Vauxhall Grandland X vs Peugeot 3008 vs Toyota C-HR

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It seems as though there’s a new SUV launching every week, and the latest model to hit the market is Vauxhall’s Grandland X. We’re testing it in po[CENSORED]r 1.2-litre turbo petrol form; priced from £24,595 in Sport Nav trim, it shows off what’s on offer in the brand-new range.

However, given its relationship to the Peugeot, can the Grandland X beat its cousin?

Because the Grandland X shares much of its engineering with the 3008, it offers a respectable level of comfort. However, it doesn’t have the 3008’s i-Cockpit set-up, which features a narrow-diameter steering wheel. This means the Vauxhall isn’t quite as agile or quick to turn in as the Peugeot. The light steering is also devoid of feel, so this is definitely no driver’s car – but then, neither are its rivals here.

What the Grandland X does offer is relatively refined cruising, as the engine is quiet and the high-speed ride is smooth on this trim level’s 18-inch alloys. However, hit a sharp bump or an expansion joint, and the dampers struggle to control the energy fired up through the suspension.

At low speeds the chassis feels less settled than the Peugeot’s, and while the Vauxhall doesn’t offer the Toyota’s focus or composure in corners, it’s no more comfortable in conditions where an SUV such as this spends most of its time.

However, it was the quickest car in our test, sprinting from 0-60mph in 10.3 seconds – three-tenths faster than the 3008 and seven-tenths up on the C-HR. This full-throttle performance advantage wasn’t replicated during our in-gear tests, as the Grandland’s 100kg-heavier kerbweight compared with the 3008’s dulled acceleration.

This was only by a few tenths in the lower gears between 30-50mph, while the same six-speed manual gearbox as its French competitor, which doesn’t change ratios particularly quickly, meant it was just two-tenths slower through the gears from 30-70mph, taking 10.1 seconds.

Testers’ notes: “The Vauxhall’s rear three-quarter visibility could be better, but the 360-degree panoramic camera is only available on the top-spec Ultimate model.”