Vauxhall Crossland (2017-2024) Review

The Vauxhall Crossland arrived in 2017 as the Crossland X, sitting alongside the Mokka X and beneath the larger Grandland X in Vauxhall’s SUV range.â It was developed during Vauxhall’s transition into the PSA Group – then owners of Citroen and Peugrot – and shares much of its underlying engineering with cars including the Citroen C3 Aircross and first-generation Peugeot 2008.

Unlike the Mokka X, the Crossland was designed primarily for urban and family use rather than suggesting any meaningful off-road ability. Every version is front-wheel drive, with interior space, a high seating position and affordable running costs taking priority.

Vauxhall facelifted the car in 2021, dropping the X from its name and introducing the brand’s striking Vizor front end. Revised bumpers, LED lighting and a gloss-black panel between the headlights gave it a more modern appearance. The suspension and steering were also retuned, although the Crossland remained easy-going rather than enjoyable to drive. Its ride can feel bouncy over uneven surfaces and the light steering provides little feedback.

The interior is equally straightforward. Depending on version, there’s a seven- or eight-inch touchscreen, while conventional instruments and physical heating controls make it easy to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard.

Petrol engines dominate the used market. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine was offered without a turbo in 81PS or 83PS form and with turbocharging in 110PS or 130PS versions. Diesel buyers can find early 1.6-litre models and later 1.5-litre Turbo D versions, but diesel models were phased out before production ended.

Trim names changed repeatedly over the Crossland’s life, with SE, Griffin, SRi Nav, Elite, Design, GS and Ultimate among the most common. By 2024 the UK range had been reduced to Ultimate trim with either a 110PS manual petrol or 130PS automatic before the Crossland was replaced by the larger Vauxhall Frontera.

The 1.2 Turbo 110PS is the best engine for most used Crossland buyers, providing a worthwhile step up from the non-turbo 81PS and 83PS cars, with much stronger performance when joining motorways or carrying passengers. Its six-speed manual gearbox also keeps engine revs lower on faster journeys than the five-speed transmission in the basic petrol.

A facelifted SRi Nav 110PS is particularly appealing. It combines useful equipment with supportive front seats and, on these versions, the Versatility Pack with a sliding rear bench. That makes it significantly more flexible for family use.

If you're shopping for a later car, the 110PS petrol remains the engine to look for. Later Ultimate models are especially well equipped and include the sliding rear seats. The 130PS petrol is worth considering if you specifically want an automatic or regularly carry a full load. Diesels suit high-mileage drivers, while the naturally aspirated petrol is best restricted to mainly urban use.

Whichever 1.2-litre petrol you choose, service history matters more than trim level. Check that the correct maintenance schedule and oil specification have been followed.

The cheapest early Crossland X models now start at around £3,000, although cars at this level are likely to have high mileages or relatively basic specifications. Around £4,000–£7,000 opens up a much wider choice of 2017 to 2020 cars, including turbocharged petrols and better-equipped trims.

Facelifted Crosslands from 2021 can be found from roughly £5,000 to £6,000, while £8,000 to £12,000 buys plenty of newer examples. Late 2023 cars generally sit around £9,000 to £13,000, while low-mileage 2024 Ultimate models are commonly advertised at roughly £12,500 to £15,500.

There are plenty available, so condition and documented servicing should take priority over simply buying the newest car within budget.

The Skoda Kamiq is the stronger all-rounder. Its interior feels better made, the ride is more composed and motorway refinement is superior, although equivalent cars usually cost more.

The SEAT Arona is more enjoyable to drive and feels more stable at speed. It isn’t quite as flexible inside, though.

The Volkswagen T-Cross combines compact dimensions with a sliding rear bench and a more polished driving experience, but used prices tend to be higher.

The Ford Puma has sharper handling, economical engines and an excellent boot, although adults get less space in the back.

The Renault Captur is another practical choice, particularly in second-generation form, with a sliding rear bench and a more modern interior.

The Citroen C3 Aircross shares much of the Crossland’s engineering but takes a softer, more comfort-focused approach.

Finally, the Peugeot 2008 has a smarter cabin and more distinctive styling, although its unusual driving position won’t suit everyone.

The Crossland’s practicality is one of its strongest qualities. The driver’s seat has plenty of adjustment and the raised driving position gives you a good view forwards. Some higher-spec models also have Vauxhall’s AGR-approved ergonomic seats, which offer additional adjustment and can be particularly comfortable on longer journeys.

Storage is useful rather than exceptional. There are sizeable front door pockets, cupholders and several centre-console compartments, although the glovebox and rear door bins are relatively small.

Rear passenger space is impressive given the Crossland’s modest exterior dimensions. Adults get a useful amount of headroom and knee room, although space obviously becomes tighter behind a tall driver. Some versions are fitted with the Versatility Pack, which makes a significant difference. It adds rear seats that slide backwards and forwards, along with adjustable backrests, allowing you to prioritise either passenger space or luggage capacity.

Access isn’t quite as impressive. The rear doors are relatively small and don’t open particularly wide, which can make fitting a child seat more awkward than in some rivals.

The standard boot holds 410 litres, which is a useful figure for such a compact SUV. On models with sliding rear seats, pushing the bench fully forwards increases capacity to 520 litres, although that naturally reduces rear legroom. Fold the back seats and the Crossland provides up to 1,255 litres. Standard cars have a 60:40 split, while versions with the Versatility Pack use a more flexible arrangement. The large tailgate gives good access, although there’s a loading lip to lift heavier items over.

Overall, the combination of good rear passenger space and an optional sliding bench makes the Crossland more useful than its dimensions suggest.

The Vauxhall Crossland measures 4,212mm long, 1,825mm wide (1,976 including side mirrors) and 1,605mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,604mm. That means it isn’t much longer than a conventional supermini and noticeably shorter than many modern family SUVs, which makes it straightforward to use on narrow streets and in small parking spaces, while the relatively tall body provides more passenger space than you might expect.

Even basic Vauxhall Crosslands come with touchscreen infotainment and smartphone connectivity, which has helped the system age reasonably well. Most models use a seven-inch touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allowing you to run navigation, music and other compatible apps from your phone. Higher-specification cars use an eight-inch Multimedia Navi Pro system, which adds built-in satellite navigation and European mapping.

Neither setup looks especially sophisticated by modern standards, but both are relatively easy to understand. The menus are logically arranged and responses are generally quick enough for everyday use. More importantly, Vauxhall didn’t move every control onto the touchscreen. The Crossland retains conventional buttons and switches for its heating and ventilation system, so changing the cabin temperature doesn’t require working through menus.

Equipment varies substantially with age and trim. Depending on the version, available features include front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, panoramic rear-view camera, wireless phone charging and keyless entry. Later Ultimate models bring most of those features together, while earlier SRi Nav, Elite Nav and Ultimate Nav cars are also well equipped.

There’s no fully digital instrument panel. Instead, conventional analogue dials flank a small information display, which contributes to the cabin’s slightly old-fashioned appearance but makes the basic driving information easy to read.

The Crossland’s cabin is solid and functional rather than especially stylish. There’s some softer material across the upper dashboard, while harder plastics cover much of the lower dash, centre console and doors. Some of the switches and glossy trim pieces can feel relatively lightweight compared with those in a Skoda Kamiq.

Material choices depend heavily on trim and model year. Basic versions use straightforward cloth upholstery, while higher specifications add different decorative dashboard inserts and upgraded seat fabrics. Elite models bring additional comfort-oriented trim, while Ultimate and Ultimate Nav cars use more upmarket upholstery, including Alcantara trim on some versions. Later GS and GS Line cars take a sportier approach with darker interior finishes.

Nothing feels unusually luxurious, but the cabin generally stands up reasonably well to family use.

The entry-level Crossland uses a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 81PS on some early cars and 83PS on later versions. The 83PS version takes around 14 seconds to reach 62mph and comes with a five-speed manual gearbox. It’s adequate around town but needs to be worked hard on faster roads.

The 1.2 Turbo 110PS is a much better all-rounder. Its extra torque makes the Crossland considerably more relaxed when accelerating, climbing hills or carrying passengers, while a six-speed manual gearbox helps on motorway journeys.

There was also a 130PS turbo petrol. Depending on year and trim this can be found with a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Performance is noticeably stronger, with 0–62mph taking around 9.5–9.9 seconds. The final UK cars offered the 110PS manual and 130PS automatic only.

Diesel Crosslands are less common. Early cars used 1.6-litre diesel engines, while later versions switched to the 1.5 Turbo D. The 110PS 1.5 diesel uses a six-speed manual and is the economy champion, while a 120PS version was paired with an automatic gearbox.

Diesels make most sense if you regularly cover long distances. For typical mixed use, the smoother and quieter 110PS petrol is easier to recommend.

The Crossland’s compact dimensions and light controls make it easy to drive around town. The steering requires little effort and visibility is generally good, while higher-specification models add parking sensors or a reversing camera to make squeezing into tight spaces easier.

However, the Crossland can feel bouncy over broken surfaces, with the body sometimes taking longer than you’d expect to settle after larger bumps. That character doesn’t disappear on faster roads. Motorway dips and expansion joints can set the car moving around more than they would in a Skoda Kamiq, while wind and tyre noise become increasingly noticeable.

It isn’t particularly entertaining on a country road either. The light steering is short on feedback, while noticeable body lean discourages enthusiastic driving.

The manual gearbox has a fairly loose action, although the clutch and other controls are light enough to make everyday driving easy. The automatic removes the need to change gear in traffic but can sometimes hesitate before responding to sudden throttle inputs.

Engine choice makes a noticeable difference to refinement. The naturally aspirated petrol becomes noisy when worked hard, whereas the turbocharged 110PS version has enough extra torque to make normal driving much more relaxed. Diesels provide useful low-down pulling power but are noisier around town.

None of this makes the Crossland difficult or unpleasant to drive. It simply prioritises ease of use and practicality over the comfort, refinement or handling polish offered by the best small SUVs.

Independent safety organisation Euro NCAP awarded the Crossland X five stars in 2017, with scores of 85% for adult protection, 84% for children, 62% for vulnerable road users and 57% for safety assistance. However, that rating expired in January 2024, so it shouldn’t be compared directly with the scores of cars tested under current Euro NCAP standards.

Standard equipment includes six airbags, stability control, lane-departure warning, traffic-sign recognition and cruise control with a speed limiter. Autonomous emergency braking was optional on many earlier cars and therefore wasn’t included in the original Euro NCAP assessment. Later high-specification models gained more driver-assistance technology, so buyers should check the equipment fitted to the individual car that they're looking at.

The 1.2 Turbo 110PS officially manages up to 48.7mpg, which is respectable for a small petrol SUV. The naturally aspirated 83PS petrol manages up to 47.9mpg, although it can use more fuel in real-world driving because it needs to be worked harder. The 130PS petrol can return up to around 49.5mpg with a manual gearbox, while automatic versions drop to roughly 46mpg.

Diesel economy requires a little more explanation because the Crossland spans two different official test regimes. Early 1.6 Turbo D models were tested under the now-outdated NEDC method, which tended to return someone overoptimistic numbers. The 99PS version was quoted at up to 78.5mpg, while the 120PS car managed up to 70.6mpg. Later 1.5-litre diesels were measured under WLTP, with the 102PS and 110PS manual versions capable of around 61.4mpg, while the 120PS automatic managed up to around 57.7mpg.

The NEDC and WLTP figures aren’t directly comparable, so the early diesels shouldn't be assumed to be dramatically more economical in real-world driving simply because their official numbers are higher.

The Crossland originally came with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, with unlimited mileage during the first year. Most examples are now outside that cover, although some late 2023 and 2024 cars may still be within their original warranty depending on registration date and mileage.

Service intervals changed during the Crossland’s life, so check the schedule for the specific car. Later petrol models generally require servicing every 12 months or 12,500 miles, whichever comes first.

Service history is especially important with the 1.2-litre petrol engines. Vauxhall has an official support programme for certain previous-generation 1.0- and 1.2-litre engines affected by premature timing-belt degradation and/or excessive oil consumption, providing extended coverage of up to 10 years or 112,000 miles subject to eligibility conditions.

Used buyers should therefore check maintenance records carefully, including evidence that the correct oil and servicing intervals have been used.

The Crossland sits in insurance groups 8 to 20, depending on engine, trim and gearbox. The naturally aspirated petrol models are generally the cheapest to insure, making them potentially attractive to younger or higher-risk drivers despite their modest performance. The popular 110PS turbo petrol typically falls into the low-to-mid teens, while more powerful 130PS cars and better-equipped automatic models sit higher. Diesels also tend to occupy the middle of the range.

Because the Crossland went through numerous specification and engine changes, it’s worth getting a quote using the registration number of the exact car you’re considering.

Every Crossland pays the standard £200 annual Vehicle Excise Duty rate from the second licence. No version originally cost enough to exceed the £40,000 Expensive Car Supplement threshold, so the additional five-year charge does not apply.