German automaker Opel first offered the Insignia in 2008, replacing the Vectra and Signum in its lineup. Also sold as a Vauxhall in Britain, a Holden Commodore in Australia, and the a Regal in China and the U.S., we’ve already seen a fastback iteration of the model offered on this side of the pond as the new 2018 Buick Regal GS. Now, Opel is offering up a hot-to-trot wagon version called the GSi Sports Tourer. The GSi nameplate was pulled from previous go-faster versions of Opel’s street cars, with previous examples including the Manta GSi and Kadett GSi from the mid-‘80s, as well as the Kadett 2.0 GSi 16V and Astra GSi and Corsa GSi. Now, followingw a full reveal at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, there’s a new one that the automaker says was designed to be both fun and practical. Outside, you’ll find long, lean, wide, and horizontal styling elements, while under the hood resides a potent turbo 2.0-liter engine, all of which combines with a substantial amount of space in back for people and things.

This is Opel’s new flagship station wagon, so it makes sense the Germans gave it the royal treatment. In fact, Opel is so certain it’ll bring the sporting goods, it included a picture of a racing suit, helmet, and gloves in the back of the trunk in the press shots. But is it really worthy of such connotations? Read on the find out.

Continue reading to learn more about the Opel Insignia GSi Sports Tourer.

Exterior

At first glance, we think the Opel Insignia GSi Sports Tourer is a very good looking piece of design. Observed head on or from the front three-quarters view, it’s got the wide and low stance of a sporty performer, while the profile reveals the long wheelbase and extended roofline of a practical wagon platform.

Indeed, Opel was adamant on adding sporting cues to the traditional station wagon body style, and in our opinion, the result is a good one. Up front, chrome was added to the intakes, adding a nice shine to the corners and offsetting the horizontal headlight housings with a more vertical shape. Inside the headlight housings you’ll find IntelliLux LED matrix lighting elements, complemented by checkmark-shaped daytime running lights.

Moving to the flanks, we see a handsome beltline that dips down towards the front fenders, giving the whole thing more of a raked stance than before. The lower side skirts book end the plus-sized wheels, which are up to an impressive 20-inches in diameter.

In back, the taillights sport a shape similar to the headlights, giving the rounded rear hatch a much flatter visual appearance. Up top, there’s a curved trailing edge spoiler, while below is a chrome surround for the exhaust pipes, once again mimicking the overall design scheme of the front end. The wheelbase is measured at 2,829 mm (111.4 inches).

The overall impression we get is one of a BTCC racer estate. And that’s a very good thing.

Interior

Step into the cabin of the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer, and you’ll find the right type of performance gear you’d expect after checking out the aggressive exterior. Kicking it off is a flat-bottom steering wheel, standard fair on anything with any sort of sporting intent. In the foot well are pedals made from aluminum.

The performance cues continue with specially made bucket seats in front. Opel says that in addition to lots of side support during spirited stints in the curves, these sitters are also certified by the Campaign For Healthier backs, which means they’re comfortable and supportive in other ways as well, using a tall seat back and integrated headrest. The seats also get great comfort features like ventilation, heating, and massage functions, while the GSi logo is embroidered into the head rests.

Meanwhile, the Sport Tourer’s longer wheelbase helps out with second row leg room, with up to five passengers accommodated in total. In back, the two outer rear seats get a heating function as well.

Of course, one of the keys of a model like this is rear storage space, and the Insignia has plenty – up to 1,665 liters (58.8 cubic feet) with the seats folded all the way down, or with the seats up, a total of 560 liters (19.8 cubic feet). Options include a 40/20/40 fold for the rear bench, plus there’s a sensor that’ll let you kick your foot under the rear bumper to open the hatch.

Infotainment duties are handled by the Opel IntelliLink and Opel OnStar systems, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support smartphone integration. In case you were unaware, Opel OnStar provides services like booking a hotel room and searching for available parking. There’s also a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot, plus safety features like forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and automatic braking.

Drivetrain

Mounted under that long and low hoodline, you’ll find the Opel rocking a new engine, one that was specifically “tailored for the Opel flagship.” Boosting it is a sequential two-stage turbocharger, which raises output to 210 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and an impressive 354 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm, all of which is derived from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel powerplant. Put your foot down, and you’ll do the 0-to-62 mph sprint in 7.9 seconds, while top speed is rated at 231 km/h (144 mph). Efficiency under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) is rated at a combined 7.3 liters per 100 km, while emissions are rated 192 grams per km.

Alternatively, if oil burners aren’t really your thing, there’s the option for a gas engine as well. Power sees an increase to 260 horses, while torque is down to 295 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm, both of which make sense compared to a sporty diesel powerplant. Performance, however, sees a boost overall, with the 0-to-62 mph sprint done in 7.5 seconds, while top speed is bumped to 245 km/h (152 mph). Efficiency for the gas engine comes in at a combined NEDC rating of 8.7 liters per 100 km, with emissions rated at 199 grams per km.

Putting the power to the ground is a standard AWD system with torque vectoring capability. Opel calls it the Twinster system, and it uses a twin-clutch set-up in place of a traditional differential, an upgrade that Opel asserts almost completely eliminates understeer.

The rest of the drivetrain is composed of a new eight-speed automatic transmission with the usual shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

Opel Insignia GSi Sports Tourer engine and drivetrain specs

Suspension And Chassis

As you probably expect from a sporty German-made passenger vehicle, the Opel Insignia GSi Sports Tourer was refined at the Nurburgring, which means it should have some pretty decent handling chops. What’s more, the new GSi enjoys an improved chassis, including lower springs that drop the body by about 10 mm (0.39 inches), as well as special adaptive shocks that compensate for the lower ride height.

Standard spec includes a FlexRide chassis system, with adaptable components that alter settings for the dampers and steering system to maximize grip, while also changing how sharp the throttle response is and the shift points for the eight-speed automatic, all in the name of more speed or more comfort.

Further alterations can be made via a variety of driving modes, which include Standard, Tour, and Sport modes. And if you really wanna get serious, there’s even a Competition mode, which will increase the yaw allowable under the stability control system, and even turning off traction control all together.

Providing the grip is Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4 S tire compound. Hauling it down are brakes from Brembo, with four-pot calipers and 345 mm (13.6-inch) discs.

Prices

Opel didn’t give us exact pricing on the new Insignia GSi Sports Tourer, but we’d expect it to slot in at around 28,000 euros, just a few thousand above the current model. Look for it to arrive in dealers early on in 2018.

Competition

Volkswagen Passat Estate

While arguably a bit more serious than the Opel, this Volkswagen does get a rather handsome bit of styling and good amount of equipment as well. The performance is also pretty serious, with the top-trim GT model getting a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine pumping out an impressive 236 horsepower through a 4Motion AWD system and seven-speed DSG gearbox, all of which yields a sprint to 62 mph in 6.3 seconds.

Read our full review on the Volkswagen Passat Estate.

Mazda6 Tourer

Mazda has built a reputation for offering efficient, practical, and above all, fun passenger vehicles, and the Mazda6 Tourer is no different. Providing the go is a SkyActiv-D diesel powerplant making 147 horsepower, which routes through a six-speed manual gearbox. Alternatively, buyers can upgrade to a gas four-cylinder making 163 horsepower, with the option for a six-speed automatic on the table as well. Pair all that with some slick Kodo exterior style, faultless handling, and a decent amount of space, and you’ve got yourself one stout competitor for the Opel.

Read our full review on the Mazda6 Tourer.

Conclusion

I’m not gonna lie – I’m a big fan of sporty wagons, and this Opel certainly looks like a tempting offer. It’s got good styling, while the interior is decently equipped and offers a good amount of space. Throw in the sporty, ‘Ring-refined handling, plus as much as 260 horsepower on tap, and things are looking up.

Too bad this thing isn’t offered on these shores. While it’s true that U.S. audiences are more inclined to SUVs over the lower and longer estates, I think it’s possible more cars like the Insignia GSi Sports Tourer could change that.

References

Buick Regal GS

Read our full review on the Buick Regal GS.

Read more Opel news.