Opel Crossland Review

Caroline drives the Opel Crossland!

Someone got a new face! The Opel Crossland returns to Ireland to start a new life in the blossoming Opel range of crossovers and SUVs. A snazzy facelift for the Crossland in the shape of Opel’s new ‘Vizor’ face gives Crossland a more contemporary look, with no compromise to its spacious and practical cabin.

On sale from €22,795, the Crossland range speaks simplicity with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. It sits alongside the new Opel Mokka in Opel’s range, but offers a different vibe with more focus on practicality and some good value pricing in a simple range with three trim levels – SC, SRI and Elite.

What’s new for the Opel Crossland?

You may recall the Opel Crossland X debuted in Ireland back in 2017. Now it’s dropped the ‘X’ from its name and the latest version arrives in Ireland at a time of rejuvenation in the Opel house. The new Opel Mokka, which we reviewed earlier this year for Changing Lanes, is the true style-setter and renaissance car for the brand. But the Crossland will carry the baton for a more traditional customer who values simplicity, practicality and ‘bang for your buck’.

The Crossland range kicks off with a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 83 bhp and a five speed manual gearbox. There is also a 1.5-litre diesel with 110 bhp and a petrol automatic with 130 bhp.

The Vizor face is striking and will only grow in recognition as this new generation of Opels hit the road over the coming months. There are some rugged crossover-style features like a silver skid plate and cladding around the wheel arches. The new Crossland also promises extra comfort, technology equipment and features an improved chassis.

What’s it like inside?

The cabin is straightforward but features a touchscreen as standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. There is an elevated driving position behind the wheel, with large windows and windscreen making it bright and welcoming. A high roof line gives a real feeling of space and buyers will find a generous passenger compartment considering the price point of this car. The rear footwells are a good size for a compact. The boot also offers depth and a handy hatchback-style opening with capacity of 410 litres.

Standard equipment includes hill start assist, cruise control with speed limiter, lane departure warning, enhanced traffic sign recognition, 6 airbags, leather steering wheel, manual air conditioning, rain sensing windscreen, automatic lights, 7” touchscreen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, DAB radio, USB connectivity and 12-volt socket.

The SRi model has park assist front and rear, rear view camera, AGR driver’s seat, 8-way driver seat adjustment with driver seat cushion extension and lumbar support, ambient white LED cabin lighting, driver’s armrest, half-leather effect upholstery trim, a painted two-tone roof, tinted rear privacy windows, silver skid plates, 16” alloy wheels and LED front fog lamps.

The range-topping Elite trim includes leather upholstery, AGR driver’s seat and passenger seat, 8-way passenger seat adjustment with seat cushion extension and lumbar support, heated front seats, heated leather steering wheel, electronic dual zone climate control, an upgraded central console with lidded storage, sliding split folding rear seats with armrest, a 3.52 colour driver instrument display, a rear 12-volt socket and 16” alloy wheel upgrade.

Driving the Crossland

My test car was powered by the 1.2-litre petrol engine with 83 bhp. It’s a basic engine but it does return competitive economy for a small petrol crossover. Over a week of driving my average fuel consumption was 6.1 litres per 100 km, while motor tax for this model is €210 per year.

It gets by on performance, with 0 to 100 km/h a leisurely 14 seconds in this entry level petrol model.

This car can amble along fine but if you do more motorway driving, the diesel will keep the revs down at cruising speeds. Certainly, keener drivers will favour the sharper and more fun to drive Opel Mokka.

Did you like it?

The Opel Crossland gets a little more than we usually expect when it comes to a revamp. The new Vizor face gives the car a more contemporary presence, but with no compromise to that practical interior.

The Crossland offers a simple range powered by petrol or diesel, but there is certainly value to be found here. With a good level of standard equipment, even entry models offer the essentials.

With a focus on space and practicality, the Crossland’s roots are more mini-MPV than SUV. This means the car’s design offers buyers a more spacious and practical vehicle.

It may not have the outright star appeal and uber-modern design of the Mokka, but Opel is confident that there is still a place for the Crossland in the showroom.

Caroline Kidd

Model tested: Opel Crossland 1.2 Elite 
Price: €25,795
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol
Power: 83 hp
Torque: 118 Nm
0-100km/h:  14 seconds
Top speed:  170 km/h
Fuel economy: 4.6-4.7 l/100 km
CO2 emissions (WLTP): 135 g/km
Motor Tax: €210 per year