Vauxhall Grandland X review 2020

Model review

The Vauxhall Grandland X began production in 2017 and is currently the manufacturer’s largest SUV sitting above the smaller Crossland X crossover. Saying that, it’s more of a mid-sized option compared to the rest of the market. 

The model is based on the same platform as the Peugeot 3008 – Vauxhall is of course now owned by Groupe PSA (Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Opel and Vauxhall) – making it a good alternative. 

As the Grandland X only arrived not so long ago, it hasn’t seen much in the likes of major facelifts or revisions – which is no bad thing considering its age – so there’s not much to differentiate the model years currently. Just something worth noting when searching through the classifieds. 

Current model

With that being said, it’s worth mentioning that there have been a few additions made to the range since the Grandland X’s birth, such as a new traction control system called IntelliGrip and the introduction of a front-wheel-drive hybrid, as well as an all-wheel-drive hybrid. 

In terms of how the Grandland X drives, it doesn’t do much to excite or entertain – buyers after something engaging to drive should look elsewhere. The model is better suited to comfort, acting well as a long-distance cruiser. The controls, such as the steering and clutch, are light and don’t offer much feedback, which doesn’t do much in the realms of inspiring confidence. However, the advantage of this is that it makes driving around town very easy.  

Value for money

New Grandland X models start at £23,915, which is roughly in line with rivals, such as the £20,195 Nissan Qashqai and (upcoming) £23,995 Ford Kuga. There are cheaper cars that could be considered alternatives, like the £10,995 Dacia Duster, but there are also pricier ones, for instance the £33,530 Skoda Karoq.  

On the used market, Grandland X examples go for around £11,600 at the cheapest end of the spectrum. While that may not sound like a bargain, it’s a good deal for a car that won’t be older than four years.  

Looks and image

The Grandland X is an attractive car in our opinion – not stunning by any means, but fairly good-looking. It’s bulky SUV styling and sharp appearance help it to stand out – although if we’re honest we don’t believe it’s likely to turn any heads as it doesn’t amount to anything striking or unusual. In summary though, most buyers will be happy with the Grandland X’s look.  

Space and practicality

In this department, the Grandland X fairs rather well. Interior space is in the plenty, with head and legroom throughout the cabin being accommodating for even tall adults. Cubby spaces are also generous. 

The boot area sits at 514 litres, which is a good size for the SUV class. In addition, dropping the rear seats reveals a 1,652-litre load area. It’s worth noting the mechanically related Peugeot 3008’s boot stands at 590 litres, so only slightly larger. 

Engines

The Grandland X’s current engine range consists of one petrol, one diesel and two hybrid options. In terms of performance, there’s little to separate the petrol – a 1.2-litre – and the diesel – a 1.5-litre motor – as they are identical when it comes to horsepower – 126bhp to be exact. The hybrid choices, on the other hand, offer 296bhp in all-wheel-drive spec and 222bhp in front-wheel-drive form.  

Running costs

All engines available in the Grandland X are relatively economical. For example, the 1.2-litre petrol is said to achieve 45.6mpg when paired with the six-speed manual gearbox – that figure falls to around 42.8mpg with the automatic.  

However, for the cheapest running costs, buyers will want to go for either the diesel 1.5-litre or one of the hybrid choices. Starting with the diesel, it claims to return up to 54.3mpg, while the hybrids are said to get 188.3mpg – it’ll be very difficult to hit that number, but buyers should still expect fuel economy to be rather good. 

Things to look out for

The Grandland X shares its platform with the Peugeot 3008, so buyers can rest assumed somewhat in the fact it’s been created with the collective intellect of both Vauxhall and Peugeot. Both manufacturers are not heavily praised for their cars’ reliability, nor have an excessively terrible reputation – somewhere in the realms of average – and the driver satisfaction surveys reflect this. With this in mind, the Grandland X should serve buyers well – just be cautious of any potential issues, as you should with any vehicle.   

Rivals

The Grandland X faces a fair few rivals, due to the popular nature of the SUV class. Cars like the Ford Kuga, Peugeot 3008 (of which the Grandland X shares a platform with), Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar, all act as competitors for the Vauxhall. With competition like that, it’s admittedly easy to forget about the Grandland X as it doesn’t really do much to stand-out from the crowd. That being said, the model’s still worth a look at if you’re in the market for a relatively affordable SUV.  

Depreciation

Despite the Grandland X being a fairly young vehicle – having only began production in 2017 – the model has gone through a fair bit of depreciation. As mentioned before, examples can be had for as little as £11,600. Considering the £23,915 starting price new, that’s quite a drop. Sure, it makes the car a bit of a used bargain, but the price drop will affect new car buyers – something to keep in mind.