YOU would have had to have been hiding in a cave not to know that Peugeot has absorbed Vauxhall.

Another fact you may be aware of - especially if you have a penchant for pretty SUVs - is the Peugeot 3008 has been acclaimed as one of the best of breed since it came out almost two years ago.

Fans of the British marque have the option of investing in the Griffin badge and choosing the Grandland X, which is based on the much praised 3008.

And now there's an Ultimate version of the Vauxhall which has oodles of goodies plus a more powerful diesel 2.0-litre engine.

The power transplant endows the Grandland with considerably more urge without doing too much damage to its economy.

Despite being able to eclipse 62mph in a tad over nine seconds and going on to a claimed maximum of 133mph, fuel consumption is in the late 50s.

Visually you are aware the Vauxhall shares the same shape as the Peugeot, but more conservative detail styling gives it a more classic image - not so obviously different from many rival SUVs.

The story is similar on the inside. Whereas Peugeot has explored new territory with their iCockpit and tiny steering wheel set low, the Grandland X steers a steadier course with a distinctly Vauxhall fascia and a conventional sized wheel. Each works well enough - you just have to decide which one you like most.

As the flagship of the SUV range, you'd expect plenty of kit, and that's exactly what you get. Eight-inch touchscreen with sat nav, 360 degree parking camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, leather trim and panoramic glass sunroof are all included in the price of £34,280.

There's no four wheel drive option available on the Grandland or 3008. Instead, a traction control system that allows gentle off-road excursions is available as an extra.

With the extra power from the new 2.0-litre turbo diesel, there's fun to be had thanks to bags of torque alongside a decent level of refinement. Cornering and handling is car-like in its behaviour with low roll angles and high levels of grip.

Steering, however, is a bit lifeless with little road feel delivered back to the driver. Nothing unusual about that in the SUV bracket though.

Overall, it's an undemanding and pleasing drive with as much pace as most owners should ever want for. Noise levels are restrained despite some background rumble from the diesel engine.

Despite its compact overall length the Grandland is quite wide and offers plenty of passenger space with loads of storage space for onboard clutter. The boot is regularly shaped with a low platform and can absorb 514 litres of luggage. The rear seats split and fold to boost capacity.