Opel Insignia, VW Passat: Wind, wind, are you powerful? Which is better - Opel Insignia, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Passat CC, Volvo S60 or Infiniti G25? Suspension Passat B7 or Opel Insignia restyling.

In Moscow, we would have failed. Firstly, Volkswagen would not have given Passat and Passat CC from the press park at the same time - marketers will die, but will not allow a "related" comparison. And secondly, the latest seventh generation Passat has not yet been sold in Russia. But he was ... in Kiev!

"A rare bird will fly to the middle of the Dnieper", wrote the classic. Our Passat CC 2.0 TSI and 220-horsepower Opel Insignia flew from Moscow in 10 hours, including half an hour of formalities at the Troebortnoye-Bachevsk border crossing. And on the banks of the great river, Passat 1.8 TSI, Infiniti G25 and the new Volvo S60 with a two-liter turbo engine were waiting for us.

The Dnieper is wonderful in calm weather! And our cars ...

Is it a Passat or a whole Phaeton? Look, he snarled with the chrome of the false radiator grille. Bulky, solid, like a burgher in years. The interior has remained almost unchanged: high seating position in hard comfortable chairs, verified ergonomics and exemplary space on the back sofa. Under the hood, a 1.8 turbo engine hums comfortably - on Russian cars it will develop 152 hp, but for the Ukrainian market it is allowed as many as 160 "horses".

Good overclocking! On measurements Passat even on non-studded winter tires without any problems kept within the passport 8.5 s to hundreds. The seven-speed "robot" DSG with two dry clutches works well - gently picks up from a place, changes gears in time. And the chassis ... Passat is Passat: "clean" steering, unambiguous reactions and excellent stability on a straight line. Even asphalt under the wheels, even snow or ice.

Stylish watch on the "metal" wrist of the front panel went well with the already sore-filled Volkswagen interior

Driving through the Kursk region, we could not help but admire the open pit of the Mikhailovsky GOK (mining and processing plant) in the Kursk magnetic anomaly. The first ore was mined here in 1960, and its reserves will last for another 250 years. When BelAZ trucks swarm at the bottom of a 300-meter pit and trains crawl, it is difficult to assess the scale of the quarry, which surpasses the entire 100-thousand city of Zheleznogorsk in area

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The cloth Passat chair only looks flat - it perfectly fixes the driver and pleases with an orthopedic profile

But it seemed to us - or did pensioner notes really appear in the tradewind character? In the city, the steering wheel has to be deflected at unusually large angles, and the monolithic stability on the track turns into laziness when entering turns. To perform the "moose test", that is, to go around an obstacle at a speed of 65 km / h, you rotate the steering wheel with interceptions!

Infiniti G25. Infiniti's distinctive center console architecture doesn't compromise functionality. In Volkswagens, on the contrary, they did not spoil the design in exemplary order. And there, and there, you can navigate through a logical menu by touching the touch screen or pressing real buttons. Volvo sometimes makes you wonder which key to press, and while driving, it is easy to touch several at once. In Opel, the fittings are large - you won't miss, but it is inconvenient to confirm the operation by sinking a shiny ring in the center of the console

Opel Insignia. Infiniti's distinctive center console architecture doesn't compromise functionality. In Volkswagens, on the contrary, they did not spoil the design in an exemplary manner. And there, and there, you can navigate through a logical menu by touching the touch screen or pressing real buttons. Volvo sometimes makes you wonder which key to press, and while driving, it is easy to touch several at once. In Opel, the fittings are large - you won't miss, but it is inconvenient to confirm the operation by sinking a shiny ring in the center of the console

Volkswagen Passat. Infiniti's distinctive center console architecture doesn't compromise functionality. In Volkswagens, on the contrary, they did not spoil the design in an exemplary manner. And there, and there, you can navigate through a logical menu by touching the touch screen or pressing real buttons. Volvo sometimes makes you wonder which key to press, and while driving, it is easy to touch several at once. In Opel, the fittings are large - you won't miss, but it is inconvenient to confirm the operation by sinking a shiny ring in the center of the console

Volkswagen Passat CC. Infiniti's distinctive center console architecture doesn't compromise functionality. In Volkswagens, on the contrary, they did not spoil the design in an exemplary manner. And there, and there, you can navigate through a logical menu by touching the touch screen or pressing real buttons. Volvo sometimes makes you wonder which key to press, and while driving, it is easy to touch several at once. In Opel, the fittings are large - you won't miss, but it is inconvenient to confirm the operation by sinking a shiny ring in the center of the console

Volvo S60. Infiniti's distinctive center console architecture doesn't compromise functionality. In Volkswagens, on the contrary, they did not spoil the design in an exemplary manner. And there, and there, you can navigate through a logical menu by touching the touch screen or pressing real buttons. Volvo sometimes makes you wonder which key to press, and while driving, it is easy to touch several at once. In Opel, the fittings are large - you won't miss, but it is inconvenient to confirm the operation by sinking a shiny ring in the center of the console

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On the other hand, even the beaten roads are "leveled" by the new Passat so that Kiev seems quite a European capital without any discounts. Pits? Yes, while there is. But behind the wheel of the Passat, only muted flaps of tires will remind them of them.

I wonder if the Passat CC will be even more comfortable? After all, CC is a Comfort Coupe after all.

Don't you find that the shape of the Passat taillights resembles the eyes of a dragon?

Squat body, side windows without frames, but with four doors and a voluminous trunk - like a regular Passat. Of course, beauty requires sacrifice: when getting into a car, tall people have to bend in half, the view is worse, the “compartment-like” landing is low ... But what kind of chairs: you sit like a glove! And the back is only slightly closer than in the usual Passat.

A two-liter turbo engine is excellent: 7.7 seconds to a hundred even on soft Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires. The "robot" here is already a six-speed, with wet clutches - it usually works smoother than a "dry" seven-speed. But this Passat CC vibrated perceptibly when starting off, and when stopping, the clutch discs opened too late and dragged the car forward.

The main hero of our test will be the updated sedan Opel Insignia, but at the same time the examiner today will be the leader among the middle class sedans - Volkswagen Passat.

Passat is a whole phenomenon on the market, it personifies sedans, as a symbol of the middle class, divides the segment into two halves: the budget middle class and the premium middle class. No car in the D-segment has been able to compete on equal terms.

Sedans from Opel and Ford have long been overshadowed by this ideal mid-range car. Opel Insignia sold a modest circulation of 600 thousand cars before the update. Opel has been entrusted with the role of the flagship of the brand's model line. The company's path from Rüsselsheim became thorny after the beginning of its cooperation with General Motors. Although the parent company did not spare funds for the development of Opel, there was no technological breakthrough for a very long time. It seems to us that right now Opel is starting its rebirth in its native European market. At the recent Frankfurt Auto Show, Opel unveiled the updated Insignia range. The main surprise in the new Insignia is the introduction of all-wheel drive and an off-road version of the Country Tourer.

The Volkswagen Passat station wagon in Europe is considered one of the most practical cars on the market.

The novelty has become more attractive than its predecessor, both outside and inside. After modernization, the car began to look more solid thanks to new lighting technology and a radiator grill. There are even more changes in the cabin - the dashboard of the novelty is made of new materials, and its shape has become more ergonomic. The multimedia system in its capabilities has caught up with the one installed on the Passat. The interior of the car is simply pleasing to the eye, the quality of the finishing materials has finally come to meet the stated claims of Opel for premium.

The interior of the Volkswagen Passat looks modern and high quality even after a few years.

In addition, the technical part of the car has undergone a serious update. Customers can now choose from 9 different engines ranging from 110 to 326 hp. and three types of bodies: station wagon, sedan or liftback.

Opel did not particularly strive to reduce the weight of the car, they went the other way. The main task for the engineers was to achieve maximum optimization in the operation of vehicle systems. This is most noticeable in the characteristics of the engines. Turbodiesel with a volume of 2 liters and before that was one of the best in the class, but now it has become even more economical and, according to the European classification, has reached the energy consumption level "A +". What does this mean, you ask? This means that now, when buying such a car in Europe, you will pay less car taxes and duties. Engine power is 120 HP. in the basic version and 140 hp. more powerful. Such a motor is equipped with a 6-speed gearbox and a Start / Stop system. At the same time, fuel consumption is only 3.7 liters per 100 kilometers. The Opel Insignia 2.0 CDTI is announced as the most economical car in the D-segment. A charged version of the BiTurbo CDTI with 195 hp. with the help of two turbines, it produces 400 Nm of torque.

Opel has supplied not only diesel, but also gasoline engines to the Insignia. Opel engines of the new generation with turbocharging and direct injection, called SIDI, have a volume of 1.6 and 2 liters. 1.6 SIDI Turbo has 170 hp. and 260 Nm of torque. The more powerful 2.0 SIDI Turbo received 250 hp. and 400 Nm of torque. Both motors are aggregated with both manual and automatic 6-speed gearboxes. Customers will be able to order an all-wheel drive transmission for both engine options.

Opel for economical buyers will offer a version of the Insignia LPG equipped with a liquefied gas engine. Consumption per 100 km of such Insignia will be 7.6 liters. The Insignia on gas complies with Euro 6 environmental standards and belongs to vehicles that meet energy efficiency class "A".

To improve the level of comfort, reduce noise and vibration while driving, new shock absorbers and steering stabilizer, as well as a retuned chassis, should be. The most powerful and sporty version of the Insignia will be the OPC. The charged OPC model will be equipped with a 326 hp six-cylinder engine. and 435 Nm of torque. Such indicators will provide the car with acceleration to 100 km / h in 6 seconds. The OPC's top speed will be 250 km / h. The luggage compartment in the station wagon will be on the same level with the trunk of the Volkswagen Passat.

The main innovation in the new Insignia is an information system called IntelliLink. This is the new Opel branded multimedia, which debuted on the baby Opel Adam. IntelliLink makes it much more intuitive and easier to operate all the functions in the car. Even a child can connect a smartphone to the system and use all its capabilities. We recommend ordering the optional Navi 900 Europa Touch system for your car - this is the most advanced system of the company, with its help you have access to all the functions and menus of the car. It is equipped with an 8-inch high-resolution color touch screen.

The dashboard color display shows indicators such as fuel consumption, speed, engine speed and navigation data. The renewal of the entire electronic filling of the car will have a positive effect on its sales in Europe. In Ukraine, such an advantage can play a decisive role when choosing a car. The price of such a multimedia system on the Volkswagen Passat is several times higher than that of Opel.

Comparative table of the test (maximum number of points in the assessment - 10)

Options	Opel insignia	Volkswagen passat
Appearance
Basic configuration
Options (package)
Interior quality
Passability
Noise isolation
Braking
Prestige of ownership
Loss in value
The cost
Safety
Fuel consumption
Maintenance costs
Controllability
Individuality
Additional cost equipment
Dealer network
Reliability

As leaders in the D-segment, both vehicles received good marks. They set the bar for the rest of the car in the mid-range sedan class. Opel Insignia is cheaper in Ukraine than Volkswagen Passat. The updated Insignia in the basic configuration is priced at UAH 220 thousand, and Passat cannot be bought cheaper than for UAH 286 thousand.

We did not give the new generation Volkswagen Passat time to swing - we immediately sent it to a duel with the Opel Insignia. Will the one with the less powerful - 160 hp be able to affect the VW rating? from. does it stand as a motor like a 220-horsepower rival?

Criticism of the new generation Volkswagen Passat has been heard since the first foreign tests of the model. God forbid, he didn't get any worse. But the trouble is, for the better, he also did not make much progress - he remained himself. To give him a real test, we brought the Passat together with a compatriot model that has become one of the brightest premieres of the German car industry in recent years - the Opel Insignia. On a cloudy and slushy day, these two German sedans in austere paintwork set you up for a serious mood.

Say what you like, but Opel with its non-trivial design, presented almost three years ago, still looks bright and is in no way inferior in terms of external data to its rival, whose suit is brand new.

Volkswagen Passat looks much more elegant from the front and from the stern than before. Harsh headlights, LED lights make it a very business car. But in the profile, you can't immediately guess whether you have a new generation of Passat in front of you or the previous one. The characteristic Passat arch of the roofline and the shape of the C-pillar remained unchanged. But even this kind of change in appearance is quite enough for the owners of entire stocks of Passat of different generations to roll their necks, looking at the passing B7.

Hospitality

The Opel salon is familiar to us from repeated meetings in single and comparative tests. The driver's position is very sporty. The arc of the door card flows into the dashboard, and then into the center console, encircling the driver, forming a cockpit. At the same time, the seats are devoid of the sporty obsession of developed lateral support or excessive rigidity. Finding a comfortable driving position is easy. But navigating a tight parking lot without the help of a parking sensor is not so easy. Fortunately, it is even in the basic Insignia. The sloping trunk line, highly angled C-pillars and small rear window create visibility problems. And the rear-view mirrors, the tops of which are beveled for aerodynamics and design, are not as large as we would like.

Everything in the Passat saloon ... as in the Passat saloon, only with a clock in the center of the dashboard. All the same laconic center console, dashboard with a step, simple lines. It lacks the accents of the rival, but it still feels comfortable. The driver's seat cushion is only slightly (1.5 cm) shorter than the Opel. But the traditional rigidity of the chair allows you to ride for a long time without fatigue. When it comes to front seat space, the Insignia and Passat have parity. And in terms of visibility, the Passat is better than the rival due to the large size of the rear window and mirrors.

The roof line of both cars was made arched for the sake of the swiftness of the silhouette. This explains the not very large headroom for rear passengers. On long trips, taking three passengers in the back row of both cars is not worth it. After all, the transmission tunnel protrudes strongly into the salon, interfering with the legs of the third rider.
In terms of trunk space, the clear leader is Volkswagen. In addition to the fact that the volume of the Volkswagen luggage compartment itself is 65 liters larger, there is also a noticeably wider loading aperture and 6 cm less loading height.

	The Insignia's accelerating dynamics is noticeably better. Its locomotive thrust of 350 Nm is unrivaled.

Opel Insignia looks fresh even three years after its debut. Volkswagen Passat is new, but, in fact, does not differ much from its predecessor.

Why different?

In this test, we brought together cars of the same price. Passat in the popular version with a 1.8 TSI engine and a 7-speed robotic DSG gearbox was taken as a reference point. Such a modification is offered in Ukraine starting with the average Comfortline configuration and will cost at least $ 36,173. That's $ 4,302 more than the manual transmission on the Trendline version. At the cost of Passat with "automatic", we have picked up an opponent. Opel sells the Insignia with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and 6-speed automatic transmission for $ 36,340. And this despite the fact that under the hood of Opel is an engine, which is more powerful than that of the rival, by 60 (!) Liters. sec., and its torque is higher by as much as 100 Nm! Let's see how the Passat will withstand this pressure.

Faster, more agile

Opel turned out to be more interesting in management. It offers noticeably better acceleration dynamics. On acceleration, there is always a huge amount of traction under the right foot. Indeed, the motor produces a whopping 350 Nm already at 2000 rpm. You feel this especially clearly when you put the car into Sport mode. The suspension becomes stiffer, the gas pedal is more responsive, the steering is clamped and more resistant to turning the steering wheel. The machine seems to be gathering into a ball, mobilizing all its strength. But the driver also needs to get ready. After all, such power and traction, concentrated on one, moreover, a steered axle, cannot but affect the transparency of the steering. In a bend, the Insignia is not as accurate as its power demands. Ideal driving on such a car is on a track with smooth curves. Here Insignia with a low-profile tire and a powerful engine will rush without problems even at a speed close to its maximum 240 km / h. And for lightning-fast overtaking, the endless supply of torque is just right. In the city, such potential remains almost unclaimed. But you don't forget about it: the fuel level arrow and the fuel consumption indicator, which stubbornly creeps to 14 l / 100 km, serve as an extra reminder. And if you abuse the sport mode and active driving, then it's not a problem to drive the fuel gauge and higher.

	In dynamics, the Passat has the advantage of the speed of the 7-speed robotic box.
electric drives are not all seat adjustments, but only backrest tilt and lumbar support.

But he eats little

The Volkswagen 1.8 TSI engine is well known to us from other models of the concern, including the Skoda Octavia, which has been traveling on editorial affairs for almost a year. But against the background of Opel, the Volkswagen power plant looks much more modest. To take full force against such a powerful Insignia, you would need a Passat 2.0 TSI, but it is very expensive - $ 40,608, and with DSG it is almost $ 3,000 more expensive. And this is already a cost comparable to the price of the most "charged" version of the Opel Insignia OPC (about UAH 407,500) with a 2.8-liter engine that produces 325 hp. from.

In acceleration, elasticity testing and other dynamic exercises, the Passat does not catch up with the opponent, although its dynamics are very decent. But there are several points on which the Passat has won. So, its robotic gearbox is impeccably fast and responds better to the operation of the gas pedal. Although in urban traffic jams it is not capable of such a smooth start as a car with a classic "automatic" equipped with a torque converter. At the initial closure of the "robot" clutch discs, a slightly more rigid moment of the start of movement is felt, although there is no question of discomfort. But the most significant advantage is still the "appetite" of the machine. Compared to its rival, the Passat uses 4.7 l / 100 km less. And this is very important.

Acceleration dynamics, speed, elasticity of the engine, handling - Opel. Trunk volume, fuel consumption and aftermarket price are Volkswagen.

Where is comfort?

In terms of smoothness, both cars do not really pamper passengers. The suspension setting is conducive to driving fast in a straight line. Both cars are not prone to rocking or yawing on the track. However, as for the fight against irregularities, here everyone has their own recipe.

FlexRide can be ordered on Opel. It helps adapt the behavior of the car by offering three modes: Standard, Sport Sport and Tour Comfort. So to make the Opel chassis softer, you can simply press one button on the center console. And yet I drive through large irregularities more accurately behind the wheel of an Opel. After all, the test car is in the top Sport configuration, which is equipped with 19-inch disks and "low" tires 255/40. It’s easy to damage such in our pits. The Insignia 2.0 turbo's standard 18-inch tires are more resistant to our roads, though. Passat wheels do not look as impressive as 17-inch rims, but they are much more tolerant of accidentally falling into a hole.

Volkswagen has the usual suspension and does not offer any versions. Although it has become a little softer than its predecessor, it still cannot be called very comfortable. Bumps Passat fulfills knocked down and without unnecessary sounds. But on the bumpy road, passengers are still shaking.

Silently

The tests are already over, and, sitting at the table of results, I cannot help but be amazed at how consistently practicality prevails in the confrontation between the Opel Insignia and the Volkswagen Passat.
In terms of volume and comfort of the cabin, both cars were equal. But the Passat pulls ahead with a larger trunk.

Exit to the road has changed accents. And even before the measurement of dynamic qualities began. Opel offers a FlexRide system that allows you to choose between ride comfort options. And as soon as the opportunity arose to drive in full force, many more advantages of Opel became clear. Top speed, acceleration, flexibility, handling and stability - in all this the Insignia surpasses the Passat. But Opel also has a slack - its fuel consumption. For every hundred kilometers of mileage in the city, the difference in costs compared to VW is almost fifty hryvnia! So because of its "appetite" Insignia is losing six valuable points at once, which it earned so hard for dynamic data. And although Volkswagen is already ahead, it still saved a few cunning decisions. Maybe the points that this model is gaining for its reputation will be decisive? After all, due to the positive halo created around more than one generation of the model, the car loses its price slowly during the second sale, and the demand for Passat is stable. Insignia does not yet have such an established reputation. However, Volkswagen's minimal advantage can be seen as a success for Opel. After all, it is not necessary to take an Insignia with such a powerful engine. She has a choice of power units. And the range of gasoline engines is even wider than that of the rival.

We think in a new way

Rising fuel prices had to rewrite part of our benchmarking system. Not only has the transport tax disappeared since the beginning of the year, but the prices for gasoline have already soared that we could not leave the weight of the assessment at the same level. Now, instead of the previous 25, the weight of the assessment for efficiency was increased to 50 points, making it the second most important after the price of the car.

Opel summary

Body and comfort
The exterior and interior design look brighter and more expressive than the Volkswagen. The driver's seating position is sportier.	Light trim (in this version) is impractical.
Powertrain and dynamics
High engine power of 220 hp with., especially in sport mode, provides the necessary acceleration even at high speeds. In traffic jams, the 6-speed automatic transmission with torque converter starts smoothly and comfortably. The Flex Ride system allows you to change both the character of the suspension and the responsiveness of the controls.	Fuel consumption is very high. Large rims and low tire profiles make the wheels very vulnerable on our roads.
Finance and equipment
The current price of the model is quite attractive. A wide range of motors are available.	Less aftermarket value than the competitor.

VW Summary

Body and comfort
After updating the exterior, the Passat looks solid, strongly echoing the flagship Phaeton.	There is little reason to change the old Passat to a new one. The size of the cabin has not changed, as, in fact, the interior design has also remained almost the same.
Powertrain and dynamics
The motor and the robotic gearbox work harmoniously and respond very quickly to commands. At the same time, the fuel consumption is pleasantly surprising.	The overclocking dynamics are noticeably more modest than that of the competitor.
Finance and equipment
The people's favorite is slowly losing in value and enjoys a good reputation in the secondary market.	The cost of the car is not small, even considering that under the hood there is not a top-end 2.0 TSI engine, but only a 160-horsepower 1.8 TSI. Basically, the design and the list of Passat additional equipment have changed. In a technical sense, the changes, compared to the previous generation, are minimal.

common data
Body type
Doors / Seats
Dimensions, L / W / H, mm
Front / rear track, mm
Clearance, mm
Curb / full weight, kg
Trunk volume, l
Tank volume, l
Engine
	benz. with unsp. etc., turbo	benz. with unsp. etc., turbo
Rasp. and number of cyl. / cl. on cyl.
Volume, cc
Power, kW (hp) / rpm		118 (160)/5000-6200
Max. cr. torque, Nm / rpm
Transmission
type of drive	front	front
		7-st. robot. DSG
Chassis
Front / rear brakes	disk. vent. / disk.	disk. vent. / disk.
Suspension front / rear	independent / independent	independent / independent
Amplifier
Performance indicators
Maximum speed, km / h
Acceleration 0-100 km / h, s
Ex. highway-city, l / 100 km
Warranty, years / km	2 / no limit samples.	2 / no limit samples.
Maintenance frequency, km
Maintenance cost, UAH
Min. cost., UAH **.
We stand. test. auto, UAH
* At the NBU rate as of April 7, 2011 ** With tested motors and gearboxes

Overall score	Max. scores
Body and comfort
Front space and seating comfort
Rear space and seating comfort
Visibility
Trunk volume, transformation
Quality finishes and fit of parts
Sound insulation quality
Climatic comfort
Smooth ride on empty / loaded vehicle
Powertrain and dynamics
Acceleration
Maximum speed
KP work
Elasticity
Fuel consumption
Power reserve
Controllability
Sustainability
Maneuverability
Finance and equipment
Base Price
Safety
Equipment
Loss of value
Maintenance and operating costs
OSGPO insurance
Warranty
OVERALL ASSESSMENT	500	324	328

Andrey Voloschenko
Photo by Sergey Kuzmich

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The spring morning sun is blinding, reflected in the chrome details of the car in front - we are driving west. Ahead is the diesel Opel Insignia, followed by the updated Honda Accord, and on the shores of the Baltic Sea we will find a fresh Passat - the popular Volkswagen sedan already in its seventh generation.

The next ditch of the federal highway "Baltia" suggested an idea: after all, the drivers of many countries to the west of Russia will never be able to appreciate some of the properties of their cars. Until they go in the opposite direction - to the east.

INVITATION TO TRAVEL

No matter how good and familiar the car you drive around the city every day, getting ready for a long trip always opens something new in the car.

The Opel's seat is very rigid and shapeless at the same time. In the city it is not particularly annoying, but on the highway it is better to reduce the lumbar support to a minimum. But the Opel chair did not become completely comfortable anyway: at times each of the experts fidgeted in an attempt to slightly change the position.

It is more convenient in "Honda-Accord": I didn't want to change the landing all the way. Although the pillow would not hurt to make it longer.

The Volkswagen seat is simple and surprisingly fit for all experts, regardless of body size. Those who happen to travel in the Passat will appreciate the back sofa in about the same way. Even behind our two-meter photographer, there is enough space in all dimensions, you enter and exit with the agility of an athlete and the dignity of a businessman.

The Honda will disappoint the rear passengers. At least those who have passed adolescence. A narrow door hangs stupidly over the arch, the leg of an adult barely squeezes between the sofa and the front chair while dusting the same arch with your backside.

Are you sitting down? Didn't you hit the ceiling? If not, your height is no more than 180 cm.

In Opel, everything is expectedly normal.

PRESS AND TURN

While you are pushing in city traffic jams, using buttons and all sorts of switches, even for an unfamiliar car, is not only easy, but sometimes even interesting. However, the long journey in this discipline puts forward special requirements. Having driven nearly 3000 km in the Opel, we never learned how to press the buttons accurately. It seems that everything is close by, but the feeling of chaos remains. Obvious disadvantages: a fuzzy central light switch, which you always squint at with your eyes, an uncomfortable ring at high speeds that functions as an Enter button, a clumsy on-board computer twist in the middle of the turn signal switch. It's nice that Insignia's navigation knows not only Russia, but also many other countries, including Latvia. True, it is normally oriented only on the main roads.

Navigation "Honda", by the way, believes that the world ends at the border crossing "Burachki". The rest of the buttons and levers are convenient and pleasant to control - they look elegant.

By the way, the current "Passat" has made a noticeable step forward in the interior. Apparently, German designers took into account the criticism of the academically inexpressive interior of the previous model. With light touches - small analogue clocks, bright chrome edging, other little things - the stylists managed to paint the interior without compromising the iron ergonomic logic. As a colleague said, the sensations are at your fingertips. True, our Passat is simpler than our competitors - without navigation and some other bells and whistles. But there is no doubt that additional buttons would be arranged according to the mind.

COMPLEX RACE

In the city "Opel" seemed tough. He twitched nervously at every, even the smallest bump ... and completely transformed with the increase in speed. The car smoothly creeps over the road, extinguishes not only small, but also deep enough irregularities. "Insignia" is not afraid of waves, stands tolerably well and even changes its trajectory, falling into asphalt rails. Good! But those who drive "insignias" there, "in Europe", do not even know about these advantages. True, I feel sorry for them!

"Honda" is slightly sharper than "Opel" reacts to taxiing. Great road holding, as long as it is at least relatively smooth. The suspension conceals small grooves well, but often misses large ones. Yes, and on the waves, the capabilities of the short-stroke suspension are sometimes not enough. The car bounces, almost striking its tail against the asphalt (or something similar to asphalt) upon landing. The sharp steering wheel responds with nervous behavior in ruts. If they are "laid" in areas where you need to go for overtaking, then rally skills are required to keep the car within the framework.

To test the Passat, I had to drive pretty much along the provincial Latvian paths in search of similar to our federal ones. We found it with difficulty. Not ideal, of course - potholes, ditches and rutting are not enough, but somewhat similar. The suspension swallows small irregularities successfully, but the car does not like waves: it repeats the profile of the road, albeit not as reliably as the Honda, but still too diligently. Volkswagen loses to Opel in this nomination.

For the noise level, the rating of Insignia was lowered only because the engine growls so menacingly at idle and growls when accelerating. At high speeds, Opel does not bother with noise, like its competitors.

Not only in the city, but also on the highway, there are enough dynamics for 200 strong Honda, 160 strong Opel and even 140 strong Volkswagen. In our hands was a rather strange from the Russian point of view "Passat": a poor interior, not the most powerful diesel engine and a manual six-speed gearbox. In Western Europe, such cars are in good demand, we will not sell such a modification (at least for now). Therefore, first of all, attention was paid to properties that were not associated with the motor. And yet, let's say a few words about the power unit: the engine pulls, the gears are selected correctly, although the clarity of the switching (especially the reverse gear) could be higher.

There are almost no complaints about car brakes. However, the "Volkswagen" pedal informativeness at least a micron, but higher. From the first press, one gets the impression: all my previous life I drove this particular car.

In real conditions, the Opel, even with very fast overtaking, practically does not lag behind the nimble Honda. "Insignia" only for a moment longer responds to pressing the gas pedal to the floor. And in quieter modes, the cars are related by almost imperceptible, close to the reference switches.

The "Passat" mechanical transmission in a car of this class looks foreign to us.

But the diesel engine behaves perfectly. Although, it would seem, it is not at all powerful for a car with a curb weight of more than 1500 kg. Our drivers, who alternately test Folz in the city and on the highway, did not have any complexes. If you do not whip up the car, the gears can generally be changed through one: the engine pulls from about 1700 rpm.

For the entire trip, Insignia, at a fairly high average speed, consumed, according to the on-board computer, an average of 6.8 l / 100 km, a petrol Honda - about 8 liters, but Passat on the roads of Latvia, where the average went under 90 km / h, kept within 5 l / 100 km.

TURNING MOMENTS

The handling of the cars was assessed on the track of the sports complex "333", which is only half an hour's drive from Riga.

Opel Insignia is distinguished by a certain understatement. Take, for example, the steering wheel, which is clearly overloaded with artificial stabilizing force. Or the suspensions are rather sloping, clearly oriented towards not very good roads: there is a minimum of sportiness in the settings, but with a margin of ability to withstand pits and potholes. On a flat road "Opel" does not always have enough integrity, composure of behavior. The electronics that cannot be switched off completely is rather for the good, because sometimes the Insignia tries to wag the stern too actively. But on a regular highway, the car is comfortable and tireless. Against the background of his rivals, even here he lacks composure and expressive reactions, but otherwise Insignia looks quite reliable and balanced.

The Honda Accord is especially good on flat, smooth asphalt. Excitement is added to the crisp, balanced steering responses familiar from driving on regular roads. Regardless of the weight and size of the car, you quickly forget about its business purpose. Now the driver is one-on-one with speed, considerable G-forces and precise, understandable steering. In other corners, there is an excess of desire for the front-wheel drive to fall out of the intended trajectory. But this is perceived rather as a feature of behavior, and not as an annoying flaw.

Volkswagen Passat attracts with the right steering effort and reference responses. In ordinary life, he will seem even more collected and more accurate than a Honda. However, calmness and equanimity, as well as the lack of driving excitement, are factors that prevent Volkswagen from excelling on the race track. He diligently, as if along a given line, goes through difficult turns, sometimes even breaking into electronically controlled sliding. But all this is as if out of necessity, without the desire to make the driver's soul sing.

LUZU - PLEASE PALDIES - THANKS

The sky, sea, sand of the Baltic resorts, once prestigious in the USSR, have not changed since then, and the infrastructure has become much better.

The easiest way to get to Latvia from Moscow by car is along the M9 “Baltia” highway - just over 900 km to Riga. The coverage is unstable: from quite decent in the Moscow and Pskov regions to frankly ugly, especially at a distance of 300-350 km from the capital. But the main problem is the unpredictable border. Formalities usually take an hour and a half, but it happens that they cost eight to nine hours. This is mainly due to the number of light petrol tankers. Residents of the border regions of Latvia transport cheap Russian gasoline in tanks (not always regular, judging by the duration of filling and tricks like jacking up a car while refueling). At the same time - cigarettes and some food. Travelers with children are unconditionally allowed on both sides out of line.

Opel Insignia, Honda Accord, Volkswagen Passat: East - West

Until a few years ago, all of these cars could be found in dealer price lists for about $ 30,000. Today, any of these vehicles can be purchased for less than $ 13,000. But which one is better?

To do this, let's try to analyze all the parameters in detail. We will mainly focus on how much these cars cost in the aftermarket, how often they break down and how expensive to maintain. But let's not disregard the subjective impression of cars and behavior on the road.

Acquaintance

The goal was clear: to compare the Volkswagen Passat, one of the most popular used cars, with the equally famous Ford Mondeo. But who should you choose as a third party? Finally, the choice was made - Opel Insignia. He is also of German origin, and therefore, probably, the closest to the rivals.

And so we imagine. Opel Insignia, hatchback, 2009, mileage 138,000 km, gasoline turbo engine. Volkswagen Passat, sedan, 2011, mileage 176,000 km, Highline equipment, 2.0 TDI turbodiesel (140 hp). Ford Mondeo, liftback, 2010, mileage 151,000 km, turbodiesel. All vehicles are equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Volkswagen Passat is the youngest and most expensive car in the test, and it also has the highest mileage. His choice is not accidental - this year's Passat is the next generation, as close as possible to the predecessor B6. For three years and a decent portion of kilometers, the German sedan has been well preserved.

First impression

Nothing influences the choice of a car as much as the first impression. From the moment you first see it with your own eyes from a distance of a meter, to the opening of the door, you can already make a purchase decision. Unless you prefer a certain brand and model. And here it will be very difficult for Mondeo.

The Ford Mondeo of the three gives the impression of being the oldest and most shabby car ever. And the point here is not in a specific instance. The cabin just looks outdated, as does the partially digital dashboard. Ford seems much older than its rivals. The build quality is also lame. In addition, the sample under test seems to have been in the hands of not the most responsible and not the cleanest owner.

All of the rotating vents are smashed, the center console squeaks unpleasantly around the gear lever, and all exposed areas are a little frayed. Even the seats, although not torn, look bad. And damaged boot upholstery has been a common occurrence since the days of the old Mondeos.

Opel Insignia, despite the years, still looks good. At least outside. It's not so nice inside. Mainly due to poor ergonomics, cramped interior and the presence of hard plastics. But the interior of the whole trinity has the least signs of aging. This is probably due to the fact that the owner took care of the car and cleaned the cabin regularly.

Volkswagen Passat is the most modern. But this does not mean that the Passat is in the lead. His mileage clearly hints that no one wiped the car with a cloth every day, and he drove not only on holidays and weekends. But aside from the worn steering wheel and rumpled leather seats, the interior still looks good.

However, the cruise control lever is a little scratched, the vents are difficult to move, and loud banging and squeaking plastic can be heard in the back. But considering the mileage, the interior is in very good condition. By its appearance, one could assume that the sedan had covered no more than 100,000 km. Apparently, this is why Volkswagens are so popular - with over 300,000 km of mileage, they look much better than competitors that have passed only half the way.

As for the first impression, the most positive one was made by Opel Insignia. Its interior looks austere and a little boring at first glance, but of higher quality and with fewer signs of wear. At least the Ford Mondeo is not impressive both outside and inside.

Driving

Comparing the behavior of cars was not easy, since the Opel Insignia was equipped with a gasoline engine. But, despite this, he did not manage to avoid a cruise along the city streets. And yet it was not very pleasant to drive Opel. The clutch jerked (although the records show it was recently adjusted), the pedals have an indistinct force, but the engine is surprisingly flexible. The heavy steering wheel is too sharp and not informative enough.

The Passat is more pleasant to drive. It has a lot of space, the pedals have natural resistance, and the electric power steering is informative and creates pleasant steering efforts. A significant part of the positive impression is made by unobtrusive indicators, an ergonomic and easily accessible front panel. All switches and buttons required by the driver are in place.

The Mondeo is even more enjoyable to drive. Its grip is smoother, and the engine responds smoother to the accelerator. During acceleration, the 2-liter Passat unit emits sounds typical of old diesel engines, and has a too bright turbo pickup. Turbodiesel Mondeo is calmer and more predictable. The mechanical resistance steering is almost perfectly tuned. Largely thanks to the classic power steering.

Thus, the best in the city was Mondeo, the Passat in second place, and Insignia in third - mainly due to clutch problems. And this is not only a problem of a specific instance. All Opel Insignias, both diesel and petrol, have a strangely calibrated clutch.

Outside the city on the highway, the picture changes. Opel performs much better. The chassis demonstrates a good compromise between rigidity and comfort. Thanks to the sharp steering wheel, the Insignia agile changes direction, and the roll depends on the speed of entering a turn. The fairly strong gasoline engine provides dynamic acceleration, and the responsiveness is beyond the reach of diesel engines from other competitors.

The Insignia boasts large anatomical seats: comfortable, not too soft and firmly holding the body. However, the equipment of the car is mediocre. This is an inexpensive package without an adaptive chassis, no xenon headlights. Apparently the first owner only wanted a powerful engine and excellent seats.

Insignia is a car in which you can go a long way without back or neck pain. But both the Passat and Mondeo in the higher trim levels are equipped with good seats. If you decide to buy one of these cars, then it is better to look for copies in the highest trim levels: Highline for the Passat and Titanium for Mondeo. You will receive chairs made from better materials and above all with better body support. In poorer versions, the seats tend to be less comfortable with cloth upholstery and flat contour, which will affect long distances. The base Ford lacks a digital dashboard.

VW and Mondeo are equally enjoyable on the highway. The Passat of our three is a true road cruiser that is not well suited for fast cornering. On bumpy roads, the Passat rocks the comfortably tuned chassis and the car starts to float. But this is only noticeable at high speeds. Mondeo behaves in about the same way. It picks up speed easily, just like the Passat, but has more power headroom at high speeds.

The Mondeo is clearly the best in the test. Ford reacts sharply to the throttle pedal release, and is better at tight corners. The Passat is a little boring and sterile, but unwaveringly stable. The Insignia is a cross between the others: more responsive than the Passat, but not nearly as excited as Ford.

Volkswagen reigns supreme on the expressway - refined, light, dynamic and comfortable. Ford boasts of its enthusiasm and excellent responsive steering. Here Opel is again at the center. Although it is comfortable, it lags far behind the Passat in refinement. However, on a country road, the German hatchback moves more confidently, and its chassis allows it to withstand an even faster pace than the Mondeo. But Insignia is not well managed.

Practicality and spaciousness

From the point of view of practicality, formally, the Volkswagen Passat is the worst of all, since it has a standard sedan body. But its trunk is the largest in terms of roominess - 565 liters. While Ford has 540 liters, and Opel has 530 liters.

And, nevertheless, the sedan body has limited options for using the luggage compartment. The loading aperture is not large enough to easily store a crate of beer. In this regard, the trunk of Mondeo and Insignia is better. The transportation capabilities of Mondeo increase significantly after folding the rear seats, but a high step is formed, and the trunk trim quickly deteriorates over time. The materials used in Insignia and Passat are more durable. As for the capacity after folding the rear seats, the difference between Ford and Opel is not so noticeable: 1460 and 1470 liters, respectively.

There is ample space in the second row for all three vehicles. But the Opel is claustrophobic - small rear windows, massive pillars, thick doors and black plastic everywhere. The most comfortable for passengers is the Passat, besides there is less noise from the rear wheels. Mondeo is quite civilized, but in terms of comfort level it falls short of the native Germans.

Reliability

Consider various statistics from various rating agencies. According to ADAC, among cars aged 3 years, Insignia has a reliability class 4 with a failure rate of 11.8%, i.e. malfunctions are found in every ninth car. Mondeo received 3 class reliability with an indicator of 9.3% or every 11 cars, Passat - 2 class, 3.9% or every 26 cars. For the age category of 5 years, the situation is as follows: Opel - 3rd class, 24.5%, Mondeo - 4th class, 29.3%, Passat - 2nd class, 15.7%.

According to TUV Insignia looks more attractive. When evaluating serious and minor defects at the age of 2-3 years, Opel on average ran 64,000 km before the first failure, and the share of serious defects was 8.2%. Passat covered 79,000 km, but the defect rate was 10.7%. The most problematic was Ford - 69,000 km and 12.9%. At the age of 4-5 years, the share of defects was distributed as follows: Insignia - 8.9%, Passat - 13.7%, Mondeo - 15%.

Typical malfunctions

Ford mondeo

The main problem of Ford Mondeo, especially the first years of production, is the quality of finishing materials. Even after a relatively small mileage, plastic began to creak in the cabin, and the interior looked as if the distance traveled was twice as much. Soon the chassis made itself felt, which often had to be repaired, barely passing over 100,000 km. Although it all depends on where and how the car is used.

In terms of operating costs, the FlexFuel version is very interesting, which allows the engine to run on E85 bioethanol. The 2-liter aspirated is not an athlete, but it is quite a reliable unit. Petrol EcoBoost suffers from ECU problems, which is a weak point of the Ford Mondeo. The 2-liter turbodiesel was delivered to us without a particulate filter. But you can find out about its presence by the VIN code.

As for turbodiesels, in addition to the usual hassle, the first two years of production, the injection system added worries. More often than not, poor quality diesel fuel was to blame. Owners using good additives practically did not encounter malfunctions. It is worth noting that the scale of the problem is not as great as with the previous generation Mondeo.

There are also troubles with electronics: remote control of the central lock, electric seat, audio and navigation system, heated front and rear windows or mirrors. Sometimes the reason is only a blown fuse, but it is imperative to check the operation of electrical equipment.

A bunch of a 2.3-liter engine with an automatic transmission is not successful enough. Such a car consumes a lot of fuel, but not dynamic enough.

In addition to reliable mechanics, a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed automatic transmission with two clutches were offered. Both automatic transmissions are fairly stable. The main thing is not to forget to change the oil in the box every 60,000 km.

Opel insignia

Although Opel diesel engines are rough and noisy, they are very reliable. However, irreversible wear on the turbocharger, dual-mass flywheel, injectors and diesel particulate filter is unlikely to be avoided. But this is the reality of all modern diesel engines. And in the case of Opel, these defects are not numerous and occur only with high mileage.

Like any other car, the Opel Insignia needs regular maintenance. If you change the oil on time, Opel engines will serve faithfully for a long time. You need to be prepared for the high fuel consumption of gasoline engines, especially the 1.4 Turbo and 1.6 Turbo. The 2-liter Turbo is very good, but burns at least 9 liters per 100 km.

The Insignia's biggest problem is its electronics. Malfunctions occur in the operation of the on-board computer, audio system, climate control, heated seats and electric seats. This is not a dogma, but when inspecting a car, be sure to make sure that the electrical equipment is working.

If you are looking for an Opel with an automatic or all-wheel drive system, thoroughly test the operation of the units. Pay particular attention to crunching or other strange sounds. They shouldn't be. To test, make a couple of circles with the wheels completely turned out, first in one direction and then in the other direction.

The weak point in Insignia is the brakes, especially in station wagons. Not in terms of efficiency, but in terms of resources. The heavy weight of the car wears them out very quickly. The chassis of the vehicle may make noise after 100,000 km. Wheel bearings fail relatively often. Rarely do they withstand more than 120,000 km. Opel mechanics claim that Insignias come with suspension problems mainly with a mileage of more than 150,000 km.

Volkswagen passat

Passat is a really solid car. At least in terms of workmanship, materials and accuracy of fit. The chassis resists road adversity quite well. Even on Russian roads, the chassis does not require serious intervention up to 150,000 km.

However, under the hood, the Volkswagen Passat has nothing to brag about. The first 2.0 TDI PD engines were very problematic. Vulnerabilities: Lubrication system, injection system, wear clutches, dual-mass flywheel and turbocharger. The situation improved significantly in 2008 when the more modern 2.0 TDI CR engine was installed.

It should be noted that we are talking about a 140 hp turbodiesel. Those unreliable units had the code designation WRC and were a unit with a 16-valve head and a short-lived Siemens injection system. Unless the absence of a particulate filter could be considered a plus. The aluminum block head could be driven at any moment with a mileage of 150 to 200,000 km. The exact same engine, marked with the BMP code, has the same dynamic characteristics, a more reliable mechanical 8-valve head and a particulate filter. However, the head often suffered from cracks. Fortunately, the Bosch injection system turned out to be more resistant.

One of the common problems of 2-liter VW diesels is the balancing shafts and the oil pump drive, which rarely nursed more than 150,000 km.

The positive side is 1.9 TDI. But it is also characterized by the characteristic problems of modern diesel engines, for example, wear of the turbocharger. It's better not to think about a weak 1.6 TDI. The trade wind is too heavy for him.

The situation is no less rosy with gasoline engines. Avoid the 1.6 FSI and 2.0 FSI aspirated engines, which often fail and have high fuel consumption. TSI engines aren't all that bad, but they do suffer from turbocharger issues. 1.8 TSI at high mileage requires the elimination of "hanging valves", and sometimes defects in the head of the block. The 2.0 TSI is relatively reliable, but it can use up oil.

The 6-speed automatic DSG with a wet clutch system has proven itself well. If the oil is changed regularly at the intervals prescribed by the manufacturer, then it is quite capable of traveling more than 200,000 km without serious problems. DSG6 is used with 2.0 TDI, 2.0 TSI and V6 engines.

Even before the generation change, the Passat B6 (2005-2010) was paired with 1.6 FSI, 1.8 TSI, 2.0 FSI, 2.0 TSI, 2.0 TFSI engines with a classic 6-speed automatic with a torque converter. It is not as fast as DSG, but much more reliable. The box also needs regular oil changes.

The 7-speed DSG robot uses a "dry clutch" system and almost always causes problems by 100,000 km. Often, it is necessary to replace not only the clutch, but also the mechatronics. And this can take up to $ 2,000. DSG7 was paired with 1.4 TSI, 1.8 TSI and 1.6 TDI engines. Regular oil changes are vital not only for automatic transmissions, but also for the Haldex clutch (with an all-wheel drive system).

If you find out that the owner has never changed the oil in the box or clutch, or at least exceeded the recommended replacement period by more than 40,000 km, run, do not look back. Unfortunately, many people simply don't know that oil needs to be changed regularly. And then they are surprised that their box has failed.

For Passat, the transparency of the history of origin and service is extremely important. Don't look at the mileage, focus on the general condition of the car. The used Passat is very adept at masking its age. Even cars that have covered more than 300,000 km are not an exception. Avoid instances after chip tuning.

Market situation

The largest selection is provided by the Volkswagen Passat, slightly less popular are Mondeo and Insignia. For the 2008 Passat, they ask from $ 8,000. For the new 2011 B7, the owners want to get at least $ 13,000. Opel Insignia is priced about the same. Ford Mondeo is slightly cheaper: 2008 from $ 7,500, 2011 - from $ 11,000.

Spare parts cost

Cars differ in different equipment. It is quite obvious that xenon headlights and lamps, anti-reflective heated windshields and a rain sensor are much more expensive than conventional parts. The table below shows the approximate cost of those parts (in dollars) that are most often subject to minor damage in accidents.

Detail	Ford Mondeo, $	Opel Insignia, $	Volkswagen Passat, $
Headlights - halogen
Headlights - xenon		1280 (adaptive)	1090 (adaptive)
front fender
windshield
radiator
set of shock absorbers and springs
brake kit
Clutch (set)
two-disk flywheel

As you can see, repairing these cars is not a cheap pleasure. The sedan on twenties, with an adaptive chassis, swivel xenon, sport bumper and heated windshield looks beautiful. But keep in mind, sooner or later something will break. Fixing a malfunction of the base vehicle will require less cost.

Now compare the estimated cost of various maintenance operations and consumables.

Summarizing

Volkswagen Passat is a solid car that rides very well, is well assembled, cozy and refined, has well thought-out ergonomics and is presented on the secondary market in a wide range. It is also the most modern car in the top three.

Of the minuses, it is worth noting questions about the notorious reliability of the TSI and TDI PD engines, the DSG box. Do not discount the large number of dispossessed and tortured copies, as well as the popularity among hijackers and scammers.

The Opel Insignia is definitely an interesting design option. Despite its age, Opel still looks attractive. Of the advantages, one can single out a fairly high mechanical reliability, a variety of engines and the presence of all-wheel drive modifications.

Among the disadvantages are noisy diesel engines, insufficiently informative steering, a little confusing ergonomics and problems with electronics. In addition, the passenger compartment is rather cramped for rear passengers, and the atmosphere causes bouts of claustrophobia.

According to statistics, most complaints from Ford Mondeo owners come to the address of low-quality interior, which today seems to be outdated. Subjective driving experiences stand up for Mondeo. In terms of its driving characteristics, it is clearly the best of the three. In addition, Ford offers the lowest official prices for the most sought-after OE parts. And besides, it is cheaper when comparing rivals of the same year, in a similar configuration and with the same mileage.

If driving performance and a complete sense of control are important to you, then buy a Ford Mondeo. In any other case, choosing one of these three cars will not be a mistake. The main thing is a thorough inspection and test drive. Stop the inspection as soon as you have even the slightest doubt, and continue your search further. The choice is large enough.