a patented ceramic filter with a soot capture, which allows you to burn spent particles much faster.
Speaking about the price, it can be noted that the Mazda6, which has the basic cost of 28 100 euros, is only a small margin of Honda Accord will cost 28,675 euros, that is, very little more expensive. Opel sells Insignia 2.0 CDTI Edition for 29,755 euros, but the DVD navigator has already been included in this cost.
All three basic configuration vehicles provided for testing Auto Zeitung turned out to be worthy rivals, because for all these models, manufacturers demanded an additional fee only for painting the body into a metal tint. InSignia scored quite a lot of points thanks to a six -year guarantee, Accord attracts a profitable CASCO insurance tariff and a slightly more economical fuel consumption. And Mazda6 should lose the least in price.
In general, the amount of other current expenses for these cars differs slightly. So in this part of the Mazda test it goes ahead of its rivals. In addition to the above, an unlimited guarantee of mobility helps her to achieve victory.
Note from Drom.ru. In Russia, the cost of Honda Accord with a 2.0-liter 156-horsepower gasoline engine starts at 985,300 rubles, the Mazda6 price with a 2.0-liter 147-horsepower gasoline unit starts from a mark of 954,000 rubles. The OPEL similar in power indicators with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine (140 hp) is estimated at least 891,300 rubles, but the modification with a 2.0-liter turbocharged power plant (220 hp) costs 1,111 300 rub.
Conclusion
By the total amount of points for all tests, Opel Insignia wins this comparison. But a negligible gap from competitors shows how good modern cars of the middle class are.
Mazda6, which took second place, liked its spaciousness, as well as powerful and at the same time flexible turbocharged diesel. The third place was Honda Accord, which wins in the engine classification.
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Source: Autozeitung.de