2023 (73) Vauxhall Grandland 1.5 Turbo D Ultimate 5dr Auto

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

From 2021, the first generation version of Vauxhall's Grandland mid-sized SUV no longer had an 'X' in its name - but it remained an affordable, well equipped mid-sized SUV and in this updated form gained a sharper look and a much more modern cabin. The conventional engines are frugal and if you happen to want a used car of this size with a Plug-in Hybrid unit, it's one of the cheaper options in its segment.

History

When the original version of this car, badged the 'Grandland X' was launched in 2017, it was quite a late entrant to the mid-sized SUV segment. Or that's what you might think anyway. Actually, Vauxhall competed half-heartedly in this sector for nearly a decade between 2006 and 2015 with its Korean-built Antara, which replaced the Luton-built Frontera model launched way back in 1991. Neither of these crossovers really hit the segment sweet spot though and neither was helped by brittle build quality that could charitably be described as 'patchy'. By the middle of this century's second decade though, Vauxhall had got on board with the kind of SUV modern family buyers really wanted, launching its supermini-based Mokka model in 2012 and shortly afterwards, entering into an agreement with Peugeot to share the engineering of two further contenders in this class, the original Grandland X model being one of them. Four years on, it shed the 'X' part of its badge and gained a smarter look both inside and out, creating the car we're going to look at here. The Grandland sold in this form until the second generation model was launched in mid-2024.

What You Get

As well as losing an 'X' (in its name), the post 2021-era version of this Grandland gained quite a lot in terms of its adoption of the brand's far more interesting 'Vizor' trim detailing on the front of the car. This saw Vauxhall's revamped Griffin logo proudly positioned in the centre, flanked by slim LED headlamps and more muscular bumpers. Inside, changes were made with the adoption of Vauxhall's Pure Panel cockpit with two widescreen displays for more of a digital experience. Ahead of the driver there was an instrument display of 12-inches in size, offering up essential information, while the central 10-inch monitor controls all infotainment via a touchscreen. As before, driver and passengers benefitted from the elevated seating position typical of an SUV, which ensures good visibility in all situations. In the rear in terms of legroom, there's space for an average-sized adult to sit behind a six-foot driver in reasonable comfort. Like most cars in this class, you'd really be pushing things if you wanted to try and accommodate three adults back here but a reasonably low centre transmission tunnel makes that possible if need be. Finally, let's consider the boot. Once the tailgate raises, you're faced with a square, usable space, though it's not particularly large in the Hybrid variant - just 390-litres. There's a much more satisfying 514-litre capacity if you opt for one of the conventional engines.

What to Look For

Though quite a few owners in our survey seemed happy, there are certainly things that you'll need to look for. The 1.2T petrol and 1.5D diesel engines have an oil-lubricated cambelt that in a few instances has been known to disintegrate and damage the engine. We've heard of instances of engines stalling while driving. In some instances, the side airbags have refused to inflate. And various electrical problems have been reported, with things like the infotainment system, the rear parking system and the parking sensors, so check all of these thoroughly. Make sure that the infotainment system works as it should and doesn't freeze or crash. If it does, the system might need an update. We've come across reports of weak batteries in several models - if the engine won't crank or cranks very slowly then that's a tell-tale giveaway. In a number of instances, there were problems with corrosion on the battery. And in other instances, a weak key fob battery caused problems with the start stop button functionality on the dash. We came across issues with broken starter motors - if you turn the key and hear a clicking sound, that's the tell-tale giveaway. And in some other instances, we had reports of alternator failure, clogged fuel filters, fuel pump failures, blown fuses and defective spark plugs. More expensive versions have big 19-inch alloy wheels that could easily have picked up kerbing damage. Check the cabin for the usual family scuffs and scratches. And insist on a full service history.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2021 Grandland Hybrid - Ex Vat) An air filter costs in the £6-£28 bracket. An oil filter costs in the £4-£11 bracket. A fuel filter costs in the £5-£47 bracket. Front brake pads sit in the £21-£109 bracket for a set; for a rear set, it's in the £18 to £103 bracket. Front brake discs sit in the £33-£68 bracket. Rear brake discs sit in the £24-£71 bracket. A radiator is around £222-£344. And a pollen filter is in the £6-£33 bracket. A wiper blade is in the £7-£27 bracket.

On the Road

Engine-wise, this Grandland model didn't change much in this post-2021 form. As before, almost all sales were of the 1.2-litre 130PS three cylinder petrol version, available either in manual or automatic forms. In manual form, it makes 10.4s en route to 122mph. The alternative was a 1.5-litre diesel, also with 130PS but only available with a manual stick shift; that manages 62mph in 12.3s en route to 119mph. Vauxhall didn't think potential buyers in this segment really needed 4WD - not even with the top Hybrid Plug-in model, which previously had had it, but in post-2021-era form didn't. As before, the PHEV variant used a 1.6-litre petrol engine, but there was just one electric motor mated to it in 2WD form, so the combined power output was restricted to 225hp. That gets you to 60mph in 8.9s and the top speed is 140mph (or 84mph in all-electric drive, which lasts for up to 34 miles between battery charges). As for drive dynamics across the Grandland range, well we'd anticipate that your expectations of a car of this kind when it comes to handling will probably be pretty modest. You'll want quite a commanding driving position, a comfortable ride, reasonable refinement, decently responsive engines and, well, that's likely to be about it. If you're after a C-segment SUV that you can throw around a bit, then this one certainly won't suit.

Overall

Vauxhall didn't bring us anything particularly new or innovative here, but with the 2021 model year Grandland updates, it gave itself a fighting chance of getting an important slice of sales in this vitally important fast-growing market segment. In this updated form, the Grandland is comfortable, good-looking, well-equipped and practical, all attributes that will endear it to likely customers. Don't expect it to be particularly dynamically rewarding; few SUVs are. You can though, have much higher expectations when it comes to ride and refinement. In short, if you want a mid-sized SUV in this class from the 2021-2024 period and value's a priority, there's no real reason why you shouldn't consider this one.