It’s a handsome vehicle however - not like a number of the a lot of bling entrants within the sector - not the least bit brash and it competently fits its ‘crossover’ description. I manages to mix the heft, height, stature associate degreed presence of an mountain bike – with the lissomeness, efficient lines and angle of a hatchback.
The test-car appearance notably taking in ‘Topaz Blue’, particularly with its modern different black roof. All of thatmakes it the consummate London family vehicle; good, sensible - and simple to park and pilot through the congestion whereas additionally large enough for top days and holidays. it's a ‘friendly’, non-intimidating look too; there’s none of your faux-4X4 swagger here.
As the flagship of Vauxhall’s vary (along with the badge Country Tourer) the Grandland X enhances the firm’s smaller Mokka X and Crossland X, providing consumers an alternate to a lot of expensive rivals like Audi’s Q2 and BMW’s X2.
READ MORE
Car review: 2019 Toyota curl
Based on a similar platform as Peugeot’s 308 and with an analogous engine line-up, it's a spacious five-seater, with a good-sized boot, and comes with a alternative of engines starting from the one.2-litre turbochargedgasoline unit, through a one28bhp 1.5-litre diesel unit returning sixty eight.9mpg to the a lot of powerful 2-litre diesel, manufacturing 175bhp.
TOP ARTICLES
1/5
READ MORE
AKA White House building review: Live like
a local in Washington D.C.
In line with the move off from diesel and towards petrol-powered vehicles within the town I’ve been driving the economical three-cylinder one.2-litre engine, that - particularly around city - suits the automotive well, supplypower through a light-as-you-like six-speed manual gear case.
Producing 128 bhp - a similar because the mid-range diesel - it's lots of peppiness in London though - to inducethe most effective out of it in terms of driving fun - you’ll got to ignore the ‘change up’ arrow that lights up within the board, urging you to travel for the next gear at relatively low revs. If low emissions and stinting consumption aryour issue but, follow that ill-natured dashboard instruction to envision however shut you'll be able to get to Vauxhall’s claimed combined fuel consumption of fifty three.3mpg.
The 1.2-litre engine could be a gay, extremely refined unit that's unco quiet at low engine speeds. So quiet, in fact, that I’m perpetually fooled into thinking it’s didn't re-start once I attend shy away from traffic lights (it’s fitted with emission-improving ‘stop-start’) and needlessly floor the clutch once more in a very bid to prompt it into life, irritating drivers behind ME in their headlong rush..... I’ll get accustomed it before long.
1489191-vauxhall-grandland-x-304120.jpg
(Vauxhall)
Cheery? On account of being a three-cylinder engine, is has that pleasing way-out ‘thrum‘ once it’s revved, going from a standstill to 60mph in nine.5 seconds, and on to a prime speed of 117mph. Whizzing up through the gears, out the open road, is fun.
This is a refined state highway cruiser too. Sure, you may wish modification|to vary|to alter} down a gearapproximately for a quick lane change however - a minimum of with 2 alternative passengers, I’ve not loaded the boot heavily nonetheless - there’s enough performance for many. the opposite advantage of the smaller engine is that, in several London boroughs, residents parking permits ar cheaper.
Handling is sure-footed instead of entertaining however, again, that's what Grandland X consumers can expect; there’s some lean through corners however it rides extraordinarily well, fascinating lumps and bumps higher thanseveral alternative SUVs. In London it completely glides over sleeping policemen, associate degree attribute I rateextremely. Out on quicker roads it absorbs broken surfaces well too.
The steering is commendably lightweight in city - creating fast manoeuvres and parking a cinch (why do theycontinue blocking well-trodden routes in London, turning them into dead ends?) and, whereas we’re on the topicof parking, there’s an honest read out of the rear, too, complimented, on the take a look at automotive, by a £200 reversing camera possibility.
READ MORE
Car review: vary Rover Velar, R-Dynamic
Other likes? It’s no 4X4 however it will have Intelligrip (under the ex gratia, £50 ‘All Road Pack’) that helps deliverfurther grip in ice, snow, sand and dust. alternative choices on the Elite Nav I’ve been driving embrace a clastic tow bar for £700, Premium semiconductor diode reconciling Forward Lighting for £1115, a rear reversing camera for £550 and a heated rear seat for £200.
The ‘basic’ Elite Nav, however, is already full of kit as well as, obviously, sav-nav, associate degree eight-inch colortouchscreen, voice management, a awfully handy wireless charger for your phone at a lower place the centre rest, heated front seats and car anti-dazzle rear mirror.
It additionally has - and this is often a true boon on long state highway journeys - controller with intelligent speed adaptation and, luxury of luxuries, a heated wheel, to roll off simply a couple of. You’re ne'er about to feel laboriousdone-by during this one.
The cabin feels terribly spacious though it's a bit on the plain facet, and also the seats ar like an expert sculpturedto offer high levels of support and luxury.
The word that springs to mind especially is ‘practical’. The Grandland X is, after all, straightforward to induce in and out of with wide-opening doors and seats at the ‘right’ height, straightforward to envision out of,straightforward to lade, straightforward to drive and simple to measure with. What a lot of might a London driverwant?
