2023 (73) Vauxhall Grandland 1.2 Turbo Ultimate 5dr Auto

With this second generation Grandland, Vauxhall brings us its first really credible mid-sized SUV. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

The second generation Vauxhall Grandland is an enormous step forward over its unexceptional predecessor. Everything's been redesigned, there's now an EV version and the Griffin brand's been allowed to inject a bit of identity into this mid-sized SUV.

Background

Welcome to a different kind of Vauxhall Grandland, reinterpreted for a second generation. The rather dull MK1 design, first launched in 2017 as the 'Grandland X', then updated losing the 'X' moniker in 2021, was somewhat different; a lower mid-sized SUV that targeted Qashqais and Atecas but wasn't quite big enough to take on Kugas or Tiguans. However, Vauxhall's recent insertion of its new Frontera into its SUV range above the Mokka has enabled the second generation Grandland to be usefully larger - now a match in size for the Peugeot 3008 whose new 'STLA Medium' architecture and engineering it shares. This MK2 Grandland, which offers several different powertrains but is designed around the EV version, is the last Vauxhall model line to add a full-electric option and the first Stellantis-era design that Vauxhall/Opel has had much of a say in creating. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

With the exception of diesel power, all conceivable powertrain options for a mid-sized SUV of this sort are covered off here - Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and full-EV. We'd recommend the base 48V Hybrid, which uses the usual Stellantis 1.2-litre three cylinder turbo petrol unit. This offers 136hp and is boosted by a further 28hp from the system's e-motor built into its mandatory 6-speed dual clutch auto gearbox. The 62mph sprint takes 10.2s. A 1.6-litre petrol engine features with the Plug-in Hybrid variant, which claims to be able to offer up to 53 miles of driving range. Ideally though, Vauxhall wants to sell you the full-EV powertrain this second generation Grandland was primarily designed around. Three versions of this are available and the brand expects most to choose variants with the smaller 73kWh battery, which offers up to 325 miles of range. To start with, you can have this with a single front-mounted 208bhp motor which makes 62mph in 9.0s: but Vauxhall will also offer an AWD layout that adds an extra rear axle motor to boost output to 310bhp. You can also order a larger 98kWh battery variant which boosts range to 435 miles. Don't expect cutting-edge driving dynamics, but potential family customers aren't likely to be looking for those. They'll probably be more interested in technology, like the Intelli-Lux Matrix LED HD headlights of the top variants, which feature 51,200 elements and cut out oncoming vehicles with really sharp definition to help avoiding dazzling oncoming road users.

Design and Build

You can see at a glance that this is a very different kind of Grandland. For a start, it's a lot bigger, 173mm longer thanks to the new 'STLA Medium' architecture. And there's the new era of Vauxhall design language that was previewed by the brand's 'Experimental' concept of 2022, intended to position the car as 'electric first visually'. At the front, this sees a new three-dimensional version of the company's usual 'Vizor' nose, with a transparent structure housing lighting elements and an illuminated Griffin badge. There's a similar effect at the rear, where three-dimensional tail lamps in a clear acrylic casing sit within a full-width lighting element that includes illuminated Vauxhall script. In profile, you notice sleek aerodynamic optimisation, the lack of chrome, the flush-fitting glass and the big wheels (19 or 20-inch rims). Vauxhall design has moved on inside too, where the previous 'Pure Panel' digital interface is replaced by a slimmer 10-inch instrument display and a separated wide-aspect-ratio 16-inch centre dash touchscreen equipped with ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence. What it doesn't have (fortunately) is climate controls - those separated out into physical buttons. If you're overwhelmed by data from the two screens, there's a 'Pure' mode that pairs it back to just the essentials. Another nice touch lies with the fabric-covered central bin's wireless 'phone charger; there's a clever transparent wall facing the driver that hides the 'phone when it's not in use but illuminates it when you come to a stop, so you don't forget to take your handset with you when you leave the car; neat. That 'Pixel Box' is part of 35-litres of cabin storage space. Interior quality has taken a big step up, with lots of contrasting textures and finishes; and there's an unusually-styled steering wheel that's smarter and oblong in shape. You'd hope the extended 4,650mm body length would allow for extra second row legroom - and so it proves; there's 20mm more of it. The extra 31mm of body height aids headroom too. There's also more space out back, the 550-litre boot 36-litres larger than before. And Vauxhall has added in more flexible 40:20:40 seatback split and an extra bit of under-floor storage. When everything is flattened, there's up to 1,640-litres available.

Market and Model

Grandland pricing starts at around £35,000. Expect the Plug-in Hybrid to require around £3,000 more and the EV versions start from around £41,000. That's a touch below what you'd pay for its identically-engineered French cousin, the Peugeot 3008. There are three trim levels, 'Design', 'GS' and 'Ultimate'. Obvious rivals apart from the Peugeot 3008 include the Ford Kuga, the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Mazda CX-5, the Citroen C5 Aircross, the Renault Austral, the Hyundai Tucson, the Kia Sportage and the Toyota RAV4. You will at least get plenty of equipment for that. As well as the two dashboard screens, there are all-round parking sensors, plus a rearview camera with a washing function and 360-degree views. Media connectivity includes wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and wired 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. Top models get an upgrade from 19 to 20-inch wheels; and Intelli-Lux Matrix LED HD headlights with 51,200 elements. There's also a vast level of standard passive and active safety equipment, which includes an active cruise control system with a 'stop & go' function, plus intelligent speed adaption, traffic sign recognition and automatic autonomous braking. If you want to go further, you can fit Vauxhall's updated Intelli-Drive 2.0 system, which includes steering assist and a semi-autonomous lane change assist system. It'll also actively prompt you to change the set speed when a speed limit change is oncoming.

Cost of Ownership

We'll start with the 48V Hybrid variant. This manages 51.4mpg on the combined cycle and 125g/km of CO2. Vauxhall reckons that this model's mild hybrid petrol engine technology reduces fuel consumption by 15%, with these savings mostly being achieved during urban driving, where as we told you in our 'Driving' section, the brand claims the car can run on just electric power for up to 50% of the time. Motorway efficiency remains unchanged. The Plug-in Hybrid variant claims to be able to offer up to 53 miles of driving range. As for the Grandland Electric full-EV, well we gave you the driving range figures earlier: 325 miles for the 73kWh single motor model; and up to 425 miles for the 98kWh version. To get near to these, you'll have to make frequent use of the provided 'Eco' drive mode and the various settings (low, medium and high) of the regenerative braking system. Vauxhall claims an efficiency figure of 4.5 miles per kWh for the entry-level variant. This is aided by eco tyres, friction-reducing bearings, a slippery drag coefficient and a heat pump which will preserve range in cold weather. As for Grandland Electric charging, well little surprisingly, the 'STLA Medium' platform hasn't been engineered with the 800V architecture that would enable use of the latest breed of ultra-rapid DC public chargers. But with its 400V system, the Grandland Electric can charge at up to 160kW, which allows for 20-80% charge in 26 minutes, with a charging rate of 2.4kWh per minute at its peak, at which point 62 miles of range are added every 10 minutes. Via the Vauxhall smartphone app or by using the vehicle's touchscreen, owners can schedule a wake-up time for the battery. This means that the cells can be at the optimal temperature for efficiency from the time you start up, plus of course the interior can also be pre-cooled or pre-heated too. Owners can opt to purchase a single service plan to cover all essential maintenance. Service intervals for all Grandlands are every year or 20,000 miles. And with the Grandland Electric, you'll be given a certificate of battery capacity after each service; both batteries come with an eight year / 100,000 warranty for 70% of their capacity. All versions of this model will be covered by the brand's usual unremarkable three year/60,000 mile warranty.

Summary

It's nice to be able to report on a really credible mid-sized Vauxhall SUV because we've had some deeply unexceptional ones over the years. The original Frontera, the Antara and, to some extent, the first generation Grandland were really only cars worth considering if your local Griffin dealer happened to give you a very good deal on one. And even then, you might have questioned your decision afterwards. Well forget about that now. This second generation Grandland is such a big step above that mediocrity that Vauxhall really ought to have called it something different. Yes, nearly everything you can't see here is shared with a Peugeot 3008, but it's obvious from a close look at both cars that this second generation Grandland has a lot more Vauxhall/Opel in it than its predecessor did. The evolved design language really works and there are some very nice interior touches. Which is just as well for the likely prices being asked. But for a better product, you don't mind so much - and that's what this is.