Qashqai challenger lacks the X factor

AS YOU probably know, PSA Group, which owns Peugeot and Citroen, this summer bought Vauxhall and Opel.

That means we will see plenty of Peugeots and Vauxhalls sharing bits and pieces such as chassis and engines thereby saving fortunes in development cost. The clever bit will be keeping Peugeots feeling and looking like Peugeots, ditto Citroens and also Vauxhalls. The latter will be interesting to watch because I’m not really sure what defines a Vauxhall.

Anyway, this week’s road test subject is the Vauxhall Grandland X, the latest addition to the Luton firm’s line-up of SUVS. Quite why it has taken Vauxhall/opel 10 years to come up with a rival for Nissan’s Qashqai I don’t know, but here it is.

Actually, the Grandland X is a Peugeot. Ironic that. But yes, behind that Vauxhall grille and badge is a Peugeot 3008, built in France. We tested the 3008 earlier this year and although this mid-size SUV is no more rewarding than any other crossover, it is one of the best-looking cars Peugeot has made for years.

While you wouldn’t call the Grandland X 1.2 Sport Nav five-door SUV

Price: £25,160

Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder, 130bhp 0-62mph: 11.1sec

Fuel consumption: 55.4mpg

Grandland X ugly or even unattractive, it doesn’t have the pleasant lines or details of its Peugeot twin.

Like Vauxhall’s Mokka X and Crossland X models, it’s rather bland, but so what? Under this unremarkable skin sits a decent enough range of powerplants. Indeed, a new more powerful diesel engine with 177bhp has just been launched, but when we drove the car the choice was a 1.6-litre

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