It’s been four years since Vauxhall introduced the Crossland X, and it was the first of its vehicles to be engineered on a platform shared with Peugeot and Citroën.
The X was seen as important in strengthening the marketing credentials of its new SUV, and when the slightly larger Mokka was updated later that year, it became the Mokka X.
The new Mokka now also loses the X, and we don’t imagine the letter has much of a future as part of the Grandland X badge, with a mid-life facelift imminent.
But the Crossland X, when it was introduced, was based on the latest version of its platform, and coincided with the launch of the Citroën C3 Aircross, with which it shared engines and technology.
The new Mokka shares architecture with the latest Peugeot 2008 and Citroën C4, while the similar-sized, although slightly smaller Crossland, continues as a slightly less sophisticated and more budget-conscious option.
It might seem off to have two cars from the same brand occupying the same sector of the market, but the Mokka is probably of more interest to user-choosers, while the Crossland will appeal on the Motability scheme and probably to the daily rental sector. But its value proposition could also see it appeal to public sector fleets.
And for now, Vauxhall’s rival, Ford, currently has the Puma and Ecosport in this sector, to the Luton brand’s Mokka and Crossland.
The update for the Crossland looks significant both outside and inside. The front end has been redesigned to look more like the new Mokka, and we expect some yet-to-be-unveiled cars, such as the new Astra and revised Grandland, will continue this family look.
Inside, an 8in touchscreen providing Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity is available, while the front seats have also been redesigned for better support. The rear seats feature a 60/40 split and slide by up to 150mm, helping customers to increase boot space from 410 litres to 520 litres. With the rear seats folded it offers up to 1,255 litres of boot space.
Despite the larger dashboard touchscreen, Vauxhall has resisted the temptation to locate too many controls within it, as ventilation controls are mid-way down the dashboard and the screen has a row of buttons immediately below it for selecting various functions.
Safety features include forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian recognition, driver drowsiness alert and a panoramic rear-view camera with a 180-degree view.
Customers can choose from a normally aspirated 83hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, while the 1.2 Turbo petrol engine is available with either 110 or 130hp. The 1.5 Turbo D diesel engine offers 110hp with the six-speed manual or 120hp with the optional six-speed automatic.
The Crossland also has some new chassis settings to improve comfort and handling, which deliver noticeable improvements.
It might feel taller and narrower than the Mokka, but it is quite a bit more composed than its predecessor on out-of-town roads.
The letdown is in the depreciation part of running costs, which appears higher than even older rivals such as the Ford Ecosport. To make the car truly cost-effective against rivals, customers will need a generous discount from Vauxhall for outright purchase and a high degree of financial support in the leasing sector.
Vauxhall Crossland 1.2 SRi Nav 110
P11D: £22,320
Residual value: 30.4%
Depreciation: £15,529
Fuel: £6,408
Service, maintenance and repair: £1,824
Cost per mile: 39.6p
Fuel consumption: 48.7mpg
CO2 (BIK band): 134g/km (30%)
BIK 20/40% a month: £112/£223
Boot space: 410 litres
Engine size/power: 1,199cc/110hp
