Opel Crossland X Review (2017)

Opel is getting serious about SUVs. Compact crossovers are big news these days and Opel has treated their Meriva MPV replacement to an SUV-like makeover. The new Opel Crossland X doesn’t just sound like a more adventurous soul: it looks the part too.

The debut Opel Crossland X will sit alongside the Opel Mokka X, while the soon to arrive Grandland X will top off Opel’s SUV range.

Opel Crossland X sports SUV-inspired styling, elevated seating position, spacious interior, and customisation options.

The Opel Mokka X is quite a popular compact SUV in its own right and on paper it’s closely matched in price to the Crossland X.

But park these two side by side and it’s obvious they are distinct enough from eachother to likely attract a different customer.

Naturally any self-respecting crossover these days has all the paraphernalia of ‘urban toughness’ and Crossland X is no different. The front, rear and sides bear all the cues of Opel’s new design language punctuated with grey plastic cladding and a skid plate front and back. The bi-colour option adds a different coloured roof and some attitude from the Opel Adam, making the car stand out in the car park.

But the individuality ends there. Once you slide into the Crossland X, you can see practicality and affordability are at its core. While the dash design resembles the Corsa and Astra, it looks quite bland and dull here and the plastics look and feel cheap in places. It’s a shame that there is not more character inside here like the outside of the car. A 7” touchscreen comes as standard as part of the Intellilink infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.

Yet the cabin is well designed for use as a family car. The new Crossland X is 16cms shorter than an Astra but 10cms higher. The large windscreen and windows mean that the cabin is bright, the doors open wide and the passenger space is very good for a compact car. The raised ride height gives an elevated position for all. The boot is a good 410 litres with a low, flat load area.

There is a small engine range for the Opel Crossland X with a choice of 1.6-litre turbo diesel (99 or 120hp) and 1.2-litre turbo petrol (81 or 110hp). My test car was powered by the 1.6-litre diesel with 120hp. The diesel is quite noisy around town but smooths out on longer runs. On the flip side there is no shortage of power and it is economical. Low mileage or urban drivers should consider one of the 1.2-litre turbo petrols as petrol power would appear to be a better fit for a compact car like this unless you really need the economy and power for frequent longer runs on the motorway.

Elsewhere, the Opel Crossland X does well as an everyday runabout with light steering making it very manoeuvrable around town. The light steering translates into a not so exciting drive outside of town with little dynamic appeal but it’s comfortable and spacious so not at all unpleasant.

In Ireland the Crossland X range starts at €21,995 for an SC model with standard equipment including Opel OnStar, dual zone climate control, cruise control, 16″ alloys, front fog lights, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition. SE models (from €23,495) add a contrast colour roof as standard, 17″ alloys, ambient lighting, rear parking sensors and some updated styling features. Diesels start from €23,995.

The Opel Crossland X is a great new option in the Opel showroom for buyers looking for a compact but practical family car with a fun look. It’s a shame the interior is not a bit more exciting to look at. Practicality really is this car’s strong point and while diesel does not seem the most flattering engine choice for it, the Crossland X offers a lot of space and spec within the ease of a compact frame.

Model tested: Opel Crossland X SE 1.6 CDTi (120PS)
Price: €26,495 (Range starts €21,995)
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo diesel
Power: 120hp
Torque: 300Nm
0-100km/h:  9.9 seconds
Top speed: 187km/h
Claimed Economy: 4/100km
CO2 emissions: 105g/km
Motor tax: €190 per year

Caroline Kidd