Vauxhall Crossland X – 2019
By Ian Strachan
Vauxhall has established its presence in the lucrative and growing SUV market since its acquisition by PSA, with the Crossland X and the larger Grandland X.
Based on Peugeot underpinnings, the attractive Crossland X small crossover sports utility is pitched into the family market, with the virtues of space and practicality. Smaller than its all-wheel drive cousin, the Mokka X and the larger Grandland X, it still boasts a tardis-like interior. And it’s very competitive on price.
I tested the Crossland X in Elite specification, powered by a 102 bhp 1.5 turbo diesel engine. This model comes in at £21,715.
The Crossland X has a solid, quality feel to it inside and out. Despite being an inexpensive vehicle it feels substantial.
The Crossland X is also a good looker. It is smart, well-proportioned and rugged without looking functional. Its looks are helped by a contrast colour roof (an extra £400), deep grille, powerful road stance and beefy 17-inch diamond-cut alloys.
Inside the car is very Vauxhall – not dissimilar to an Astra – but still has a lot of class about it. It’s very roomy, with attractive upholstery trim of a high quality. The dash is simple and uncluttered, with sensibly placed, easily accessible controls. There are plenty of oddment spaces around the cabin, and legroom and headroom are more than adequate. The driving position is elevated, giving good all-round visibility..
Interior load-space is very good at 410 litres, with the sliding split rear seats folding flat. This gives you a large van-like flat surface. There’s also a stowage compartment under the boot floor, or you can remove the boot floor giving you more depth.
There are plenty of power options on offer. The turbo-charged diesel version I drove was linked to a pleasant six-speed manual gearbox. This is a good unit, offering adequate power throughout the range without ever feeling worked. It’s not the quietest diesel engine on the market, but delivers more-than=adequate power.
The Crossland X’s ride and handling are stable and predictable with little body roll on corners and bends. The suspension takes care of most road conditions, although it loses its composure a little on very rough surfaces. Traction control, electronic stability and hill start assist are standard features.
Fuel consumption is more than respectable – giving you an impressive 60.1 mpg in mixed driving. .
I test drove the Crossland X in Elite trim level which gives you bags of extras as standard, including dual zone electronic climate control, cruise control with speed limiter, all round electric windows, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, front camera system, steering wheel mounted controls, remote central locking, tyre pressure monitoring and all-round airbags.
You also get Vauxhall Navilink European satnav system. On-board entertainment gives you AppleCarPlay, a DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming via an eight inch colour touchscreen, with voice control. Safety aids include lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.
My test car was fitted with a park assist pack (£620), metallic paint (£575), a winter pack (£355) and a safety pack (£500)
It’s difficult to fault this Vauxhall. It’s a roomy and practical SUV with a very competitive price tag which will keep other manufacturers on their toes.
If you are interested in the Vauxhall Crossland X, Corsa, or Astra then you can check out some of the amazing Vauxhall Offers online. Vauxhall is one of the biggest-selling brands in the UK, known for their quality and mid-range pricing. In fact, the Vauxhall Corsa might just be the most popular car on the road… perhaps soon to be followed by the Crossland X.
