Vauxhall Grandland X (2018 – 2021) Review

The Vauxhall Grandland X is a practical family car with space for four adults and a boot that's spacious. Its PureTech petrol engine is smooth and nippy enough, but also good on fuel. You can also choose from a diesel that's excellent on the motorway and plug-in hybrids that make a lot of sense in town. The Vauxhall's problem is its uninspiring styling and boring cabin, which means it struggles to stand out in a class filled with cars that are more distinctive and just as practical.

The Grandland X is Vauxhall's largest SUV, rivalling the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Skoda Karoq. It's closely related to the Peugeot 3008, Citroen C5 Aircross and DS 7 Crossback, but undercuts them all on price.

The engine line-up mirrors that of the Peugeot 3008, with buyers given a choice of petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid power. Most buyers will find the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol sufficient for their needs, while the 1.5-litre diesel is an excellent choice for those covering high miles or looking to tow (up to 1960kg).

While the headline figures of 300PS and 204mpg are impressive, the plug-in hybrid Grandland X (badged the Hybrid4) will only make sense if you're a company car driver chasing tax benefits. It's very expensive and, thanks to its heavy weight, is very thirsty unless you can charge it regularly.

Most SUV buyers want a high seating position, and the Grandland X ticks that box. It's comfortable, while all the instruments and buttons are logically laid out. It does feel a bit dated, though - you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a 10-year-old car. It's not bad, it's just a bit disappointing compared to the tech-heavy Peugeot 3008's cabin.

That said, there's plenty of space. Adults will be comfortable in the front, and a flat floor in the rear means it feels quite roomy back there. It's got a reasonably spacious boot, too - not the biggest in its class, but there's enough space for golf clubs or a pushchair. 

SUV buyers have a wide range of cars to choose from and the Grandland X doesn't stand out in any particular area. That said, it's a sensible choice, and there are some good deals available. Just don't buy one before you give the Skoda Karoq or Peugeot 3008 a look.

If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Vauxhall Grandland review.

The Vauxhall Grandland X is a quiet and comfortable car if you’re looking to dispatch long motorway drives as painlessly as possible. Its well damped suspension soaks up bumps, but the car never feels floaty or wallowy at speed, and this composure is amplified by the steering that’s free from slack and feels accurate and precise.  

The only fly in the ointment is that the Vauxhall misses out on the kind of autonomous driving aids that are great for cutting fatigue on long blasts up the motorway. 

That said, you’ll be quite happy to do the driving yourself on country roads where the Vauxhall’s remarkably reassuring. Its precise steering makes it easy to tee up a corner and, although there is body roll, the Vauxhall settles into bends happily and has plenty of grip. 

In fact, the place it feels least at home is in town. There its excellent 130PS petrol engine can get bogged down a little and the over assisted brakes are hard to use smoothly. It doesn’t help that the rest for your left foot is easy to catch when you’re operating the clutch pedal.

Looking for a second opinon? Why not read heycar's Vauxhall Grandland X review

The headline-grabbing engines in the Grandland X’s range are its two 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrids – the 225PS two-wheel drive version, simply called the Hybrid, and the 300PS four-wheel drive Hybrid4. The latter of which is most notable for its spritely 5.9-second 0-62mph time. 

The hybrids can travel up to 35 miles on electricity alone making them ideal if you have a short commute and a place at home where you can charge them. You’ll get the battery from flat to full in less than 2hrs using a 7.5kW wall charger. 

While the hybrids grab your attention, the 130PS PureTech petrol is the workhorse of the range and the best all-rounder. It’s a relatively tiny 1.2-litre three-cylinder but its spritely performance – 0-62mph takes 9.5 seconds – means it doesn’t feel it and it’s also quiet and smooth. The slick six-speed manual gearbox is so easy to use, the automatic is needless unless you do lots of driving in town.

That same automatic gearbox is also an option of the 130PS 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel. It’s slower than the petrol model on paper – it does 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds – but its hearty mid-range means it actually feels quicker when overtaking or joining the motorway. Nevertheless, it’s only worthwhile if you drive around 20,000 miles a year, when its improved fuel efficiency pays off. 

The Vauxhall Grandland X was given five stars for safety when it was crash tested by safety body Euro NCAP in 2017, although you can expect rivals with a five star rating from 2020 to be even safer. 

It’s also pretty poor that basic Grandland X models don’t get automatic emergency brakes, which are a proven safety device that come fitted as standard to most of the Vauxhall’s rivals.

You do still get some useful features though and the standard kit list includes auto-dipping headlights, lane assist – which guides the car in lane – and six airbags.

Aside from its fuel economy, the diesel also makes sense if you’ll use your Vauxhall Grandland X for towing – diesel versions have a 1500kg max towing weight, which compare favourably to petrol (1400kg) and hybrid (1250kg) models. That said, a conventional diesel rival with four-wheel drive will pull 2000kg or thereabouts.

The Vauxhall Grandland X has a driver's seat that gives a wide range of adjustment along with a steering wheel that moves for rake and reach, so getting comfortable shouldn't be too difficult. Elite X models get an electrically adjustable driver's seat so you don’t have to huff and puff into your ideal seating position, though it's a shame their heated seats and steering wheel get no warmer than tepid. 

Even if you and your front-seat passenger are tall, there should be plenty of room for tall people in the back – there’s no shortage of leg and knee room, and headroom is plentiful even if you get the space-eating panoramic roof. 

Three adults in the back will feel a bit more crushed but there should be room for everyone’s feet and they won’t feel as hemmed in as they would in a hatchback of the same size. 

It’s pretty good when it comes to carrying little ones, too, its raised ride height means you won’t have to bend your back fitting a baby seat and the three Isofix points – one in the front, two in the back – mean you can safely secure three. The paraphernalia that comes with a family can also easily be hidden away in the Vauxhall’s numerous cubbies.

The Vauxhall Grandland X doesn’t feel as posh inside as a Skoda Karoq but neither does any other mainstream SUV and there’s a solidness to the Vauxhall’s doors and dense, spongy interior plastics that’s pleasingly reassuring.

Little bits let the side down, though. The luxury of having your back and bottom cooled by the ventilated seats (standard in Elite Nav) is spoiled by the racket the fans produce and the stalks behind the steering wheel don’t feel as satisfyingly clunky as the ones in a Skoda. Minor complaints but noticeable nonetheless.

Meanwhile, while the centre touchscreen is clear and colorful, the old fashioned analogue dials behind the steering wheel instantly make the Vauxhall instantly feel dated when compared to the likes of the Peugeot 3008.

Most of the Vauxhall Grandland X range comes with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with built-in sat-nav and a three subscription to Vauxhall’s connected services – so it can route around congestion like the maps on your phone.

You’ll probably still use your phone, though, because Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted as standard so it’s easy to project your its display onto the car’s big screen and use its apps for things like music playback and navigation. Along with using the same menu layout as your phone – its familiarity makes it easy to navigate – it also means you can use your phone's voice activation system, which is generally more reliable than the systems fitted to cars. 

Only SE Premium models come fitted with a more basic system, which has a smaller seven-inch screen and isn’t connected like the system fitted to the rest of the range.

The Vauxhall Grandland X has a starting price of £27,000 which doesn’t look like great value next to a Skoda Karoq which starts from just under £22,000. 

The Vauxhall does have slightly more kit – including front parking sensors, LED lights and headlights that dip automatically – but it only starts to look like good value when you realise you can snap up a brand new SE Premium for £5000 less than Vauxhall's list price. 

Elite Nav Premium models, meanwhile, sit near the top of the range and come with kit like a leather interior, electrically operated boot lid, keyless entry and a panoramic glass roof. They’re also readily available with £5000 discounts on their £29,500 list price.

The version of the Vauxhall Grandland X with the highest running costs on paper is the 130PS petrol, which will achieve up to 45mpg according to accurate WLTP testing procedures. That'll drop a couple of MPG if you fit the optional automatic gearbox. The 130PS diesel model will get closer to 50mpg and its fuel economy is unaffected if you fit the auto.

Insurance should also be relatively affordable with it spanning Group 14E (Business Edition model) to 32E (Ultimate Hybrid4). Basic SE Premium models aren’t the cheapest to get covered because their lack of automatic emergency brakes means they’re more likely to be involved in bumps. 

The 130PS petrol in manual form or the 130PS diesel in auto or manual cost the least to tax – they'll set you back £215 in year one, £150 every year thereafter. The automatic 130PS petrol sits in a higher tax bracket so you'll pay £540 in year one.

Hybrid models’ low emissions mean their free to tax in the first year but car’s costing more than £40,000 will be subject to a whopping £465 tax payment every year thereafter for five years.

The Grandland X is available in six trim levels (13 if you count the hybrid models) so you can choose from basic, sporty or luxurious models. 

The basic model (not that you’d know it from the name) is the SE Premium and it looks smart thanks to its 18-inch alloy wheels and chrome exterior trim. It comes with kit such as cruise control, a leather trimmed steering wheel, auto LED headlights and wipers, cruise control and dual-zone climate control so you and your passenger can set your own temperature. 

Business Edition models can be spotted by their multi-spoke alloy wheels. In terms of kit, they add automatic emergency brakes but also get upgraded infotainment, a rear centre armrest, ambient lighting and electrically folding mirrors with puddle lights. 

SRi models get the same kit but in a sportier package courtesy of a contrast paint job and diamond cut wheels, while Griffin cars add keyless entry and start, and come with an electrically operated tailgate. 

Elite Nav models are the luxurious option and come with 19-inch alloy wheels. They get a leather-lined interior, a glass roof, heated windscreen and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat. Elite Nav Premium, meanwhile, once again add keyless entry and a powered boot. 

Hybrid models follow the same naming structure, although all models come with the upgraded infotainment. Top-of-the-line Ultimate spec is only available in hybrid from and gets you a 360-degree camera, a premium stereo, premium LED headlights and auto park.