As the miles increase on our Insignia, so does my appreciation of its benefits as a company car.

Much of this is down to what the car doesn’t do, such as the engine which has proved to genuinely live up to its ‘whisper diesel’ moniker with a smooth performance and absence of diesel clatter or noise in general use. This is only undermined by a lower than expected fuel economy so far, at 52mpg compared to a predicted average of 72mpg. But the onset of winter tends to increase  fuel consumption.

I have also been making the most of the engine to enjoy the Insignia’s on-road performance, as it provides a controlled, smooth ride which filters out most road imperfections.

Inside, there is a quality, creak-free interior and a real element of prestige about the on-road experience, complete with a concierge available at the touch of the OnStar button.

My Insignia experience isn’t all perfect, however. I can’t quite fathom why our model has an automatic handbrake release. And it’s surprising there is no warning should you leave the car without activating the handbrake switch.

John Maslen