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Opel's third member of the 'X' family of compact SUVs, joining the Mokka X and Crossland X later this year after its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. At 4.48 metres long, the Grandland X is roughly the same size as an Opel Astra or Zafira, so it should compete in one of the fastest growing sectors right now, that of the crossover. Which makes you wonder why Opel didn't have something similar in its range before…
What will its rivals be?
That's an easy one. The Hyundai Tucson has taken this segment by storm since it was launched a couple of years ago, grabbing the top sales spot in Ireland in 2016 and continuing that trend at the start of 2017, so the Grandland X has that to contend with, never mind the massive sales success that is the Nissan Qashqai, arguably the originator of this 'niche'. Nissan will launch a facelifted version in the coming months as well. And that's not all. Buyers will also be checking out the likes of the Kia Sportage, SEAT Ateca, the new Skoda Karoq and funky Toyota C-HR, so the Grandland X needs to do something special to stand out.
Any tech info?
There's no headline-grabbing piece of new technology on the Grandland X, but it will be available with all the latest gadgets, including Adaptive Cruise Control with pedestrian detection and Automatic Emergency Braking, Driver Drowsiness Alert, Advanced Park Assist and a 360-degree Camera. Meanwhile, the 'personal connectivity and service assistant', Opel OnStar, now includes new services such as booking hotel rooms and searching for parking. Smartphones can be charged wirelessly via inductive charging, too. Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) LED headlamps are expected to be optional. Functions include cornering light, high beam assist and auto levelling.
What will the range be like?
Opel hasn't confirmed what will power the Grandland X as yet, but a quick look at the Opel Astra's line-up should be a good indication. Trim lines are likely to the SC, SRi and Elite, while engines could range from a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol option to the popular 1.6-litre turbodiesels, with a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol in the middle. Manual and automatic transmissions are expected, too.
Expectations?
The Opel Astra is already one of our favourite C-segment hatchbacks, so we expect the Grandland X to build on that. It looks attractive and should drive well, giving buyers even more options in this incredibly popular market sector.