The Vauxhall Crossland X has plenty of plus points, but isn’t without its drawbacks.

On the up side, it’s roomy, practical, easy to drive around town, offers a decent amount of torque and is hugely economical to run.

However, the rather coarse-sounding engine, disappointing ride comfort and vague manual gearbox rank among its weaknesses.

It has a smart and appealing look, although you wouldn’t necessarily regard it as memorable.

The Crossland X has been introduced as a replacement for the Meriva people carrier and is superior to its predecessor in most key areas.

It is also the first Vauxhall to be based on a PSA platform, after the manufacturer was bought by the French giant from General Motors.

It shares many components with the Peugeot 2008 and has an engine line-up consisting of a 1.2-litre petrol or a 1.6 diesel, tested here.

The diesel unit, with a power output of 120ps and torque of 300Nm, feels much more sprightly in real-world driving conditions than the 0-62mph time of nearly 10 seconds would suggest.

But there’s no getting away from the fact it’s a noisy engine when you get a few revs up.

And the high levels of road noise once you get up to about 50mph don’t do much for relaxation levels either.

A major positive is the fuel economy, which is officially measured at an impressive 70.6mpg on the combined cycle.

Even when you push the Crossland X hard for a prolonged period, the fuel gauge moves at a reassuringly slow pace.

In terms of handling, the vehicle is spot on when you’re driving around town, thanks to light steering, its nippy characteristics and great visibility. Once you get out onto the open roads, the steering is arguably a little too light for a driver who wants to feel fully in touch with the road.

As for the ride, it’s not as good as you might hope. The suspension is a bit on the firm side and, on 17-inch wheels, it crashes over larger bumps, meaning the occupants find themselves bouncing around inside.

When it comes to space and practicality, the Crossland X really comes into its own. The cabin is well proportioned and there’s plenty of leg and head room in the front and back, with one large adult able to sit comfortably behind another, even with the front seats slid back.

It also boasts one of the roomiest boots in its class, which is a big consideration for its target audience.

The boot’s loading lip is a bit on the high side, but Elite versions come with a helpful adjustable floor to raise the load height.

Further ease-of-use comes courtesy of the fact you get a flat floor when the rear seats are folded.

The dash is well designed, functional and easy to use, but perhaps lacks a bit of flair, with too many black scratchy surfaces to the fore.

The swan’s neck handbrake, with its release button on the top, is a little different from the norm. Initially, it’s a bit awkward to operate, but you soon get used to it.

In terms of equipment levels, the Crossland X is well specced up.

All versions come with Vauxhall’s OnStar emergency and connectivity system. There are also Wi-Fi hotspots for up to seven devices and full smartphone integration.

There’s a seven-inch touchscreen and dual zone climate control, while the higher grade Elite version gets a leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors and an advanced Navi 5.0 Intellilink sat nav.

In conclusion, there’s plenty to like about the Crossland X. It’s competitively priced, spacious and frugal. It won’t appeal to enthusiastic motorists, but if you want a competitively-priced, spacious and economical vehicle to ferry the kids around, it’s worth considering.

THE LOWDOWN

Vauxhall Crossland X Elite

ENGINE: 1.6-litre 120PS turbo diesel

PERFORMANCE: O-62mph in 9.9 seconds and max speed 116mph

ECONOMY: fuel consumption of 70.6mpg combined and emissions of 105g/km

TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual, front wheel drive

PRICE: £20,680 on the road

Will's ratings

PERFORMANCE: ***

ECONOMY: *****

RIDE/HANDLING: ***

SPACE: ****

EQUIPMENT: *****

SECURITY: ****

VALUE: ****

OVERALL: ****