BUOYED by the success of its compact Mokka X and mid-sized Crossland X SUVs, Vauxhall is making further inroads into the sector with something a little larger.

The sporty and rugged Grandland X, with elevated seating for five people, generous luggage space, good all-round visibility and a raft of safety technologies, is the big brother.

It is also a sister – if that makes sense – to Peugeot’s 3008, which is built on the same platform. Such is the nature of car manufacturing in 2018.

Measuring 20 centimetres longer than the Mokka X and Crossland X, it is aimed fairly and squarely at competing with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage.

Priced from about £22,00 it comes with a long list of standard equipment that includes LED daytime running lights, camera-based lane departure warning, road sign recognition, intelligent cruise control and air conditioning.

It also introduced Vauxhall’s innovative IntelliGrip traction control system, which ensures optimum road grip in diverse driving situations, and adapts the torque distribution to the front wheels depending on which of the five driving modes has been selected. There are five modes to choose from: normal, snow, mud, sand and ESP off, which enables the deactivation of ESP and traction aids to give the driver complete autonomy.

My test car – the petrol offering – also came with the £1,100 LED adaptive forward lighting option, which is quite brilliant but ridiculously expensive.

Another key selling – and free – selling point is the inclusion of Vauxhall’s OnStar service as standard, giving drivers connectivity when on the move, while also providing a personal assistant service, stolen vehicle assistance and automatic crash

Customers have the choice of two engines – a 1.2-litre turbo petrol with 130PS and a 1.5-litre turbo diesel (130PS). Both units can be combined with either the six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

The Grandland X offers a selection of features such as automatic cruise control with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking and advanced park assist.

These features are now quite common among rivals and go to show where the focus lies in attracting customers.

The petrol unit stand up well to scrutiny, being quite frugal yet with a spring in its step.

But it is the raft of attractions such as ergonomic front seats, heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats and smart tailgate, that opens with a kick, that will tempt buyers as much as any performance figures.

The external assistance features found on the Grandland X are rounded off with Side Blind Spot Alert and Lane Departure Warning, which reduce the possibility of overlooking, or encroaching upon, other vehicles in dense traffic. Ultrasonic sensors detect all other road users and warn the driver via an amber icon in the exterior door mirror, while Lane Departure Warning issues audible and visible signals if it registers that the lane is being left unintentionally on a number of occasions. You also get resistance through the steering wheel.

To provide the driver with further support when parking their vehicle, the Grandland X features the latest generation of Advanced Park Assist. Recognising suitable parking spaces, the system is then able to automatically park the vehicle, requiring the driver to operate the pedals only. Advanced Park Assist can also manoeuvre the Grandland X out of a spot when bay parked between two other vehicles.

The Grandland X also offers drivers and occupants state-of-the-art infotainment systems, including Radio R 4.0 with audio, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The latest generation of Vauxhall’s R 4.0 IntelliLink and Navi 5.0 IntelliLink infotainment packages come with up to eight-inch colour touchscreens, and allow seamless integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via compatible smartphones, which can be charged wirelessly.

The Grandland X is available in SE, Tech Line Nav, Sport Nav and Elite Nav specifications.

AT A GLANCE

Vauxhall Grandland X Sport Nav

Price: £24,800 (range from £22,485)

Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol, producing 130PS

Transmission: Six-speed manual

Performance: 0 to 60mph in 11.1 seconds; top speed 117mph

Economy: 55.4mpg combined

CO2 emissions: 117g/km

RATINGS

Performance: ***

Economy: ****

Ride/Handling: ****

Space/Practicality: ****

Equipment: ****

Security/Safety: *****

Value For Money: ***

OVERALL: ****