Surely the saturated sports utility vehicle market has no more room for yet another newcomer. Or does it?
Vauxhall certainly thinks there is, as it expands its range with two new SUVs this year alone.
First to arrive is the high-riding compact Crossland X, with distinctive two-tone paintwork and its eye clearly on capturing the young family market.
Smaller than an Astra, the smartly-styled five-seater packs in a surprising amount of space in a flexible cabin.
And alongside the practical interior is a wealth of technology – both for serious safety and some fun stuff.
Priced from about £16,500, the Crossland X lines up against rivals such as the Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 in an expanding Vauxhall SUV line-up that includes the mid-size Mokka X and an even larger model, the Grandland X, arriving later in the year.
And despite the Crossland’s neat dimensions there are some big-car treats on board. The driver and front seat passenger are indulged with large comfortable seats that make long-distance driving a joy.
In the rear, the 60/40 split folding seats are able to move forwards or backwards up to 150mm on some models to provide either additional leg room in the rear, or increase the already decent split-level luggage space on offer.
Engine choices range from 81 to 130 horsepower with three-cylinder petrol and four-cylinder diesel engines linked to five and six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions.
Power on the top-of-the-range test model came from the most powerful petrol engine in the range, a supremely lively 1.2-litre turbocharged, three-cylinder unit delivering 130 horsepower, linked to a six-speed manual transmission.
While the car is happy and settled at motorway speeds, it is in its element around town with plenty of technology to help avoid urban scrapes, including a 180-degree panoramic rear-view camera and an automatic parking system that can identify a suitable parking spot and then automatically park the car.
Add in forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and blind-spot alert and the Elite version of the Crossland X is as well-equipped as many luxury saloons.
As well as the serious safety technology, the car can be fitted with Vauxhall’s OnStar system that creates a powerful Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing up to seven mobile devices to be connected. Add to that a hi-fi system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and family harmony is virtually guaranteed.
So while the SUV segment continues to boom, there is certainly room for another little one.
Auto facts
Model: Vauxhall Crossland X Elite 1.2T 130PS
Price: £22,985 as tested
Insurance group: 18E (1-50)
Fuel consumption (combined): 55.4mpg
Top speed: 128mph
Length: 421.2cm/165.8in
Width: 174.2cm/68.6in
Luggage capacity: 14.5 cu ft
Fuel tank capacity: 9.9 gallons/45 litres
CO2 emissions: 116g/km
Warranty: Three years/ 60,000 miles
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