GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Vauxhall Crossland is on road to success and, judging by the fuel economy, it’s not stopping any time soon
Maggie Barry
I tried, I really tried. I even went the extra mile – in fact, lots of extra miles – but I found it so difficult to get the fuel gauge to go down on the Vauxhall Crossland SUV.
The fuel economy is terrific for a pert little car like this. Officially, it sits at between 48.7 and 49.5mpg and I do not doubt those figures.
Given our limited travel during lockdown, it was hard just to use up a quarter of a tank and I was really pushing it.
Under the hand of the French PSA group – now known as Stellantis since it merged with Fiat Chrysler – the quality of products coming out of the British manufacturer has really soared and the new Vauxhall Crossland is no exception.
The front face now has a broad black horizontal band across the nose above a steely grey trim around the front grille. It looks grown-up and strong.
The black band is replicated on the rear where there is a steely skid plate and the name of the car is spelt out in big capital letters across the hatch.
There are robust-looking silver roof bars and 17in alloy wheels on this sporty SRi version.
It all looks solid and dependable with a dash of danger and, judging by the number of Vauxhal ls I’m now noticing on the roads, I’m not the only one thinking this.
Inside, the SRi trim means you get exotic stripy seats, which are exceedingly comfortable. This is because they are specifically approved by the independent German-based AGR organisation, which campaigns for healthier backs. (Oh, if only more carmakers signed up for this kind of thing.)
There is plenty of space both for legs and tal l people and a very easy-to-operate central infotainment system with satnav, an 8in colour touchscreen, DAB radio – as well as AM/FM – Bluetooth and connectivity for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. There are also two USB ports and Vauxhall’s excellent Connect system as well as a 12v rear- seat power outlet. I was also delighted to find there is a proper handbrake just above the central armrest and that the heating and cooling controls are separate from the touchscreen – so no messing around trying to get the car heated as you drive.
The biggest surprise in this small – but not too small – SUV is the engine.
My car came with a 1.2- l itre turbo- charged three- cylinder petrol variant, which I paid little heed to until I got behind the wheel and put my foot down.
With 130PS under the bonnet, we fairly shot off and the Crossland more than held its own on the motorway.
It was very smooth and quiet and had me outstripping the speed limit before I noticed – and quickly eased off the gas.
There are six gears in this manual version, with a gentle reminder on the instrument binnacle to change up or down to make you as fuel efficient as possible.
This new Crossland is a delightful revelation and a promise of greater things to come from Vauxhall.