Drive with us: Vauxhall Crossland Review

Futuristic good looks and vast amounts of space - can the Vauxhall Crossland become the go-to family car?

No longer the Crossland X, this new-look Vauxhall is suitably modern and much improved. 

Competing to be the family car of choice, the Crossland is often pitted against the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur, SEAT Arona or the Peugeot 2008. 

In this latest Carparison review, we’ll be dissecting the Vauxhall Crossland and seeing how it compares to some of its rivals.

Telling you all you need to know about our experience driving it, what we thought of its space, comfort levels and everyday practicality.

Price

The Crossland is competitively priced, with entry-level model prices starting from £19,355. If you want to upgrade to the best spec within the range, prices start from £25,960 for the Ultimate Nav trim.

Entry-level Renault Captur models come in at a near-identical starting price (£19,300), while the Crossland offers cheaper range-topping trims than both the Nissan Juke (£26,600) and the Peugeot 2008 (£27,915).

If you would like to cut the cost of your experience behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Crossland even further, leasing a Vauxhall is a fantastic way to do so. 

Our best Vauxhall Crossland lease deals offer a competitive monthly payment that can take some of the stress away of finding your next vehicle.

Engine Options

You have six different engines to choose from if you're considering a Vauxhall Crossland. Four different petrol variants or one of two diesel engines. 

All of the four petrol engines come in a 1.2L capacity. Meanwhile, the two diesel variants are both 1.5L. 

A full breakdown of each engine is as followed: 

Petrol

• 1.2L with five-speed manual gearbox (81hp/118Nm)
• 1.2L Turbo with six-speed manual gearbox (108hp/205Nm)
• 1.2L Turbo with six-speed manual gearbox (128hp/230Nm)
• 1.2L Turbo with six-speed automatic transmission (128hp/230Nm)

Diesel

• 1.5L Turbo D with six-speed manual (108hp/250Nm)
• 1.5L Turbo D with six-speed automatic (118hp/250Nm)

Drive

The Vauxhall Crossland was very easy to drive. The steering felt natural, agile and far more nimble than what you might expect from a car of this size.

It resembles more of a hatchback drive, which was a pleasant surprise. However, unlike a hatch, with the Crossland, you benefit from a commanding driving position that offers you fantastic visibility.

One element of the Crossland that did take us by surprise was the handbrake and the button you use to release it. The button was placed on the top of the handbrake lever, rather than its traditional position on the end. In reality, it didn’t change the concept at all and it works perfectly fine, it just seemed a bit odd? I am sure this is something you get used to. But never the less, it caught us by surprise.

The Crossland was also easy to park and throughout our time in it, it responded well to different driving environments, which is exactly what you want from a family car.

Design and Interior

Thanks to their latest facelift, Vauxhall have revamped what was the Crossland X and from a visual perspective, it now rivals some of the best in its class.

Something Vauxhall introduced is the brilliantly named Vizor front grille. In a swooping design that runs across the face of the car, it houses elements of the grille, badge and headlights in one sleek motion.

While we wouldn’t say it's overly sporty, it does give the Crossland a certain degree of character and individuality that you may not find with some of its rivals. 

You have the potential to add two-tone colour combinations as you progress through the range and if that's what you desire, they're a great way to add a nice pop of colour. It is not quite as sporty as a Ford Kuga, but the Crossland is very easy on the eye.

The cabin was well designed and spaciously laid out. Vauxhall have been very clever in how they’ve positioned the dials and touchscreen, as it creates a flowing and welcoming space.

Our Crossland came with a smart interior that resembles what we saw in our recent Citroen C3 review. Comfort levels are very competitive and the contrasting colour scheme enhances the airy feel of the cabin. The intricate detailing improves as you progress through the Crossland range, with top-spec models coming with Alcantara seat trim inserts.

Technology

One of the common complaints previously put to Vauxhall has been the quality of the technology, so we were interested to see how the Crossland managed in this section.

The touchscreen was responsive and easy to use. We wouldn't go as far as saying the Crossland offers class-leading technology. However, for everyday use, we thought it was more than good enough to do everything you would need to.

There isn't a wealth of physical buttons, so you will be relying on the touchscreen for most of your time behind the wheel. That being said, it is well-positioned and you do have the option of some helpful shortcut buttons on the wheel.

Our Crossland also came with wireless charging and had a couple of traditional USB ports accompanying a 12V socket in the front.

What is worth shouting about is the generous amount of standard equipment you receive on entry-level models. As standard, you get a 7-inch colour touchscreen, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Space and Practicality

If you are looking to lease your next family car, the Vauxhall Crossland deserves to be a worthy contender on your shortlist.

The combination of practical space and comfort make it one of the very best in its class. Thanks to a welcoming cabin and spacious rear seating, the Crossland is ideal for those long family journeys.

Both head and legroom in the rear are very generous. Unlike rivals such as the Juke or Peugeot 2008, taller passengers above six foot will enjoy any time spent in the back seats.

In terms of boot space, the Crossland does fall short of both the Juke (422L) and the 2008 (434L), albeit marginally at 410L or 1255L if you fold the rear bench down.

However, once you factor in the improved rear space that the Crossland offers, we think the overall package is very valuable when compared to other small SUVs.

Model Lines and Equipment

SE - from £19,355

• 7-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• 16-inch bi-colour five-spoke alloy wheels
• Air conditioning
• LED headlights
• Lane departure warning/speed sign recognition
• Hill-start assist
• Electrically adjusted/heated door mirrors
• Leather-covered steering wheel with audio/phone/cruise controls

SRi NAV - from £21,705

In addition to/replacement of SE

• 8-inch colour touchscreen with Satellite Navigation & Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• 17-inch bi-colour five-spoke alloy wheels
• Dual-zone electronic climate control
• Driver's & passenger's ergonomic active seats
• Dark-tinted rear windows
• LED front fog lights
• 3.5-inch colour instrument display
• Black roof

Elite - from £21,855

In addition to/replacement of SRi Nav

• 7-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Dual-zone electronic climate control
• Heated steering wheel & heated front seats
• Front & rear parking sensors with rear view camera
• Ambient lighting

Elite Nav - from £22,405

In addition to/replacement of Elite

• 8-inch colour touchscreen with Satellite Navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 17-inch bi-colour alloy wheels
• Front & rear parking sensors with panoramic rear view camera
• Wireless charging for mobile devices

Ultimate Nav - from £25,960

In addition to/replacement of Elite Nav

• Alcantara seat trim
• 17-inch bi-colour five-spoke alloy wheels
• Keyless entry & start
• Automatic high beam control
• Silver roof rails

*Model lines and prices correct at the time of publication

Verdict

As a family car, you can't ask for much more from the Crossland. It combines modern styling with an incredibly generous amount of space.

Even if you don't plan to use the Crossland as a family vehicle, there is plenty to enjoy, including the competitive amount of technology available as standard.

When compared to others within the compact SUV class, the Crossland's comfort levels compete with the very best. If this is your next family car, it's not one you're going to be growing out of within a year or two.

Thanks to the amount of technology and connectivity options that come as standard on entry-level models, those who avoid the pricier trims are still going to be enjoying a fantastic experience with the Crossland.

If you want space, practicality and a very welcoming cabin, but don’t feel the necessity to go for the bigger Vauxhall Grandland, the Crossland will still go above and beyond.

Interested in a Vauxhall Crossland lease deal? Browse our personal contract hire deals and business contract hire offers.