Vauxhall Grandland first drive | A significant step forward

The new Vauxhall Grandland Electric marks a significant step forward, shaking off its "middle-of-the-road" reputation for something far more stylish and sophisticated.

It will hold its own with a refined design, a more premium interior, and advanced tech that appeals to both family drivers and company car buyers.

Overview

The new Vauxhall Grandland, where "middle-of-the-road" is no longer a design brief, but a bygone era. Gone are the days when this SUV could be summarised with words like "plain" and "value-focused". Now it's all about style, range anxiety (or lack thereof), and electrified elegance.

For the first time ever, Vauxhall is offering a new platform. Not only that but they’ve practically rolled out the red carpet with their 73kWh battery and a commendable 325 miles of range, ensuring you can drive far enough to forget how much was spent on it – well, just.

Starting at the more modest £41,000 is the Design spec. The GS and Ultimate versions come with a price tag that breaches the £45,000 barrier and there's also the prospect of a longer-range version arriving in 2025 with a targeted 435-mile range potential.

The Grandland Electric isn’t just any old SUV, it’s Vauxhall's largest EV to date. Naturally, this means they've gone all out to make sure it not only delivers but also looks the part, complete with clever design touches and a more luxurious interior.

Of course, Vauxhall is very aware of the competition - they're not just competing with the likes of Skoda Enyaq, Tesla Model Y, and Kia EV6 - they’re also duking it out with French cousin, the Peugeot e-3008. It’s all very civil, of course. But you can't deny the pressure's on when it stands as the largest electric vehicle Vauxhall has ever produced.

All in all, the Grandland Electric checks all the boxes: big battery, ample range, and enough interior space to question why you ever settled for less. If you’re a company car driver, you’ll be happy. If you’re anyone else, well, at least you’ll look good while driving.

Comfort and practicality

The new Vauxhall Grandland makes a solid attempt at reinventing itself, with a more cohesive design and some fancy new tech, but it doesn't stray too far from its roots - perhaps a little too comfortably so.

The ‘Vizor’ front end with illuminated Griffin, included from inception instead of slapped on as a mid-life cosmetic nip and tuck, gives it a smart. contemporary design narrative. That took its cue from the Vauxhall Experimental concept and was given the go ahead by safety regulators whose fears about it being mistaken for an oncoming motorcyclist was secured in time to help build the car’s brand credentials.

The new Grandland’s rear light bar also sports an illuminated ‘Vauxhall’ script, while the headlights boast translucent bars - another talking point at the school gates.

Even so, the Grandland is all about blending in while quietly adding such compelling details.

Beyond the no-cost Arctic white paint there is the knock-out appeal of the ‘Impact Copper’ finish but there are also grey, black, and dark blue options for those who don’t want the gleaming medallion effect.

Step inside and the Grandland greets you with two screens - 10 inches for the driver’s display and 16 inches for infotainment. These screens are nicely sized, not overly flashy, and keep things simple, which is great if practicality is deemed more important than touchscreens that double as dinner plates.

But, while the overall vibe is an upgrade, some scratchy plastics and less-than-premium trim remind you that this is still a Vauxhall whose claims that they’ve gone upwards in quality is really more of a cautious climb than a leap to luxury.

Rear visibility, though? Not so much, thanks to a rather shallow rear window. Luckily, parking is made easier with front and rear sensors across the range, and a 360-degree camera if you spring for the Ultimate trim.

While the interior design might not rival the bold flair of the Peugeot e-3008 or the minimalist zen of the Tesla Model Y, the Grandland strikes a nice balance, offering a more premium feel than before, with 85% of materials being recyclable. Still, the faux-carbon trim and fabric finishes might not hold up if you’re rough on your interiors.

Though it may not set many pulses racing, the new Grandland Electric gets most things right - good visibility, decent tech and enough creature comforts to justify its price tag. Just don’t expect to be wowed, unless you really like sustainable fabrics.

Where the Vauxhall Grandland does shine is when it comes to space and comfort, ensuring passengers both front and rear have ample room to stretch out because even with two six-footers occupying the front seats, there's still plenty of legroom, shoulder room, and headroom for those in the back. The lack of a central tunnel also mean that those who get to sit in the middle get a much more comfortable, giving everyone more legroom.

Vauxhall has done well to make the Grandland feel open and accommodating, with practical storage solutions that add to its everyday usability. The storage space - equivalent to a carry-on suitcase - is cleverly distributed across large door bins, a refrigerated cubby under the armrest, and even more space under the centre console.

Adding to its practicality, the rear seats feature a versatile 40/20/40 split-folding configuration. This allows for longer items to be loaded through the boot without sacrificing seating for passengers, which is an improvement over the more common 60/40 split.

As for the boot, the Grandland offers a solid 550-litre cargo space, better than several key competitors like the Kia EV6, Peugeot e-3008, and Mustang Mach-E and should easily handle larger items such as a pushchair or a hefty shopping trip.

Safety and technology

The new Vauxhall Grandland Electric doesn't just aim to impress with its electrification; it's also serious about safety. From the start, even the base Design model comes equipped with a suite of standard safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and automatic emergency braking (AEB).

However, if you want to unlock the full "safety-first" experience, you'll need to shell out for the Ultimate trim. This top-spec version adds Vauxhall's Drive Assist 2.0, which includes rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and a 360-degree rear parking camera, with every angle covered.

The Vauxhall Grandland has not faced the Euro NCAP gauntlet just yet. Still, with all that standard safety tech, a five-star rating seems almost inevitable - at least, that’s the assumption Vauxhall is banking on. Real-world reliability remains another unknown given the Grandland and its STLA Medium platform are fresh off the assembly line, though build quality seems.

As for tech, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard, making your smartphone seamlessly a part of the Grandland’s interior. Sat-nav? Well, that’s a GS-trim privilege and above. Otherwise, it’s a case of relying on iphone navigation apps.

Climate controls, helpfully separated from the touchscreen, are practical and easy to use while seating and driving positions are a win with plenty of adjustability and a commanding view out front.

Driveability and range

The new Vauxhall Grandland Electric may not give you a thrilling, rocket-like jolt of acceleration, but it offers a solid and smooth driving experience that most family-focused buyers will appreciate.

With its 73kWh battery and 210bhp electric motor, it manages an official 0-62mph time of 9.0 seconds - not exactly blistering, but competent for everyday situations.

That said, real-world driving feels more leisurely than the numbers suggest and seems better suited for steady cruising rather than overtaking with any sense of urgency.

Despite that, it holds its own on the motorway, where its composed ride and excellent noise insulation make it solid for long-distance drives.

The suspension, which did a commendable job smoothing out any bumps on the German roads used for testing, might have been kinder to the new Grandland than the UK's pothole-riddled network.

One of the Grandland’s standout features is its practicality. It offers a decent electric range, with the entry-level model achieving up to 325 miles on a single charge, comparable to the Peugeot e-3008. Even the higher trims like the GS and Ultimate stay competitive, offering ranges of 323 and 318 miles, respectively. While a long-range version with a 93kWh battery is in the pipeline for next year, the current 73kWh model offers more than enough range for most daily needs.

In urban settings, the Grandland is surprisingly nimble, thanks to its tight 10.9-metre turning radius, which makes manoeuvring through congested streets or tight parking spots less of a stress point. Its three levels of regenerative braking, controlled via steering wheel paddles, also help make stop-and-go driving easier, adding to its appeal in urban driving.