EVEN GRANDER DESIGN (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

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

Ten Second Reviewword count: 38

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.

Backgroundword count: 147

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.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 248

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.

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