Opel Crossland X - in pursuit of fashion

Small is beautiful, but big is more? Not necessary. The magic of SUVs and crossovers is reaching weirder and weirder segments, and Americans themselves probably didn't think typical city cars would want something like the Lincoln Navigator. Is there any point in such a cross between a city car and an SUV? The new Opel Crossland X sets itself high goals.

Of course, the aspirations for the Navigator are somewhat exaggerated, but on the other hand, has the world really gone mad? Even the diminutive Opel Adam is available in the off-road version of the Rocks, other manufacturers also offer small crossovers. And most importantly, people are buying it, which means that the words "crossover" and "SUV" are now as welcome as "BIO" on fruit juice packaging. That's why it's not surprising that the Meriva, marketed as a microvan, has a successor with sand and wildlife in the background, the Crossland X, on the posters. The only problem is that the word "BIO" will soon appear in Chinese. soups with a laboratory and the same applies to crossovers - not everyone will call them that. What about the new Opel?

In fact, this car does not want to go off-road, and this is for a simple reason - there is also Mokka X. Interestingly, it looks similar, has similar dimensions, but a higher price. Then why buy a Mocha when it's cheaper and looks a lot like Crossland? It's simple - because unlike its younger brother, Mokka can be equipped with all-wheel drive, larger alloy wheels, more powerful powertrains and has a more recreational character. Will buyers feel this subtle difference and will there not be a small civil war between these models? For some, dry wine is a culinary masterpiece, for some, salad vinegar, so time will tell, because tastes are different. One thing is for sure - Crossland X is only wearing a field uniform because he doesn't really want to leave the city and its surroundings. And in general, with a drive on one axle and an average ground clearance, it will not work especially outside the paved road, but active pastime and travel are its element. Oh, such a fancy little car, not to say "hipster" - although in his case, that's a compliment. It looks good, responds to current trends, has a contrasting color roof, some shiny accessories, LED lighting, and plenty of gadgets in the interior. And the most interesting thing is that this is no longer the business of General Motors, because the Opel brand has passed into the possession of the French, i.e. concern PSA (manufacturers Peugeot and Renault). So many solutions come from France. Paul designed the PSA, although Opel redesigned it in their own way, thanks to the modular solution. Many components also come from France, which is reminiscent of the Citroen and Peugeot emblems on the casing near the engine after opening the hood ... It is strange that no one bothered to disguise such details, but the most important thing is what is hidden inside.

interior

The car should be small but spacious inside. After all, it replaces Meriva, and you never know what will hit the heads of active people, so Crossland X needs to be ready for almost anything. And in a sense it is. The trunk has 410 liters, which can be increased to more than 500 liters after moving the sofa or up to 1255 liters after folding the back - that's really a lot for a 4,2-meter car. Surprising and exceptionally rich equipment. Of course, in the basic version, it is in vain to look for most gadgets, because then the price of a car would have to start with the equivalent of living in a small town. However, the very fact that the manufacturer offers a lot of solutions from higher segments in a city car is impressive. From the very beginning, the Plexiglas plate of the optional HeadUp Display system, which displays a hologram with basic information while driving, is surprising. True, Toyota may present such information on the windshield, but Opel probably got this equipment from PSA because there is a dual solution used there.

With a budget for gadgets, Crossland X can be armed with many more accessories. Panoramic camera, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring or heated windshield and steering wheel may not be all that amazing and already well known, but Opel's OnStar system, which turns this city car into a hotspot, makes hotel reservations and finds the nearest parking space The map is amazing - it's just a city car, not Bill Gates' limousine. Amid this electronic splendor, the automatic parking feature, the ability to inductively charge your phone, and the pedestrian-detecting collision avoidance system sound mundane, although many drivers will certainly appreciate such additions. All you have to do is add a lot of front space, a staggering amount of rear space, and a sofa that can be pushed back 15cm to make the Crossland X a truly thoughtful car that's a lot more spacious inside than it looks. However, this does not mean that it was designed flawlessly. The height of the seat belts is not adjustable, and the armrest makes it difficult to use the "handbrake" and you have to fold it every time - this can be annoying when driving in the city. On the other hand, thick rear pillars make maneuvering difficult, so consider adding an extra camera. The advantages of this are a large number of small compartments, many USB connectors and intuitive controls.

During the presentation, the manufacturer also emphasized that the chairs used were designed for the Action for a Healthy Back (AGR). Are they comfortable? Are. Does your back feel like after a Thai massage even after 500 km? Unfortunately, the test tracks weren't that long (or fortunately), so drivers will have to test the backrest in their own skin, but the prognosis is really good, because after 200 km, fatigue did not bother. Optionally, you can install a multimedia system with a color screen. It has a ton of features and can connect to the phone, for example using its navigation. During the tests, however, the cards were turned off several times, but it is not known who was to blame - the car software or the phone.

engines

So far, several units can be placed under the hood - both gasoline and diesel. The manufacturer did not bring the weakest 1.2 l 81KM gasoline unit to the presentation. I don't want to predict it too much, but the feeling of driving this engine can be the same as if you were sitting in your chair and staring at the wall. The turbocharged counterpart, the 1.2L engine with 110 hp, seems to be the optimal minimum, corresponding to the universal nature of the car. Unless the operation of Crossland X is limited to the city, but since this car is a crossover, it does not like restrictions. The unit has a 1.2 liter supercharged 110 hp. 3 cylinders and I didn't think I'd be writing this, but you don't feel any negative effects from this type of design. The motor runs quietly, the characteristic sound of a “mower” is not heard during normal driving, and its work culture is good. The hum starts to be heard at high speed (but still not fatiguing), and from about 2000 rpm. there's a perceptible "lumpy power" feel thanks to the turbocharger, and the flex isn't to be faulted. Whether it's a mountain road or a loaded car, the Crossland X handles well enough. The manufacturer gives an average fuel consumption of 4,9-4,8 l / 100 km. During test drives, it was 1,5 liters more, but the car was not particularly spared, and the road led through the mountains.

The offer also includes a more powerful 130 hp version of this engine. This is a small difference, although you can feel it very clearly. Fuel consumption increases by about 0,2-0,5 l / 100 km, but the faces of drivers of larger cars passing along the highway are priceless. In addition, the power reserve is so large that the car can be completely freely moved in any conditions - an interesting power unit. Of course, there is something for diesel lovers as well. A 1.6 liter engine can be 99 km or 120 km. You can't deceive physics, so the work culture and cooling are worse than in 3-cylinder gasoline engines. Each of the two diesel versions has its strengths - in the weaker version, the manufacturer gives an average fuel consumption of less than 4l / 100km, and in the more powerful version, good performance is a trump card. The drives can be combined with manual transmissions (5 or 6 gears) to choose from and with a 6-speed Japanese automatic transmission (1.2 hp 110L engine only). The former, unfortunately, are not very accurate, while the latter are simply slow. But it's not a sports car.

There is also the issue of price. The basic version of the Essentia (available from January next year) with a 1.2 liter petrol engine 81 km will cost PLN 59. Unfortunately, frankly, there is nothing in it, including air conditioning, power windows and a host of other accessories, without which it is difficult to work in everyday life. The optimal Enjoy option with a more powerful 900 liter engine 1.2 km costs PLN 110, but along with many useful equipment, there is also a multimedia system with a color screen and Opel OnStar on board, which is also almost enough equipment. Comparable diesel 70 l with a capacity of 800 hp requires an additional payment of PLN 1.6.

The idea of ​​a small crossover that quickly digs into the sand because of just one axle is rather strange, but on the other hand, the car looks good, plastic lining will prevent damage to the body when leaving the city. on a gravel road and the interior space is amazing. It's just a small and trendy car that proves that not only big things can do more, and a car that works well in a family doesn't have to be big and boring.