Crossing over from petrol to diesel?
Back in 2017, the Opel Crossland X was launched on local shores with a choice of two engines: both of them were 3-cylinder units with a displacement of 1.2-litres, either with or without a turbocharger. The naturally-aspirated variants are only available with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the turbocharged derivatives can only be had with a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Related: This Opel Crossland X 1.2T review commended it for its unique charm.
Roughly a year later, a new engine option arrived in South Africa, with a 1.6-litre turbodiesel under the bonnet. This is currently the only Crossland X in our market with the combination of a turbocharged engine and a manual gearbox, which may just give it instant approval from people who still prefer to change their own gears. It also bridges the power gap between the rather anaemic non-turbo petrol engine and punchier turbopetrol, and offers the most torque of any engine in the Crossland X range.
Related: Our review of the Crossland X diesel found it to be quite agreeable.
But, before we decide which engine is best for this compact crossover, let’s first look at the numbers on offer from the three Crossland X powertrains. We’ve selected “Enjoy” trim level examples, seeing as this is the only specification in which the 1.6TD engine is offered.
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Opel Crossland X 1.2 |
Opel Crossland X 1.6TD |
Opel Crossland X 1.2T |
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Engine type |
1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol |
1.6-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel |
1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrol |
|
Transmission type |
5-speed manual |
5-speed manual |
6-speed automatic |
|
Power/Torque |
60 kW/118 Nm |
68 kW/230 Nm |
81 kW/205 Nm |
|
Performance data* |
0-100 km/h in 14.0s; 170 km/h |
0-100 km/h in 12s; 180 km/h (est) |
0-100 km/h in 11.8s; 187 km/h |
|
Fuel consumption* |
5.1 ℓ/100 km |
4.4 ℓ/100 km |
5.4 ℓ/100 km |
|
Price |
R 296 000 |
R 349 000 |
R 349 000 |
* Manufacturer’s claimed figures for performance and average fuel consumption.
Which engine is right for you?
At first glance, the 1.2T Enjoy would appear to be the most desirable choice from this trio: It’s the quickest and most powerful, its claimed fuel consumption seems imminently reasonable, and it costs exactly the same as the less-powerful 1.6TD Enjoy. But there’s more to this than meets the eye, so further investigation is warranted.
Related: Top safety features on the Opel Crossland X
First of all, those claimed average fuel consumption figures are rather wishful. When we tested the (mechanically identical) range-topping Crossland X 1.2T Cosmo, our tested average fuel consumption came to 8.0 ℓ/100 km, instead of the claimed 5.4 ℓ/100 km. There’s no doubt that conservative drivers would be able to dip below the 7.0 ℓ/100 km mark, but even that is still a very long way off that rather optimistic official average claim.
In sharp contrast, the 1.6TD returned an easy 4.8 ℓ/100 km on test, which isn’t very far off the official claim of 4.4 ℓ/100 km. In fact, open road cruising will see its thirst drop closer to the 4.0 ℓ/100 km mark, which immediately hands the 1.6TD a victory in the fuel-efficiency stakes. The diesel engine’s extra 25 Nm also made for more-enthusiastic in-gear acceleration, and the manual transmission added a measure of driver enjoyment that the auto-only 1.2T cannot offer, while improving real-world consumption even more.
As to the non-turbo 1.2-litre variant, it offers a more-affordable entry point to the Crossland X range (it’s R 53 000 less expensive than the other two), but its performance is very leisurely in comparison. It’s also unlikely to match the 1.6TD’s fuel efficiency, even with its power deficit, and it will likely struggle a bit to move a full load of passengers and luggage up steep inclines. Yes, it’s a lot cheaper (and even more so in Essentia trim, which costs about R 25 000 less than the Enjoy), but that price saving comes with a significant performance penalty.
Related: Our launch report of the Opel Crossland X detailed the initial (petrol-only) model range.
The Verdict
If you don’t mind stirring your own gears, or if you value fuel efficiency above all else, the Crossland X 1.6TD represents the best buy in the range. It gives up very little in performance terms when compared to the 1.2T, but enjoys a very noticeable advantage at the fuel station – and all without costing any more.
If you prefer a self-shifting gearbox, however, the 1.2T is your only choice in the Crossland X range, and if you’re constrained by your budget, the non-turbo 1.2-litre will probably do a reasonable job of moving a young family from A to B. But the best-balanced spread of abilities will always be found in the 1.6TD. It’s a very capable all-rounder, and quite possibly the pick of the entire range.
