UK Drive: Vauxhall's Crossland X makes for a great family hauler

What is it?

Remember the Vauxhall Meriva, the original small MPV? Well, this is its replacement, the Crossland X.

It sits just below the Zafira (as well as the upcoming Grandland X) in Vauxhall’s range, giving the manufacturer a fresh contender in the ever-more competitive small SUV market.

Lining up alongside the Mokka X, the Crossland X offers a more function-over-form alternative for buyers not so fussed on making a visual statement.

What’s new?

The Crossland X is a totally new car to the Vauxhall line-up. Not only does it have a fresh model name, it’s the first PSA-based car from the brand since it was bought by the French giant, sitting on a modified version of the PF1 platform that currently underpins the Citroen C3 Picasso and Peugeot 2008.

This means new-to-Vauxhall engines and gearboxes feature, as well as PSA’s infotainment system.

There’s a new look, too. The car gets Vauxhall’s new, more angular design treatment, as seen on the latest Insignia.

What’s under the bonnet?

Three petrol and two diesel engine options are on offer for the Crossland X.

For petrol models, a turbocharged 1.2-litre engine is available in three states of tune.

The engine we tested was a 108bhp, 205Nm of torque option. It takes the car from 0-60mph in 10.4 seconds and up to a top speed of 116mph. As for economy, 57.6mpg is claimed with CO₂ emissions of 111g/km. As it sits in the middle of the range, it’s likely to be the most popular.

As for the diesels, there’s one base 1.6-litre engine, which comes in two states of tune.

What’s it like to drive?

Although the Crossland X is fairly capable while driving around town and in a supermarket car park — thanks to ultra-light steering and great visibility — it doesn’t ever feel properly connected to the road.

The light steering that makes driving less than 10mph and parking great is the car’s downfall in most scenarios, requiring far too much input in normal driving and absolutely no hope if you want to have some cornering fun.

It’s not particularly comfortable, either. The suspension is overly soft, even for an MPV, and the seats provide little support, so you’re likely to find yourself bouncing about on any kind of bumpy road.

As a kid and shopping hauler though, it does the job well. We managed to fit two rather large adults in the back with ease and the boot provides 410 litres of space with the rear seats up — which increases to an impressive 1,255 litres when they’re folded down.

How does it look?

The Crossland X isn’t offensive to look at, but it’s by no means a good-looking thing.

There’s little character to the front of the car and has a very generic visual impact, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re not fussy about the looks of a car.

Some weird styling elements feature at the rear of the car, though. There’s a particularly strange addition, with a styling line that stretches between the rear windows and brake lights that looks like a rather awkward addition for an otherwise understated car. Perhaps the space could’ve been more effectively used to extend the rear windows for even better visibility.

Otherwise, you’re looking at a car that nobody else will, and for some, that’s just perfect.

How does it look?

The Crossland X isn’t offensive to look at, but it’s by no means a good-looking thing.

There’s little character to the front of the car and has a very generic visual impact, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re not fussy about the looks of a car.

Some weird styling elements feature at the rear of the car, though. There’s a particularly strange addition, with a styling line that stretches between the rear windows and brake lights that looks like a rather awkward addition for an otherwise understated car. Perhaps the space could’ve been more effectively used to extend the rear windows for even better visibility.

Otherwise, you’re looking at a car that nobody else will, and for some, that’s just perfect.

What’s it like inside?

It’d be hard to expect supreme luxury for a £20k car, but the Crossland X’s interior quality is rather sub-par.

Hard, scratchy plastics feature throughout, which is perhaps ideal if you’re lugging kids and their McDonald’s about, but up-front there’s little comfort. The cloth seats are a little too firm after a while and for whatever reason, there’s an armrest for the driver but not for the passenger.

Cabin space is plentiful though, with a nice deep cubby hole in the centre console, which is ideal for phones and keys, with covered storage space between the front seats that could take as much as a small handbag.

What’s the spec like?

What the Crossland X lacks in quality, it doesn’t lack in equipment.

On our SE car, standard kit included 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, Vauxhall’s OnStar connectivity, LED running lights and a seven-inch infotainment system.

Options added included an upgraded Navi 5.0 infotainment system, 17” wheels and a rear-view camera.

The tech highlight on the Crossland X is comfortably Vauxhall’s OnStar system. Not only does it allow remote control of some of the car’s functions via mobile phone, it even comes with 4G wi-fi — which proved useful in a power cut experienced during our time with the car, with it becoming a mobile charging device and internet hotspot.

Verdict

Objectively, the Vauxhall Crossland X is a solid choice if you simply want something to throw your shopping and children in, with enough equipment to keep you entertained while stuck in traffic with the two.

If you want more style and perhaps better driving dynamics though, its rivals — including the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and even Vauxhall’s own Mokka X — would be more suitable choices.

The Crossland X is by no means a bad car, but it’s far from a class leader.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Vauxhall Crossland X SE
Price:  £20,455
Engine: 1.2T Ecotec
Power (bhp): 108bhp
Torque (Nm): 205Nm
Max speed (mph): 116mph
0-60mph: 10.4 seconds
MPG (combined): 57.6mpg
Emissions (g/km): 111g/km