Opel Grandland driving report: A pleasant journey
The "big Opel" has always been something special: technically at the cutting edge, spacious, affordable, attractive. The Grandland is no different. Designed, developed and built in Germany, Opel is sending the second generation of the SUV out to woo customers in a much bigger way. The 4.65-meter-long car is now designed to appeal to company car drivers and family men alike. The Grandland II has not only gained in length (plus 17 centimeters) but also in looks: Instead of chrome jewelry, the new Opel from Zwickau has a few sharp creases in its bodywork. Not every car manufacturer can produce something like this. It sits firmly on the road on 19 or 20-inch wheels.
At the front, a three-dimensional, glass Opel flash now shines in the new brand face, the Vizor (visor). The headlights consist of a total of 51,200 LEDs. They illuminate the space in front of the Grandland in such a way that "night becomes day" (Opel) without dazzling oncoming road users. A red Opel logo shines in the light strip at the rear of the Grandland.
The black roof of the Grandland makes the 1.66-meter-high car appear flatter than it actually is. Mark Adams' design team has also dispensed with chrome in the interior. Ambient lighting and gray fabrics are pleasing to the eye, even if the number of different materials in the cockpit trim - we counted six - could have been smaller.
Under the flat central screen there are real buttons for volume and climate control, as the vast majority of customers appreciate. Opel wants to spare its customers from having to search for all functions in menus on the 16-inch display. The cell phone can be connected and charged wirelessly. The entire infotainment system is not a mystery. A new app for the smartphone always shows the battery charge level and the position of the car. A display behind the steering wheel not only informs the driver about the speed, radio station or battery charge level. A head-up display reflects important information such as the navigation arrows directly into the windshield.
There are plenty of storage areas and compartments such as a charging tray for cell phones and a twelve-liter cooler compartment for drinks. The start button next to the small, flattened steering wheel brings either an electric drive or a three-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt hybrid support to life. There will no longer be a diesel in the Grandland, but there will be a plug-in hybrid, which will go on sale next year.
The Grandland Electric's engine produces 157 kW (213 PS). The battery can store 73 or 82 kWh. The range is thus 523 or 582 kilometers. The standard consumption of 17 to 18 kWh per 100 kilometers is not unrealistic. On the first test drive, it was around 20 kilowatt hours. Quite economical for a car of this size.
On the road, it becomes clear that the power is sufficient for a car weighing 2.1 tons. It reaches 100 km/h in nine seconds. It stops at 170 km/h. A drive of reason. Those who like it faster will have to wait until early 2025. A variant with a second electric motor on the rear axle and an even larger battery will then be added. The announced plug-in hybrid is also expected to deliver significantly more power and cover 700 kilometers on a single tank of fuel and battery charge.
The Grandland is a car for traveling, not for racing, a space glider. The steering and suspension are pleasantly firm, but not harsh. Uneven roads are barely noticeable. The engineers in Rüsselsheim deserve a compliment here: They have always been good at suspension.
It's not just the electric drive that is quiet. Nothing can be heard from the chassis either. It's a pleasant ride. The seats with good lateral support have a massage function in the highest trim level. Here too, the large Opel shows its long-distance quality. The battery can be charged with up to 160 kW, which promises rather short charging breaks. The Grandland's battery is also assembled in Zwickau - from cells that are partly produced in France. Opel's parent company Stellantis does not want to leave this issue to the Chinese. Another cell factory is being planned in Kaiserslautern.
For customers who are unfamiliar with the battery-electric drive - and that is still the majority - Opel is sending the Grandland Hybrid into the race: With its 136 hp (100 kW), the petrol engine doesn't have it easy: after all, this version also weighs 1.6 tons. When starting off, a 48-volt electric motor with 15.6 kW (21 hp) supports the 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine. Together, the two motors then deliver enough power to make brisk progress. In the city and on country roads, the hybrid often only drives electrically.
When accelerating or at higher speeds, however, the combustion engine does make itself heard. It reaches 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds and the V-max is only reached at 202 km/h. If you don't try this out too often, you can keep consumption below six liters. Who would miss a diesel?
The obligatory warning tone when exceeding the speed limit is less annoying than in many other cars and can be easily switched off at the touch of a button. The shift paddles on the steering wheel operate a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox in the hybrid. In the Grandland Electric, recuperation and electric braking can be set in three stages. However, this does not bring the Grandland Electric to a standstill. That requires the brake pedal.
With the new Grandland, Opel now offers an electric drive in every vehicle class. This will become even more important next year, when car manufacturers in Europe will have to sell around 20 percent of their vehicles with electric drive. Otherwise, the EU threatens to impose heavy fines. After an initial test drive, it does not seem out of the question that one in five Grandland customers will opt for a BEV. This is because the electric drive is more powerful and more comfortable than its combustion counterpart - but also more expensive: the hybrid costs from 36,400 euros. The Grandland Electric costs 10,000 euros more. It is listed from 46,750 euros. Dealers will be taking orders from Friday. (aum)
Data Opel Grandland Electric
Length x width x height (m): 4.65 x 2.10 x 1.91
Wheelbase (m): 2.78
Drive: electric motor, 157 kW, FWD
Max. Torque: 345 Nm
Top speed: 170 km/h
Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 9 sec.
WLTP average consumption: 16.9 kWh
Range (WLTP): 523 km
Charging power: 160 kW DC
Unladen weight: min. 2120 kg
Trunk volume: 550-1645 liters
Max. Towing capacity: 1200 kg
Base price: 46,750 euros
More info for topic: Opel Grandland
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