Louth Motors: Opel’s new Grandland plays it both ways with electricity

It seems batteries are everywhere now and finding their way onto all cars with the relentless aim of moving us away entirely from petrol/diesel.

It is an ideal all the car manufacturers have bought into (could that be legislatively forced?)with the jury out on its merit/success and taking a very long time to deliberate.

Take this new Opel Grandland. Opel offers it in two formats, all-electric and petrol-hybrid.

Are they hedging? I’m not so sure because somehow they are offering the all-electric version, across all three trim levels, for less than the mild petrol-hybrid version to tempt you economically at least.

That excellent electric version claims a range of 520km in a car that weighs ~600kgs heavier than the hybrid model.
There's no diesel model available and none expected so you are getting battery power one way or the other.

READ NEXT: Sub-€20k EV motoring arrives in Ireland

The Grandland has benefited from time because the latest one really looks the part and has entered into the attractive and interesting bracket whereas before it didn't really raise much of a heartbeat or turn a head.

It’s an SUV and that’s hard to make look sexy and appealing but Opel has managed to make it look distinctive.

It gets Opel’s first illuminated badge at the back so you are in no doubt you are following an Opel.

It looks and feels large and has quite a bit of presence and the leap forward is noticeable.

The pictures will allow you to make your own mind up on its looks but I found it to be an even better looking car in the flesh and adore those sharp creases especially on the Impact Copper coloured versions.

Opel's membership of the Stellantis group becomes visible when you sit in and see familiar controls shared with other brands under that umbrella.

I’m not really that bothered by that since it usually means it is a proven item and worth using risk free in other cars but it does challenge the designers to make their car that bit different and separate.

They have made a bold attempt with their AGR seats which aims to reduce fatigue and all other sorts of issues when seated for a long time.

They are, for sure, very comfortable - the sole aim. Opel also uses materials that are 100% recycled on the interior fabrics and panels but still make them feel quite plush.

Hunt around and you’ll find some cheaper plastics but these are in the rarely touched category.

It has the, now normal, twin digital displays 10” & 12” and physical buttons for the main controls, a huge plus.

ABOVE: Interior of the new Opel Grandland

I was immediately impressed with the car's road manners during a long drive when the car was officially launched here and this opinion was cemented during my own test with the car.

It’s quiet and well insulated and stands out as one of the best traits of the Grandland.

Steering is light at low speeds making light work of manoeuvring this 2.1T SUV easy.

It has an adequate and Stellantis familiar 1.2 Litre, 136 PS turbo-petrol unit under the bonnet that may raise an eyebrow in terms of ability but it copes with the Grandland’s bulk well, though I’d love a unit with the sweet spot 150bhp in there.

The PHEV model when it arrives will deliver that as well as a range of over 1,000km.

Opel has decided to use a timing chain instead of a rubber belt for their unit with the third generation version of the Puretech engine fitted. Roadholding is good with the odd imperfection making the car feel a bit jouncy but only fleetingly.

This is a car that has families in mind and that would not cut the mustard if it was a regular feature - which it is not.

A family will travel in smooth comfort in a Grandland and if that was on a long trip on a motorway it would be serene with only the driver and front passenger detecting a small bit of wind hiss from the A pillar at speed.

The Grandland’s competition here is the Hyundai Tucson, the Peugeot 3008, the Citroen C5, the Kia Sportage, the Nissan Qashqai, the Ford Kuga, the Skoda Karoq and their ilk which is a fiercely competitive category.

That said the Grandland has made an impact being their third best selling model so far this year.

It is competitively priced with prices starting at the psychological sub €40k at €39,065 for the all-electric SC version.

And in another nod to value, the most you'll pay extra for the top of the range GS trim is €4k with an Elegance model sandwiched in between .

Opel may not have the badge appeal, or sales, it once had here in Ireland but they are hell bent on recovering lost ground.
An appealing and competitive model like this new Grandland can only help.