If you’ve sat in earlier Insignias you’ll recognise that the Country Tourer benefits from the improvements Vauxhall’s made to the entire range.

Although the basic design and shape remains the same there have been improvements to both the quality of the materials used and ergonomics.

Chief among the modifications is a relocated display screen for the infotainment package, complete with eight inch colour touchscreen on versions fitted with the RF 700 and RF 900 units.

There’s also been a reduction in the number of buttons and knobs making it easier to navigate the controls without looking while on the move, although the touchpad mounted on the centre console takes a little while to familiarise yourself with but is intuitive when you do.

All Insignias feature simplified instrumentation but Country Tourer Nav models benefit from the LCD and conventional analogue instrument combination binnacle. The central screen can display a facsimile of the regular speedometer, show it in digital form with trip computer details beneath or a combination with sat-nav mapping and directions.

One old Insignia gripe remains, however – rearward visibility. The door mirrors may be aerodynamically efficient but the glass area is restricted. Similarly, the rear window aperture is small when viewed through the rear view mirror. Usefully, a reversing camera, blind spot monitoring and other aids are available.

Revised suspension and improved seats ensure that Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer comfort levels are higher than when the Insignia was first launched.

Vauxhall’s revamped the suspension includes uprated rear suspension dampers that provide better roadholding as well as a core compliant ride quality.

This is enhanced with the standard adaptive ‘FlexRide’ system which allows the driver to switch between ‘Normal’, ‘Tour’ and ‘Sport’ modes. The first two settings are aimed at being comfortable, ‘Tour’ in particular, but over anything other than smooth surfaces ‘Sport’ has a tendency to feel harsh over pot holes and speed bumps.

Although the Country Tourer rides 20mm higher than other Insignias, there’s no obvious penalty of inferior body roll due to the higher centre of gravity, although it is more pronounced when not in ‘Sport’ mode.

The cabin itself is spacious enough for five adults, although admittedly the centre rear passenger isn’t quite as pampered in terms of elbow room. Even with dark trim finishes it doesn’t feel claustrophobic in the Country Tourer.

Child restraints can be easily fitted to the outer rear seat positions using the ISOFIX mounting points and all three positions have a conventional seatbelt and head rest.

Up front the revised seats ensure the Country Tourer is a comfortable place in which to cover long distances, as well as the odd spells of ‘soft-roading’ that it will be subjected to.

Make no mistake, this Insignia is no all-terrain vehicle in a Clark Kent sober-suited disguise, it’s designed to tackle mildy-rutted roads and in slippery conditions more ably than a regular estate car would. When the going does get tougher, the Country Tourer performs well and maintains its composure over deeply scarred surfaces.