By Sala Masindane

Before, Opel only had the Mokka as an available option for an SUV but now all that has changed. Opel has increased its line-up of SUV offering and now it includes the loveable Grandland X and Crossland X. Both bring up the prospects of Opel in the crowded SUV market! The Crossland X sits below the Mokka X and is on the same platform as the French Peugeot 2008.

Exterior

On the outside you would not know that the Crossland X is the cousin of the French manufacturer, this due to the larger grille with distinctive LED Daytime Running lights at the front. What stands out the most is the two-tone Roof that adds to the urban feel of the Crossland. It is worth mentioning that we are fans of the roof, but our advice would be to go for the white colour on the rest of the body, as opposed to the red we had. There’s nothing wrong with the colour but the white makes the two-tone colour design pop out more. Then again, we all have our preferences.

Interior

Inside, the Crossland X adopts the familiar Opel dashboard design that we have experienced in the likes of Corsa Sports and Grandland X. There’s a clear design and it is centred on the infotainment system, which is very easy use and the screen resolution is good (even when there’s sunlight shining directly onto to it). The system has Bluetooth, USB (2) and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Additionally, there is navigation for all those occasions when you simply cannot afford to get lost. In terms of quality of the dashboard, there are some soft touch materials across it and on the doors as well. The quality is complemented by the space in the car. There are decent sized door bins, two cup holders and a little roller blind for additional storage next to the cup holders. Rounding everything up in the front is the individual armrest for the driver and passenger, meaning there won’t be any fights for who gets to use the armrest first.

Entering or trying to fit a baby seat at the back may not be the simplest task as the doors do not open widely as you would expect of an SUV. However, due to boxy shape nature of the Crossland X, space is not a problem as well. The legroom and kneeroom is decent. Three adults can also be fitted at the back with good head and shoulder room as well. The guys at back have access to cup holders and an armrest. The boot space is decent and smaller families can pack their bags easily when traveling.

The Drive

On the road, there’s no discomfort and the 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine remains to true to what we have become accustomed to from Opel. This is thanks to 81kW of power and 205Nm of torque. The drive is smooth and there’s a bit of enthusiasm when on the road, with little to no turbo lag. The perky engine is matched by a competent six-speed automatic transmission. Truth be told, its not the most engaging car to drive but that’s not why you would buy the Crossland X. Buyers of the SUV look more for space, comfort and the raised ride height. Which is what you get and more on the Crossland X. Its good on the city run but also very capable when you on the long road. With the standard cruise control the long road also becomes less tiring to take on. The unconventional hand break that has the button on the top does take some time to get used but after a while it becomes second nature. Overall the Crossland X offers a spacious interior, packed with a lot of standard features and great infotainment that most family will love. The Opel Crossland X is priced from R381,993.

The price includes a three year/ 60,000km service plan and three year/120,000km warranty and roadside assistance.