Louth Motors: Opel Grandland Elite - Grand by name and grand by nature

The new Grandland arrives in possibly the most competitive sector in Ireland pitching its wares against the likes of the Peugeot 3008, Hyundai Tuscon, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, and Volkswagen Tiguan. If you had the money and want to pick one from that lot you'll discover it is an emotional pendulum affair swinging from one car to the next and back.

The Grandland gets a new name, well sort of, by dropping the X from Grandland X as its predecessor was called. I'm sure there is a good reason for dropping it in the same way as there was a good reason for having it in the first place.

It's a 5-seater, sits up high for a super tanker bridge view, has a big boot and carries 5 adults adequately. There are petrol engines with automatic and manual gearboxes, an auto only diesel version and a plug-in petrol hybrid version.

There are three trim levels starting at SC, moving up to SRi (+~€3k) and finally, what I drove, the Elite (+~€2k) model. Hats off to Opel who have streamlined their trim offerings and reduced the added extras by giving the customer an easy-to-understand difference between the different trim levels. And the different trim levels have a logical spread of standard kit included as you move through them to avoid adding options.

Most car companies are moving this way, I hope led by customer demand, with probably a bit of global supply issues affecting all car companies.

In that vein, some notable items for you. All models apart from entry SC get fabulous full LED lights, blind spot assist, traffic sign recognition and a very handy 230V power outlet pack in the 2nd row.

One disappointment is the fact that only the PHEV version gets radar cruise control, which is increasingly the norm these days, especially on a car at this price level, but at least it is across the three PHEV trim levels which kind of asks why it isn't on all the other petrol and diesel versions in the first place.

Looks wise it is like the recent crop of new Opel models like the Crossland, Astra and where this look debuted, the Mokka, with that grille free look you expect in electric cars.

The side has neat and tidy creases and at the back it's kept clean and simple as well. Nevertheless, the overall look of the Grandland on the road is one of upmarket crossover which will win it a few new friends.

Inside the dash is an all-digital affair, now called Pure Panel, claiming to be less distracting which I find a reach as it's a touch affair that demands accurate guidance to use but there are, thankfully, a few ventilation controls below.

Quality wise it's good but I'd say it's a few points behind its sister company Peugeot which seems to be getting the nod in terms being the upmarket player.

The petrol engine in my car was a 3 cylinder 1.2litre, turbocharged unit that is in a myriad of cars across the Opel, Peugeot, Citroen and DS range. It's even in the Walshe's personal car, a Citroen C4, so I'm very familiar with it. I draw your attention to this in the Grandland because it was such a joy to witness it power what is effectively a very large car.

I don't know what the Opel engineers did to it, but it felt a lot pokier than other cars with the exact same engine fitted. I've had it with a mix of manual and automatic gearboxes and have marvelled at it but when I drove our automatic C4 version after the Grandland I was notably disappointed. It felt much more alive in the Grandland and has me questioning our choice to go automatic – a sacrilege statement from me.

It's a very comfortable car to ride in and I maintain that Opel are starting to eat Peugeot/Citroen/DS's lunch when it comes to road comfort.

French soft – German hard just doesn't apply anymore. Noise suppression is very good and makes every trip in the Grandland a relaxing one.

With that fabulous petrol engine you'd be tempted to cut loose and try some exuberant driving. Well don't. It's not the car shape for that engine to test that out. Not that it's a rolling Isle of Man ferry experience, it's not, it's just that its not set up to test the limits of its driving capability all the time and the buyers in this sector don't demand or indeed want it.

Prices start at €37,895 for the petrol SC model and you'll need and extra €14,700 to buy the €52,595 top of the range PHEV model and play your part in the electrification of transport transition or is that experiment?

As ever, the value and sweet spot is elsewhere and it's no surprise that Opel have the Elite as the press car model for us to drive. You'll conclude as well that this is the model to go for.

Opel are recovering lost ground quite rapidly now and with established dealers, good-looking cars that buyers want and are competitively priced, like this Grandland, they'll snare quite a few more additional buyers in the very near future.