Behind the wheel of Vauxhall’s new Grandland X SUV

IF you ignore the Opel badges on the inside, the car you see here is the production-ready version of Vauxhall’s allnew Nissan Qashqai rival, the Grandland X.

The new crossover was revealed earlier this year, and it’s the third SUV in Vauxhall’s growing line-up. Born from a joint venture that was arranged before PSA Peugeot Citroen took over as owner of Vauxhall/opel, the Grandland X is based on the same platform as the Peugeot 3008. It shares many parts with the French crossover, and comes with a similar range of engines and gearboxes. Here we try the Grandland X powered by a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine.

Those familiar with the 3008 will notice a few parts have been lifted from the Peugeot unchanged. The starter button is identical, for example, while many of the warning lights and illuminations on the dash are the same, too. The screen, dials and centre console design are all unique, however.

Our experiences with Peugeot’s quiet and punchy 128bhp Puretech petrol engine are emulated in the Grandland X. It’s our first taste of the new Vauxhall, but given the three-cylinder turbo’s strong performance and reasonable running costs, it’s likely to be the pick of the range when it goes on sale in January. It feels more refined than in the smaller Crossland X, thanks in part to the superior six-speed (rather than five-speed) box. A 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel is also offered.

However, like the Crossland X, the Grandland X’s controls are all very light. The clutch and steering don’t need much effort, and the gearbox isn’t particularly precise. There’s lots of body roll, too, and while

“The Grandland X is a comfortable and capable cruiser, with fine urban and motorway manners”