Vauxhall Grandland X 1.5 Turbo D 2018 UK first drive

Vauxhall's all-important Nissan Qashqai rival mated to a new, PSA-sourced diesel engine. Brought in primarily to ensure all PSA Group cars meet the most stringent emissions regulations, the new 1.5-litre unit officially replaced the 1.6-litre diesel back in May, but this is our first chance behind the wheel of it. We have, however, tried it in a few other PSA Group models, including the recently facelifted Peugeot 308.

The new diesel engine, codenamed DV5R, is a bit ahead of the curve because it's already compliant with the tightest EU6c emission legislation, which won't be enforced until 2020. That legislation is specifically targeted at reducing NOx and particulate emissions in the real-world and not on an unrealistic laboratory test cycle.

Its timing is crucial, with the hope of such engines putting pay to the rather unhealthy image diesel has been labelled with of late in many European countries. The 1.5 Turbo D makes use of the full suite of exhaust-cleaning tech, including the now-common AdBlue urea injection system and a particulate 'trap' filter.

However, the new tech has some other effects: the 1.5-litre diesel produces 4g/km more CO2 officially than the old 1.6 and fuel economy is down by just under 2mpg. PSA is taking the lead in publishing more realistic figures, though, so that may be why. Power has risen by 10bhp, which alongside new internals and a different engine tune helps to reduce the 0-62 mph time by just under a second. The top speed is unchanged. 

Our response to the Grandland X has been consistently lukewarm no matter which version we've tried. In part, it feels like a car Vauxhall rushed through to market, once it secured a platform deal with PSA under its previous General Motors ownership, to get a foothold in a rapidly growing segment. But if that is the case, it still arrived significantly later than almost all of its mainstream rivals.

There's nothing unforgivably wrong with the Grandland X, in objective terms at least: it's reasonably spacious, fairly well put together, decent value and acceptable to drive. But, crucially, it's a car devoid of charisma and flair - two things its platform-sharing Peugeot 3008 sibling offers in spades - and it offers nothing to inspire the keen driver. Unfortunately, this new oil-burner does little to change that. 

The first thing you will notice is that the new unit is demonstrably more refined than its predecessor, both at low speeds and at a cruise. Don't get me wrong: you're not going to pull up to the pumps and struggle to remember which fuel to put in it, but engine grumble is as subdued at all speeds as the best this segment can offer. At motorway speeds, any residual noise is drowned out by the Grandland X's ever-present wind rustle from the door mirrors.