Vauxhall Crossland review - Interior, design and technology
The Crossland is loaded with kit, but certain parts of the cabin still feel built down to a cost
The original Crossland X indirectly replaced the aging Meriva MPV, and the facelifted Crossland continues as an MPV-inspired small SUV, sharing a platform, engines and technology with the Citroen C3 Aircross. Unlike some of Vauxhall's other models that have adopted electric power, the Crossland is offered with a line-up of three petrol and two diesel engines.
Some MPV influences are still evident, particularly at the rear. That’s because the Crossland is positioned as a more versatile and practical proposition than other B-segment crossovers, and as such, the exterior shape is dictated by space requirements in the cabin.
With the wheels pushed right out to the corners, plus that tall, boxy roofline and a steeply raked windscreen stretching far out in front of the dashboard, the Crossland feels very spacious and airy inside. Headroom is excellent, while legroom in the back is also very good for this segment.
Overall though, the Crossland’s cabin prioritises function over form. It’s been cleverly designed and packaged to maximise space, and comes well equipped, too. But there’s little in the way of flair and, despite a mid-life makeover, some of the plastics on show remain hard and scratchy to touch. As a bonus, you do get a leather steering wheel as standard, and things are livened up with the sporty SRi trim
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
In the cabin, the big tech news is the inclusion of a colour touchscreen infotainment system, which features as standard on all cars. The SE-spec Crossland features a slightly smaller 7-inch screen, while the rest of the range adds an upgraded 8-inch version.
Entry-level versions don't include sat-nav, but the IntelliLink system is bundled with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Bluetooth, a DAB radio and a USB connector at no extra cost. It sits angled towards the driver and is fairly slick and easy to use, with decent response to touches and a row of chunky physical buttons to help navigate the sub-menus.
A six-speaker audio setup with steering-wheel mounted controls comes as standard, although there is the option to upgrade at extra cost.
