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by Doug Revolta 9 June 2017 Follow @DougRevolta Share
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Vauxhall took its time introducing a crossover when its rivals were busy launching theirs.
But after bringing the Vauxhall Mokka – since updated and rebranded as the apparently more rugged sounding Vauxhall Mokka X – to the market, the company has found its feet, and its latest introduction is a compact crossover of a slightly different mould: the new Vauxhall Crossland X.
Trademark Vauxhall rear lights are rather more racy-looking than the car around themDoug RevoltaEditorial assistant
Since 2012, more than 120,000 Mokkas have been sold and now Vauxhall just can’t help itself, to the extent that it will put two more relatively compact crossovers on sale this year.
This, the Vauxhall Crossland X, is the first. The second, the Vauxhall Grandland X, will be larger than its siblings. Market overkill?
No, says Vauxhall, but on paper the space between the Mokka X and Crossland X appears very slender indeed. The Crossland X is the smaller of the two, but it is the shorter by only 63mm.
Luton’s justification is that the Mokka X has more premium allure than its stablemate. The Mokka X can be had with large alloy wheels and four-wheel drive, and is pitched as a rival to the Nissan Juke and Skoda Yeti.
The Crossland X, meanwhile, is front-wheel drive only and has the Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 in its sights. This new Vauxhall shares its underpinnings with the latter as part of a technology-sharing agreement that preceded Peugeot’s parent company, PSA Group, buying a controlling stake in Opel-Vauxhall from General Motors.
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The Crossland X is a competitively priced proposition. The range starts at £16,555 for a low-powered 1.2-litre petrol version and rises to £21,380 for the most expensive 1.6-litre diesel model.
Related Vauxhall Crossland X 2017-2020 reviews
Vauxhall Crossland X 1.6T D 99 Ecotech Blueinjection Elite first driveVauxhall Crossland X 1.2T 110 Ecotec SE first drive
Our test car was equipped with the highest-powered 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which makes 128bhp and drives through a six-speed manual gearbox. In its high Elite specification, the list price is £19,395, although the options fitted to it raise that to £22,375.
So is there sufficient room for Vauxhall to grow further in the crossover market? Let’s find out.
Verdict Model tested: Rating:
Vauxhall Crossland X 2017-2020
GoodSpacious cabin and bootTypically good on valueStrong, flexible turbo petrol engineBadDisappointing rolling refinementOverly light, anodyne steeringCabin finish