Vauxhall Crossland review

The entry-level SE trim with the gutless 1.2 (83PS) engine is cheap, but for a trim and engine that you actually want (which in our opinion is the 1.2 (110PS) Turbo SE Nav Premium) the Crossland is more expensive than the equivalent Skoda Kamiq and barely any cheaper than the Ford Puma, but does undercut the Volkswagen T-Roc. The depreciation over three years is terrible, though – much worse than for most of its rivals – so long term it's not going to be cheap to own if you're a cash buyer.

If you're buying on PCP finance, check out our New Car Buying service for the best deals, but with such weak resale values you're relying on Vauxhall to come up with a tempting offer to keep the monthly payments low. 

The 1.2 petrols officially all average nearly 50mpg, which is competitive, but the mild hybrid Puma 1.0 Ecoboost 125 is even more fuel efficient and has lower CO2 emissions. If you're a company car driver, you may want to look at the Renault Captur PHEV or Peugeot e-2008 because plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars are by far the cheapest for benefit-in-kind tax (BIK). Both the diesels are RDE2 compliant, which means they don't incur the 4% BIK diesel surcharge. 

Avoid SE trim because of its lack of safety equipment (mentioned above). It does come reasonably equipped otherwise, with air-conditioning, 16in alloy wheels, auto lights and wipers, an automatically-dimming rear-view mirror, cruise control and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. But upgrade to SE Nav Premium (and pay for the optional safety pack) and you'll also get the upgrades to the infotainment system, the parking aids, the comfort aids and the practicality aids we've covered in previous sections.

SRi Nav also worth looking at, mainly for the additional seating flexibility and height-adjustable boot floor (see relevant sections for more info) but you also get climate control, ambient lighting, 17in alloy wheels, a black roof and privacy glass. 

Ignore the rest of the trims – the Crossland only make any sense if you keep it cheap and get a great deal. Otherwise, buy one of its more appealing rivals.

Vauxhall's reliability record in our 2020 Reliability Survey wasn't great: it finished right down in 27th place (out of 31), level-pegging with Nissan and, of its key rivals, only Renault finished lower. 

The Crossland comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty and a year’s worth of roadside assistance. This is in keeping with the cover from the majority of other manufacturers, and it doesn't match the five-year warranties that Hyundai and Toyota offer, let alone Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile package.

As you might expect for a modern car, the Crossland achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2017. The tests are much more stringent these days, though, so bear that in mind if you’re looking at a rival that was tested more recently, and although the Crossland had good category scores in the main, there were some issues relating to adult chest protection and, more acutely, whiplash in the rear seats.

Tragically, for a modern car from a respected brand, you have to pay extra for automatic emergency braking (AEB) on every trim apart from the entry-level SE model – on which it isn't available at all. Most of its rivals have this important safety aid by default, which could stop you crashing into the back of another car. Lane-keeping assistance is also not available, but lane departure warning is fitted as standard along with e-Call emergency response.

You also don’t get an alarm on SE trim.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here