Vauxhall offers diesel Insignia Sports Tourer with four-wheel drive

Vauxhall is expanding its mid-sized Insignia range by offering its "Adaptive 4x4" all-wheel drive transmission – which features an electronically controlled rear limited slip differential - in combination with its 160 horsepower CDTi diesel engine. Previously, all-wheel drive had only been available on petrol-engined models.

The new versions will be available to order from mid-June and hit the roads from September; full pricing and specification details will be announced in the next few days, but the 4x4 option is expected to be available in conjunction with most of the Insignia's main trim levels, in return for an across-the-range premium of about £1,750.

The Insignia was well received when it was introduced to the UK market in 2008. In particular it is considered a much stronger direct rival to Ford's Mondeo than its predecessor, the Vectra; the availability of a keenly priced 4x4 diesel option is likely further to increase the relative appeal of the Insignia. The most obvious direct rivals for the new variants in terms of price, size and capability are probably the 4x4 versions of Skoda's roomy Superb.