by In general, the Crossland came to me for testing by accident. And that’s true. Initially, I was supposed to take the DS (the one that’s Citroën’s ‘Lexus’ in the French brand’s lineup), but there was a mix-up, and the importer offered me a replacement in the form of the Opel Crossland. If you are still confused about the connection between Opel and Citroën – more on that below, although you should already know about it…
To say I was disappointed – not really, but again, to be honest, this car didn’t attract me at all, and consequently, I had as much desire to get to know it better as I did to go to work at 7 a.m. after a party that ended at 4 a.m. Since many have forgotten how to read these days, I’ll try to keep it short so that you read until the end (try, since you’ve started).
For the first time in recent years (quarantine years, to be exact) I was very surprised and fell in love with something I didn’t even look at. To my utmost surprise, Opel Crossland turned out to be a very delightful and comfortable car. But to avoid unnecessary flattery, visually it still seems too cute, cartoonish, feminine… generally, ‘not mine’. However, in terms of driving sensations, it’s like hot mulled wine after a black run at Dragobrat!
The new Opel Crossland model visually differs from its predecessor by the absence of a classic radiator grille (you might think it’s an electric car), almost all the lighting is LED, and the rear lights are reshaped to make the car appear wider. By the way, personally, it reminds me of Opel Meriva – narrow and tall, but in the case of the 2021 model, not as narrow as before. Obvious advantages include a large glazing area (almost like an aquarium) and excellent visibility.
I have always been a fan of the VAG group (not a so-called ‘VAG fanboy’, but I liked them, and still do), but at the same time, I remember Opel well. And, like many (I think), this German brand is associated with the Kadett, Omega, and probably the Astra Classic and Vectra C. The latter, in my opinion, is one of the best models on the market in the second half of the 2000s. Now, as you know, Opel is part of Stellantis (Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall). In this transnational company, it’s still hard to understand ‘who’s driving the show’, but Opel certainly has new chances for a second wind.
Until recently, the Opel Crossland could have the suffix X, which hinted at off-road capability. Very conditionally, but still. Now Crossland is missing it and may differ only in terms of trim level. From an external perspective, it’s clear – to each their own, but my opinion is that this Opel is still more feminine than unisex. Another feature is the deceptive dimensions. It is like a single-volume – it looks small on the outside, but inside – quite the opposite. High ceiling, deep dashboard, very successful ergonomics… It’s really cool since there’s not even a hint of discomfort and lack of space. Crossland shares the PF1 platform with Citroën C3 Aircross, which, by the way, is also very spacious inside.
Speaking of interior arrangement – plastic, upholstery, and other things raise no questions. None at all. But it must be said that the now-related Peugeot (both 2008 and especially 3008) is much more ‘premium’ (but also more expensive). And it’s expressed not so much in the quality of materials as in the level of electrification. Opel still has analog instruments and ordinary knobs/buttons, whereas Peugeot has almost everything turned to touch. Is it bad? In my opinion – not at all. It’s a specification that either appeals or does not. And although this is an inappropriate comparison, I will still mention Infiniti – cars of this brand may be a few classes higher, but still combine old school and ‘new school’.
Crossland has a ‘normal’ dashboard, hot keys for controlling the climate and audio system – perhaps for someone, this is already a thing of the past, but it seems to me that fully touch controls are not the best solution at the moment (especially in the winter period when things frankly start to ‘lag’).
And now, briefly about why I liked the Opel Crossland so much. During the test, I drove about 800 km and realized that I would like to buy such a car for my wife not only because it’s practical and safe (not only in terms of crash tests but also in the number of electronic assistants, including auto-braking), but also because I would occasionally ‘borrow’ it for myself with pleasure.
In terms of handling, suspension tightness, and overall behavior – this Opel is just excellent, especially if you look at the cost (‘base’ – at the price of a Renault Duster in ‘so-so’ trim, for a moment!). But the most pleasant is the silence in the cabin. I don’t recall any model in this class that would be so quiet and comfortable. And we’re talking about both aerodynamic noise and the noiselessness of the suspension. The latter may be a bit stiff at times (but I liked it even on not the best roads), but it’s very quiet. Even at 150 km/h, you simply don’t feel the speed in the cabin. Let me say this – 90% of Crossland’s competitors cannot offer as much silence and comfort in motion. Perhaps the only thing that disrupts this harmony is the noise of the 3-cylinder petrol engine…
For Opel Crossland, three powertrain variations are available – petrol 1.2 liters with 82 and 110 horsepower, and one 1.5-liter diesel with 120 horsepower. Honestly, I would probably choose the diesel engine, but that’s more of my own ‘quirks’. In our case, we have a 1.2 turbo with 110 horsepower, which ‘according to the passport’ provides 10.9 seconds to a hundred, but feels like 8-9 seconds, no more. The engine is very torquey at almost any speed and in any range. And it’s almost unfair to criticize the 6-speed automatic – minimal delays, and when slowing down, it even downshifts perfectly.
What I forgot to mention – the Crossland can be front-wheel drive only, but I bravely drove it on sandy terrain in the forest. I thought I would have to use a shovel, but it turned out fine – the IntelliGrip intelligent traction system (greetings from PSA) doesn’t replace all-wheel drive, but it’s clearly not useless.
Turning on the right mode, you can minimize the risk of getting stuck in places where you shouldn’t have driven this car. But if you’re curious, the ground clearance is quite substantial (and the overhangs are relatively short) – 170 mm. As for the trunk – it holds 410 liters (one of the best in its segment).
Did you read it all? Then a brief verdict – for quite reasonable money, you can get a very cozy, comfortable, and functional car. At the same time, it ‘consumes’ little (6-7 liters), accelerates well, and (importantly) can be very well equipped with all kinds of electronic assistants (from lane control to automatic braking). I’ll say this – it’s like trail sneakers, where the main advantage is ‘wearing comfort’. If you’ve never considered the Opel Crossland, take a test drive and you’ll remember this review.
