I think it is fair to say that the first-generation Opel Grandland (known as the Grandland X) was a pretty nondescript crossover SUV. And even though it only launched back in 2017, the Grandland X has not aged all that well against some of its more attractive rivals. Opel even admits its discontent with the sales levels achieved during the car’s lifespan. But Opel should not be looking back in anger, because the new Grandland is half the world away from its predecessor – and she’s electric!
Having already bagged a prestigious Golden Steering Wheel award for its distinctive design and modern cockpit, the new Opel Grandland ticks all of the right boxes and offers a variant to suit almost all drivers. While no diesel engines are offered, the new Grandland is available as a petrol hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric.
Tested here was the impressive Grandland Electric model which retails from a highly-competitive €40,936 for the Elegance trim and €43,763 for the top-of-the-range GS trim (inclusive of grants but excluding delivery). In fact, both electric trims are positioned significantly below the retail price of their Grandland hybrid equivalents.
The first Opel to sit on the Stellantis STLA Medium platform, the Grandland electric comes with a single-motor 73kWh battery producing 207hp (157 kW), 345Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h sprint of nine seconds, with DC charging speeds up to 160kW. While Opel quotes a maximum range of 520km, reality proved a return of around 450km from a full charge. Opel plans to sell a huge 97kWh battery version of the Grandland Electric later this year, with a promised range of up to 700km.
Infinitely more attractive than the
outgoing model, the new Grandland is also longer, wider and features
larger 19-inch wheels, with 20mm more legroom in the rear and up to
1,645-litres load volume in the boot and 36-litres of cabin
storage.
Opel’s new 3D front vizor with illuminated Blitz
logo, sits at the centre front, standard on the GS trim. New
illuminated OPEL lettering at the rear is standard across all trims.
The new Grandland is also the first Opel with the brand’s new
glare-free Intelli-Lux HD light technology, featuring more than
50,000 lighting elements. This is a stand-out feature at night. A
choice of six colours is on offer, such as ‘Impakt Copper’
(pictured).
Inside the cockpit, there’s a 10- or 16-inch multi-media central display, trim dependent, combined with a high centre console, while behind the steering wheel lies a fully digital driver cluster. In typical Opel tradition, frequently used settings such as climate control can also be operated intuitively via a few remaining buttons.
My GS trim press car came with a two tone black roof, privacy glass and wireless charger, adding to the already standard heated front seats and steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors with rear view camera, power folding mirrors, smart key with passive entry and start, auto high beam LED lights, AGR driver/passenger seats, and a power tailgate.
Opel has certainly delivered with its new Grandland and I suspect both electric and hybrid versions will attract many new buyers to the brand.
