Test drive Opel Insignia Country Tourer vs Volvo V90 Cross Country
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Test drive Opel Insignia Country Tourer vs Volvo V90 Cross Country

Test drive Opel Insignia Country Tourer vs Volvo V90 Cross Country

Let's see which of the two universal models is better

There's no dispute - the endless hanging around on congested city streets and boulevards can be really annoying... Luckily, the Opel Insignia Country Tourer and Volvo V90 Cross Country dual-gear diesel station wagons will handle both the serious challenges of everyday life and the challenges that await you. during short walks in nature in the wilderness.

So far, there is no convincing evidence that some relationships fully explain the features of the Swedish nature. For example, the desire of grim Swedish crime commissioners to cheer themselves up with cinnamon candies is not really related to the world's highest per capita consumption of cinnamon in a Scandinavian country. Or perhaps the abundance of cheap prefabricated furniture on the market is due to too many people bumping into coffee tables in the twilight of the long arctic nights. Another local feature explains the fact that there is such a car in the world as the Volvo V90 CC. The fact is that according to official statistics, a car in Sweden has only 38 meters of asphalt roads, and the permitted network of roads with gravel is more than three times longer - in fact, exactly 117 meters. In the romantic imagination of most people around the world, such stretches inevitably lead to lonely lakes surrounded by spectacular forests and the inevitable picturesque island in the middle.

The Swedes from Volvo take a more pragmatic view of reality and have actually always created cars for these roads. Until suddenly, around the 70th anniversary of the company's founding, marketers saw the opportunity to turn this routine into an original product with a chance to start a trend in the fashion market. So in 1997, a version of the V70 station wagon appeared with increased ground clearance, dual transmission and a logical addition to the name Cross Country. Over the years, Audi, VW, Skoda and Mercedes have eagerly applied the Swedish recipe to stimulate consumer appetite in their respective models, and Opel has also decided to prepare its Insignia station wagon for life beyond the tarmac.

And although in the southern parts of Europe freedom of movement through fields and forests is much more limited than in sparsely populated Scandinavia, this does not in the least detract from the practicality of models such as the Cross Country and Country Tourer, which are among the most popular. -universal cars for which today you can give money. In both cases, this is primarily a fairly large wagon, in which, in addition to protective panels and perimeter strips and slightly implied body floor protection, off-road preparation mainly involves increasing ground clearance. In the case of the Insignia, that's a modest 2,5 centimeters, while the V90 Cross Country adds seven, bringing the Swede's ground clearance to a respectable 21 centimeters. That figure is actually larger than many modern SUVs, but the long wheelbase and the threatening amount of financial implications of possible body deformation are pretty sobering for pursuing heavy off-roading with a Volvo model. With all the relevant additions to the equipment for the final score in the test - an adaptive air suspension system, a head-up display, comfortable seats, 20-inch wheels, thermal glass, the price of the V90 CC (in Germany) is almost 72 euros, and with an equal level of equipment it exceeds the level of the Insignia CT by as much as 000 28 euros.

At the same time, Volvo has mastered the art of not only offering expensive cars, but also making them worthy of their price in the eyes of buyers. Swedish Cross Country demonstrates a stylish and elegant appearance, which, in the tradition of the brand, seems restrained and completely devoid of excessive pomp. At the same time, luxury is everywhere, and the seats are so comfortable that they can be used comfortably as armchairs in the living room. At the same time, the cool design of the V90 is somewhat reminiscent of modern kitchens that look great stylish, clean and functional, but in the midst of cooking they become nervous due to the lack of basic things like ordinary drawer handles. The Volvo lacks buttons - not on the steering wheel, but definitely for other functions.

Audio system? So what!

Many of these have been carried over to the large, portrait-format touchscreen in the center console in the current XC90. Over the past 4-5 years at AMS, we have had the opportunity to test dozens of Volvo models, including the V90 T8, which is currently undergoing marathon testing. The car in question was taken straight from the Gothenburg factory and brought to Germany - so when we say again that the Swedish brand's feature control scheme is overly complicated and annoying at times, it's definitely not due to lack of experience or lack of time to get used to. This is due to a system with too small touch fields, overloaded menus, and a complex underlying structure.

Too often we don't hit exactly the right places to enable the Gothenburg Konserthuset mode in the sound system menu. However, when we find it... the V90 really turns into a real concert hall. Even for the people in the rear, they are placed in the second row with excellent upholstery and have five centimeters more space than the passengers of the Opel model. The backrest can be folded in half for a flat surface, and there is a small opening in the middle for transporting long items.

It should be noted, however, that the Insignia performs even better in this area. With its help, the rear seat back is divided into three parts, and the maximum luggage compartment volume is 139 liters more, and the total body length is only 6,5 cm.In general, to all those who still grumble that after the Omega Caravan, Opel do not make really big wagons, we would recommend paying special attention to the Insignia. It really lacks the ribbed shape needed to carry bulky items in the back, but it can rightfully be called the best Opel model ever made. And, most likely, in history, due to the inevitable introduction of the unified PSA technology in the next generation of the model. Today, the Insignia, with its bright LED matrix lamps, head-up display and adaptive damping chassis, is the undeniable benchmark in both the PSA range and its vehicle class, showcasing the combination of state-of-the-art technology and attractive design from the Rüsselsheim brand. price.

Perceptible differences

The rich equipment alone can't make a car really good, but with the Insignia, even the basic level is more than convincing. While the pursuit of maximum use of space is definitely not a top priority, the Opel model offers very impressive interior space for a five-meter vehicle with no space in the comfortable second row of seats, reaching the extravagant level of Volvo. As with the V90, the driver and front passenger are completely free from worries and can take advantage of the many amenities and adjustment options, as well as the excellent support offered by the Opel AGR seats. They are positioned 7 centimeters lower than the V90, making the person behind the wheel of the Insignia CT feel much more closely and harmoniously connected to the car and its steering.

B Opel has yet to focus on interior furnishings, which translates into a more modest choice of materials and a lower-resolution digital readout on the dashboard. On the other hand, the control of the functions is much simpler and easier, and although it sometimes happens in the Insignia that someone digs into the menu or clicks aimlessly buttons on the steering wheel, the basic structure is much clearer and more visible.

Meanwhile, the ignition key as such is completely out of fashion - as well as summer holidays in the resorts. Its role was taken over by the start button, pressing which, in this case, awakens the slightly hoarse voice of the two-liter Insignia biturbodiesel that meets Euro 6c requirements. The automatic transmission kicks off with a soft start, and while it then manages the shifts accurately and quickly, the Country Tourer is overall quite smooth and quiet for a 210bhp machine. and 480 Nm. Unlike the turbo-aged diesels of the previous generation, the Opel station wagon quietly and efficiently transfers traction on the road.

Instead of the classic differential, the Country Tourer uses two electronically controlled slatted clutches, which take care of the optimal distribution of torque between the wheels of the rear axle through the so-called. Torque vectorization. Such a scheme does not lead to a sharp increase in driving dynamics - traction and stability are at a very high level, but the increased ground clearance leads to more noticeable lateral body vibrations compared to a conventional Sports Tourer. Probably for the same reason, the precision and feedback from the otherwise smooth steering system is a bit dull here. The suspension responds fairly well to bumps, although some of the larger bumps are felt in the rear axle.

Compared to the standard V90, the Swedish Cross Country doesn't have much room to fall back in terms of road dynamics. Due to the increase in ground clearance and its steering system has become more uncertain and incomprehensible in terms of feedback, and the accuracy of work leaves an even wider field for unsatisfied desires. In corners, the Swedish model's body shakes even more, and the front axle wheels begin to complain of understeer earlier than the Insignia - both on normal roads and in closed-area tests. But such chassis settings also have their advantages - the Cross Country V90 version absorbs road bumps much more competently and shows nervousness only in short sharp shocks - long waves disappear without a trace.

Through fields and forests

What else? Except for the louder rocking, everything is within safe limits in terms of road safety. Traction is also very high, although the electronically controlled slat clutch is capable of directing a maximum of 50% of the thrust to the rear axle, and the Volvo model does not have torque vectoring. The V90's lower braking performance cost the Swede several points, but he managed to catch up in this category thanks to an extremely rich arsenal and highly efficient electronic assist systems.

All in all, a slightly noisy 6-litre turbodiesel (Euro 2,5d-Temp) could easily put out a bit more power with its modern and sophisticated boost layout allowing quicker response from the two turbochargers. A pressure of 235 bar increases the dynamic performance of the machine to 480 hp. and 9 Nm, but similar to the situation with the Insignia, in reality they do not look as impressive as on paper. This is due to both the increased weight and the slightly sluggish eight-speed automatic transmission. However, it should be noted that both rivals have no real alternative to powerful diesels in the presence of a dual transmission and automatic transmission - otherwise the average consumption below 100 l / 8,9 km (Opel 8,6, Volvo XNUMX in the test) would be completely impossible.

In the end, the Insignia turns out to be a much more affordable offering, while the V90 has a slightly better set of features than the car. And to establish another connection - if you want rough terrain, you will need more money.

CONCLUSION

1. VAUXHALL

Even in terms of quality, the spacious, solidly built and pleasant to drive Opel Insignia is close to the V90, and its significantly lower price finally consolidates the victory over the Swede.

2. VOLVO

The V90 CC's richer safety equipment, more luxurious furnishings and slightly more comfortable suspension come with a price tag that ultimately costs it the victory.

Text: Sebastian Renz

Photo: Dino Eisele

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One comment

  • Steve

    You can´t compare the Volvo V90 with the Opel Insignia. In my opinion you could compare the Insignia with the Volkswagen Arteon. Remember: Always compare apples with apples.

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