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Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Opel Insignia B: the buying guide

Family car · 2017–2022 · Petrol, Diesel

✓ 24 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Extra caution
Reliability
2.5/5
Estimated monthly cost
€372/month
Indicative prices
€10,100 – €16,700

6 known faults

Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Opel Insignia B, front three-quarter view

Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Extra caution

Large family car, very well protected (5 stars at Euro NCAP in 2017) and spacious: 490 L boot in the Grand Sport saloon, 560 L in the Sports Tourer estate. The diesels combine several documented weak points (timing chain, EGR, AdBlue, a fire-risk recall on some 2.0 engines), while the 1.5 Turbo petrol is less often reported. A complete service history is essential.

Reliability
2.5/5
Indicative prices
€10,100 – €16,700
Monthly cost
€372
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 1.5 Turbo 165.

  • 1.5 Turbo 140 BVA

    Petrol · Automatic · 140 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.5 Turbo petrol with 140 hp, automatic gearbox (owner testimony on Fiches-auto).

  • 1.5 Turbo 165

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Manual · 165 hp · 6.0 L/100 km · 136 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    1.5 Turbo petrol with 165 hp and 250 Nm, here with manual gearbox. Testimonies mainly report injection problems; fewer weak points than the diesels.

  • 1.6 CDTI 136 BVA

    Diesel · Automatic · 136 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.6 CDTI diesel with 136 hp and automatic gearbox. Timing chain to check: the original tensioner is described as a weak point.

  • 2.0 Diesel 170 EAT8

    Diesel · Automatic · 170 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 diesel with 170 hp and EAT8 automatic gearbox. Cited as the choice for high-mileage drivers, but to be checked: chain, EGR, AdBlue, fuel recall.

Market prices

€10,100 – €16,700

Indicative range: 2017 to 2022, yearly medians of 135 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Timing chain (2.0 diesel 170 hp)

Severity 3/3 · Serious

Owners of the 2.0 diesel 170 hp report a noisy chain or tensioner, with rattles when cold or at idle beyond roughly 120,000 km. Testimonies on Fiches-auto describe a break in the chain linking the camshafts, causing engine failure (one case at 145,000 km). These are testimonies, not statistics.

Versions
2.0 Diesel 170 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Timing chain tensioner (1.6 CDTI 136)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

On the 1.6 CDTI, the original hydraulic tensioner is described as a design fault: oil can drain out when the engine is switched off. Car Reliability Report advises against buying a 1.6 CDTI without an invoice for a recent chain replacement. Fiches-auto also notes a noisy chain in testimonies.

Versions
1.6 CDTI 136 BVA
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Erratic injection (1.5 Turbo petrol)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

Owners of the 1.5 Turbo describe injection problems: injectors considered erratic, an engine that judders even after several injectors were replaced, and jerks. The samples are small (a few testimonies).

Versions
1.5 Turbo 140 BVA, 1.5 Turbo 165
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

EGR valve clogging and failure (2.0 diesel)

Severity 1/3 · Annoying

On the 2.0 CDTI, soot from short journeys and low temperatures clogs the EGR valve; Autodoc advises replacing it at around 100,000 to 120,000 km or when fault codes appear. Car Reliability Report rates this problem as medium severity between 70,000 and 120,000 km.

Versions
2.0 Diesel 170 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Recall: fuel hose damaged by a bracket (2.0 diesel, 2016-2018)

Manufacturer recall

A recall concerns Insignia B built from June 2016 to November 2018: the fuel hose can be damaged by contact with a bracket, which can cause a leak and a fire risk. According to Au7o, the 2.0 diesel engine is affected; the repair is free of charge. Check with an Opel dealer, using the serial number, that the recall has been carried out.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
2.0 Diesel 170 EAT8
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Opel Insignia”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€148
Insurance€69
Maintenance€41
Depreciation€114
Total per month€372

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • NEDC consumption (older, more optimistic than WLTP) as no WLTP figure is published: fuel is probably slightly underestimated.
  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€148

1.5 Turbo 165 version: combined consumption of 6 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

6 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €148

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€69

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€41

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€114

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Have an Opel dealer check, using the serial number, that the fuel hose recall (2016-2018) has been carried out.
  • Diesel: listen to the timing chain when cold (rattle) and ask for the invoice for the tensioner or chain replacement if one was done.
  • Diesel: have the fault codes read (EGR, AdBlue) and check there is no engine warning light or AdBlue message.
  • 1.5 Turbo petrol: check for a steady idle, no juddering or jerks on acceleration, and no oil leaks.
  • Check the operation of the window regulators and electronic functions (alarm, starting), and the watertightness under the passenger-side cup holder.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Was the fuel recall carried out at Opel? Do you have proof?
  • Has the timing chain or its tensioner been replaced, and at what mileage?
  • Have there been any repairs to the EGR, AdBlue or injection, and do you have the invoices?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: Jakub "Flyz1" Maciejewski, CC BY-SA 4.0

Renault Talisman

I · 2015–2022

Buy with care
Price
€10,200 – €19,000
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Opel Astra

K · 2015–2021

Buy with care
Price
€7,000 – €12,000
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ford Focus

IV · 2018–2025

Good choice, check first
Price
€10,800 – €20,000
Reliability
4/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Opel Insignia B (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Euro NCAP rating for the Opel Insignia B?

5 stars, awarded in 2017 to the Grand Sport and Sports Tourer versions (adults 93%, children 85%, pedestrians 78%, safety assist 69%). Euro NCAP states this rating expired on 1 January 2024.

What is the boot capacity of the Insignia B?

490 litres for the Grand Sport saloon, 560 litres for the Sports Tourer estate (Fiches-auto).

Which engine should I choose for a used Insignia B?

The 1.5 Turbo 165 hp petrol is cited less often for faults than the diesels, whose documented weak points are the timing chain, EGR and AdBlue. Whatever the engine, insist on complete servicing and proof of the fuel recall on the 2016-2018 2.0 diesels.

Found a listing?

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