Car Review: Opel Crossland X
As far as SUVs go, Opel fans have had the Opel Mokka X to go with, but now, Opel has introduced a new member to its X-family, the Opel Crossland X. We spent the day with Opel driving from OR Tambo airport to the Cradle of Humankind to experience Opel’s new SUV.
The Crossland X slots in just below the Mokka X in Opel’s new SUV range, and now sits on a new platform, which is shared with new Opel owners, known as the PSA group (which also owns brands such as Peugeot and Citroen).
At launch, Opel states that the Crossland X is aimed at family-orientated individuals looking for a crossover utility vehicle designed around maximizing interior space. The Crossland X starts at R265 000 for the 1.2 entry-level model, R305 000 for the 1.2T Enjoy and R345 000 and R360 000 for the 1.2T Cosmo Manual and Automatic.
Outside
Curvy, round edges as well as chrome detailing surround the Crossland’s friendly-looking exterior, while its large grille and distinctive roof design give it a modern and fresh appeal. Optional LED technology on the Super model adds to its striking appearance as well as safety benefits.
Inside
If you’re like most SUV fans and prefer a raised driving position, you’ll enjoy sitting in the Crossland X with a good view of your surroundings outside. On the centre piece of the dashboard is the Crossland X’s infotainment system. I loved the quality of its 8 inch colour screen resolution and that it’s angled towards the driver, making it easy-to-use. Soft touch plastics across the dashboard and the tops of the doors give the Crossland an aesthetically pleasing cabin, and I found that storage space all round was enough to accommodate various items such as water bottles, phones and keys.
In terms of space in the rear, folding the seats down gives you 1 255 litres and 410 litres with the seats up. Legroom is still plentiful even with the front seats positioned pretty far back.
On the road
The Opel Crossland X is a lot more agile, and punchier than I expected, although, you might feel any really poor road surfaces through the cabin. On the open road, the Crossland X proved to be a comfortable and smooth driving experience. I really enjoyed its 1,2-litre, manual transmission (priced at R360 000), but an automatic six-speed gearbox is available on the Cosmo flagship derivative. The manual version gives a lot of punch and enthusiasm, especially on highways when you need to overtake slow moving trucks. The steering wheel is surprisingly quick and accurate, which is great for zipping in and around busy CBDs!
All of the Crossland X models are powered by a 1,2-litre, three cylinder engine, with a choice of non-turbo (60 kW/118 N.m) or turbocharged (81 kW/205 N.m) versions. Power is sent to the front wheels.
Safety first
The Crossland X’s Cosmo version includes a camera-based lane departure warning system, intelligent speed adaption integrated with standard cruise control and an Advanced Driver Assistance System. The entry level model has hill start assist, eight airbags, full-house braking management systems, LED running lamps, auto-on lights and Bluetooth technology.
Pricing
It’s going to be interesting to see how the Opel Crossland X performs in a fast-growing B-SUV segment. With so many compact crossovers to compete with, what really makes the Crossland X stand out is that it’s a friendly, family-orientated and pleasantly comfortable car to drive. And if this isn’t quite what you’re looking for, Opel has a number of new models heading for South Africa in 2018, with four electric models by 2020.
The Crossland X is sold with a fully-comprehensive 5-year/120 000 km warranty and roadside assistance programme, a 5-year/unlimited mileage anti-corrosion warranty and a 3-year/60 000 km service plan. Service intervals are 15 000 km or twelve months for all derivatives.
Source: Opel SA