In-depth reviews

Vauxhall Crossland review: Vauxhall’s more practical small SUV

The Crossland SUV offers good family practicality, but isn't as sharp to drive or efficient as some rivals

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.5 out of 5

  • Practical cabin
  • Strong kit list
  • Refined driving manners
  • Not the most stylish
  • Not much fun to drive
  • Top-spec trims are pricey
Find your Vauxhall Crossland
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

​The Vauxhall Crossland is a spacious, practical and economical family car that offers loads more style and desirability thanks to a thorough midlife overhaul in 2020. It can't quite match the striking looks of its smaller Mokka sibling, but the practical Crossland has added a smart, sporty edge that fits well with modern family life. 

Updates to the Crossland's steering and suspension set-up are welcome, as are some trim upgrades, but Vauxhall’s small SUV has been left behind by key rivals that have embraced hybrid technology in the pursuit of higher fuel economy.

About the Vauxhall Crossland

The Crossland isn't so much a bold 4x4, but more of a functional model aimed at young families with an active lifestyle. It sits somewhere between the mid-size Grandland and more compact Mokka SUVs in Vauxhall's line-up, with rivals in the small SUV market spanning far and wide.

For starters, there's the Citroen C3 Aircross on which the Crossland is based, the hugely successful Nissan Juke, the fun-to-drive Ford Puma and our Small SUV of the Year for 2023, the Hyundai Kona. Other models you should consider in this segment include the Renault Captur, Toyota Yaris Cross and the Kia Niro. The Volkswagen T-Cross and Skoda Kamiq also have the Crossland in their crosshairs.

Unlike the majority of its rivals, which now offer or even come with hybrid technology as standard, the Crossland is available exclusively with a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. 

The Crossland was initially offered with a wide range of trims and personalisation options to allow buyers to customise it to their tastes. The entry-level SE trim was followed by SE Nav Premium, SRi Nav, Elite, Elite Nav and the top-of-the-range Ultimate Nav. This lineup proved a bit confusing, though, so Vauxhall simplified the selection in 2022. The current range now consists of Design, GS and Ultimate.

Entry-level Design models are reasonably equipped with automatic LED headlights and wipers , cruise control, air-conditioning and a seven-inch touchscreen media system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto all included as standard.

Moving up to the mid-range GS trim adds automatic levelling-headlights with high-beam assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a larger eight-inch media system. A range of extra safety tech is also included from this point in the range, such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection and forward collision alert.

The range-topping Ultimate specification brings even more extra kit, including advanced park assist, keyless entry and start, and heated seats. The interior is also tweaked with Alcantara, which makes the Crossland feel more upmarket.

Frequently Asked Questions
The Vauxhall Crossland is a smart-looking small SUV that should prove ideal for family use. Not only is it more practical than its sibling, the Vauxhall Mokka, but it’s reasonably economical, too. There are no hybrid or fully electric variants offered, though, which is an area where the Crossland falls short of many rivals.

For an alternative review of the Vauxhall Crossland, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk... 

More on Crossland

New 2024 Vauxhall Crossland replacement could revive Vauxhall Frontera name
Vauxhall Crossland replacement spyshots 1
News
25 Sep 2023

New 2024 Vauxhall Crossland replacement could revive Vauxhall Frontera name

Vauxhall's Crossland replacement will focus on practicality and could reintroduce the Frontera name. New spy shots show it in development
Best new cars for under £250 per month
Best cars for under £250 a month
Best cars & vans
2 Feb 2023

Best new cars for under £250 per month

If you can muster a £250 monthly budget, these are some of the best new cars available for your money
Vauxhall leasing deals 2022
Vauxhall Crossland
Best cars & vans
17 Dec 2021

Vauxhall leasing deals 2022

The best Vauxhall leasing deals available right now
New Vauxhall Crossland Griffin arrives to boost SUV’s appeal
Vauxhall Crossland Griffin
News
26 Jul 2021

New Vauxhall Crossland Griffin arrives to boost SUV’s appeal

The new Vauxhall Crossland Griffin undercuts the SE on price, but adds more equipment
New Vauxhall Crossland 2021 review
Vauxhall Crossland - main
Road tests
27 Jan 2021

New Vauxhall Crossland 2021 review

Can the newly updated Vauxhall Crossland finally challenge the best of the small SUV segment?
Used Vauxhall Crossland X review
Used car tests
4 Dec 2020

Used Vauxhall Crossland X review

A full used buyer’s guide on the Vauxhall Crossland X covering the Crossland X Mk1 (2017-date)
Facelifted 2021 Vauxhall Crossland available to order now
News
4 Nov 2020

Facelifted 2021 Vauxhall Crossland available to order now

Updated Vauxhall Crossland SUV has reached the UK market priced from £19,060
New Vauxhall Crossland X 1.6 diesel 2017 review
Vauxhall Crossland X - front
Road tests
23 May 2017

New Vauxhall Crossland X 1.6 diesel 2017 review

We get behind the wheel of the entry-level diesel version of the new Vauxhall Crossland X SUV
New 2017 Vauxhall Crossland X SUV: prices and specs revealed
Vauxhall Crossland X - Geneva front
News
17 May 2017

New 2017 Vauxhall Crossland X SUV: prices and specs revealed

New Crossland X cuts a more practical figure in Vauxhall's growing SUV line-up, and sits underneath the Mokka X
New Vauxhall Crossland X 2017 review
Vauxhall Crossland X 2017
Road tests
11 May 2017

New Vauxhall Crossland X 2017 review

The Vauxhall Crossland X is an improvement on the retired Meriva, but its position is unclear next to the existing Mokka X