Express & Star

Long-term report: We investigate a funny noise from our Vauxhall Grandland X

Our Vauxhall goes back to the dealer, but doesn’t enjoy the smooth experience we were hoping for

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Compact crossovers don’t tend to lead the most exciting lives, and such is the way with our Vauxhall Grandland X. It has slotted fairly effortlessly into life here, and it’s become the go-to vehicle when somebody needs to run an errand – though they do tend to ask if there’s anything else available before reluctantly opting for the beige express.

But a fly in the ointment recently has been an erratic fuel gauge, which refuses to read full, as well as a slightly worrying grinding noise coming from the wheels. So we booked it into our local dealer to investigate.

I’ve not really enjoyed the best experiences at Vauxhall dealers in the past – my sister opted out of buying an Astra a few years ago due to the rudeness of the salesperson – and while our local dealer wasn’t anywhere near that bad, it wasn’t the smooth operation you’d hope for. First, I was kept waiting quite a long time as the dealer searched for our booking – which had been made under the wrong name.

I’d opted for a courtesy car, which turned out to be a filthy Vauxhall Corsa so bereft of fuel that the range indicator read ‘zero miles’.

And to top it all off, when they discovered the problem, they simply told us they wouldn’t be able to fix it and sent us on our way. Thank goodness Vauxhall’s press office was on the other end of the phone, and in the end the Grandland was packed off to exotic Luton for a few weeks to investigate.

The press office kindly sent us an Astra to use in the meantime, too, which highlighted the real issue with our Grandland X. For while the Astra isn’t exactly exciting, it’s a perfectly pleasant car with absolutely nothing that irritates. That’s a rare quality.

Even in basic 1.0-litre form the Astra’s good to drive; efficient, quiet and even quite fun on a twisting road. And best of all, it was red, rather than beige.

(PA)

When our gold crossover eventually returned, we waved the Astra off with a fair bit of sadness. It’s a reminder that Vauxhall does know how to make a really pleasant car – unfortunately for the Grandland, it just can’t quite match up. There’s no reassuring solidity in the way it drives, as you’d find with an Astra or Insignia, but nor is it light on its feet and comfortable like the equivalent Peugeot 3008.

At least the Grandland’s now fully repaired and racking up the miles once more, with a fully operational fuel gauge and no scraping noises from the wheels after the front brake discs were skimmed and new pads fitted. Without any worrying noises to consider, we can focus on what it does well – relaxing cruising and efficient mile-munching. And looking like a big hearing aid.

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