Vauxhall Grandland X review

The Vauxhall Grandland X was rather late to the family SUV party, turning up more than 10 years after the Nissan Qashqai sent out invites. It's based on the same platform as the Peugeot 3008, though, so Vauxhall had a bit of a head start when it began working on the design. 

The Grandland X is one of three SUVs sold by Vauxhall – the other two are the Crossland and the Mokka – and, as its name suggests, it's the biggest of the three. That puts it in competition with several similar sized rivals, so it has to stand out in a crowd that already includes the Hyundai Tucson, Peugeot 3008, Skoda Karoq and Volvo XC40.

The Grandland X shares some of its engines with the 3008: a 128bhp 1.2-litre petrol (badged 1.2 130PS Turbo) and a 128bhp diesel (badged 1.2 130 Turbo D), both of which are front-wheel drive. Also like the 3008, there’s a pair of plug-in hybrids to choose from, one with front-wheel drive, and the other, the Hybrid4, with four-wheel drive.

But what about the looks? Well, we’ll leave you to decide if you like the design, but there’s no denying that Vauxhall has done well to disguise its origins. It certainly looks more ‘traditional’ than the wildly styled 3008 thanks to well-proportioned, simple lines, and black cladding that hints at some off-road capability.

Not that the Grandland X is particularly suited to off-roading, you understand. Most variants are front-wheel drive, so if you plan to venture off the beaten track in your family SUV, we’d suggest looking at the Range Rover Evoque instead. 

So, with all of that said, should the Vauxhall Grandland X be at the top of your family SUV shortlist? Well, that’s what this review will tell you.

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