AINT LIFE GRAND? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

With this second generation Grandland, Vauxhall brings us an electric version of its mid-sized EV crossover. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 42

In second generation form, Vauxhall's Grandland offers the full-EV drivetrain its predecessors lacked. It borrows everything from its Peugeot E-3008 Stellantis Group cousin but clothes the STLA-platformed mechanicals with a very Vauxhall-orientated interpretation of what a modern mid-sized EV crossover should be.

Backgroundword count: 183

The idea of a Vauxhall Grandland you can plug in is nothing new. The first generation model sold in Plug-in Hybrid form as long ago as 2019. But before the launch of this MK2 design, we'd never had a full-electric Grandland. Now though, the full-EV drivetrain is the one Vauxhall most wants to sell you with this mid-sized SUV - the one this second generation model was designed around. You can still get it as a Plug-in Hybrid (and as a 48V mild hybrid too) but it's this Grandland Electric variant that the Griffin brand most wants to talk about. Like all Grandlands from the very start, this one is a Peugeot 3008 underneath the 'Vizor'-themed Vauxhall bodywork - or, as in this case, an E-3008. Like that car, it sits on the latest Stellantis Group STLA Medium platform, though Vauxhall/Opel has been allowed a bit more input into the design detailing than was the case with the first generation Grandland. But this Electric version demands a big price premium over its Hybrid-powered showroom stablemates. Is it worth it? Let's take a look.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 236

Three versions of the Grandland Electric are available and the brand expects most to choose variants with the smaller 73kWh battery, which offers about 325 miles of range. You can have this with either a single front-mounted 208bhp motor: or with an AWD layout that adds an extra rear axle motor to boost output to 310bhp. That means 62mph can be reached in 9.0s. There's a larger 98kWh battery option which boosts range to 435 miles. On all Grandland Electrics, there are three stages of selectable regenerative braking and three main driving modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport', with an extra '4WD' setting available on the dual motor model. Vauxhall claims the underfloor battery pack gives the car greater stiffness than its combustion predecessor, which should help handling. An independent multi-link rear axle ought to help clump all that weight over speed humps and poor surfaces; combustion Grandlands make do with a cruder twist beam set-up. Those include both Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid options, despite the fact that the new platform here was primarily developed for this full-electric model. Don't expect cutting-edge driving dynamics from this EV, 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.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227