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Opel Grandland on STLA Medium platform

The new Grandland is the first Opel model based on the BEV-native STLA Medium platform. The car shares the platform but also the powertrains with cars such as the Peugeot 3008 and 5008. Recycling is also an important theme for cars built on an STLA platform. Compared to the previous Grandland, Opel positions the new version slightly higher in the market: the upper C-SUV segment. It now almost rubs up against the D-segment.

Doing well!

There is also a green edge to the Grandland. Or “Greenovation,” as Opel prefers to call it. The seat upholstery is made of mostly recycled material (recycled PET bottles) and so are the upholstery of the door panels, dashboard and center console. There is a choice of three vegan upholsteries or Alcantara, containing up to 50 percent recycled material. Opel also did not use chrome and only recycled aluminum, or steel with a high proportion of recycled raw materials, was used for the underbody components. The Grandland contains more than 40 components made of polymer, which also consists largely of renewable raw materials. In total, more than 500 kg of the Grandland’s weight is attributable to recycled and renewable raw materials. That’s pretty neat.

Opel Grandland dimensions

So what about dimensions? The new Opel Grandland has a length of 4.65 meters, a width of about 1.93 meters and a height of 1.66 meters. This makes the new Grandland 173 millimeters longer, 36 millimeters higher and 49 millimeters wider than its predecessor. The long wheelbase of 2,795 millimeters for the BEV (hybrids 2,784 mm) and the continuous roofline that flows into the tailgate – like an estate car – increase the available space. Passengers in the rear seat benefit from 20 millimeters of extra legroom. The rear seats can be folded down in a 40:20:40 ratio. With everything folded down, the luggage compartment has a volume of up to 1,645 liters. In normal use, it is 550 liters. The boot is 1.03 meters wide. So a washing machine can easily fit inside.

New Intelli-Lux HD headlights.

Opel also places a lot of importance on lighting. First of all, if you choose the Intelli-Lux HD headlights, you already get a cool start-up sequence when you start the car. For the first time, the headlights also have 25,600 pixels per unit. So a total of over 51,000 pixels! Via camera detection, the headlights can keep other road users out of the beam of high beam even sharper than the Intelli-Lux Matrix lighting technology.

Intelli-Lux HD headlight technology provides specific lighting functions inside built-up areas, outside built-up areas, for curves and poor weather conditions or fog. The technology also recognizes reflective road signs and ensures that the light beam does not fall directly on them to prevent driver glare. There are also lighting animations when approaching or exiting the Grandland. Otherwise, check out the video review below. In it we show it in detail.

OPEL GRANDLAND 2024: electric or hybrid? BOTH TESTED! REVIEW – AutoRAI TV

Modern cockpit and intuitive controls

Then the interior of the Opel Grandland. Depending on the trim, the Grandland has a driver-facing 10- or 16-inch central display with Snapdragon chipset. Behind the steering wheel, a wide, fully digital display provides essential information. Opel also provides an Intelli-HUD head-up display. Frequently used settings, such as climate control, are easily controlled via a few physical buttons. Glad Opel thought of that. Opel also supplies a Focal hi-fi system. If you choose that one, you also get extra quiet side windows. The Grandland’s infotainment system has ChatGPT, over-the-air connectivity and a connected BEV travel planner.

Pixel Box

Depending on the equipment variant, the Grandland also has a Pixel Box as standard. This module with illuminated translucent plastic and fabric trim is highly functional, according to Opel. Mwah, that’s not so bad. The idea is as follows: the wireless smartphone charger is located behind the glass. The constant visibility of the smartphone prevents it from being left in the car, is the idea. The Pixel Box is mainly a nice gimmick, or decorative element, whatever you want to call it. If Opel had left it out, we don’t think it would have been a disaster. There are also storage compartments for phones in the backrests of the front seats. There is ample storage space under the center console, which also contains a 12V socket. The center console has a convenient storage area with a cooling function. This allows you to keep drinks nice and cool on the go.

AGR seats: sit wonderfully!

Especially nice about the Grandland are the ergonomic AGR (Aktion Gesunder Rücken) seats. These have a pleasant comfort feature: electrically adjustable side supports. This feature significantly improves lateral comfort thanks to two pneumatic pockets in the side supports. The seats also offer ventilation and massage for the driver. The seats also have a special slot that relieves pressure on the coccyx. The message: the seats sit superbly. Because the steering column is excellently adjustable, finding a good seating position is child’s play. The lesson for other manufacturers is above all: the more depth adjustment a steering column has, the better. Because in fact, the best seating position in a car is when you can hold the steering wheel like in a rally car. In this Grandland, that’s almost the case.

Detox principle?

For the interior, Opel also applied the detox principle. In short: less is more. This has partly succeeded, because in terms of form the whole looks tidy. But in terms of materials, Opel seems to have opted for more is better. The rear top layer of the dashboard is soft, then Opel applies a ribbed structure, then a “carbon fiber element” of hard plastic, then an LED strip, underneath high gloss plastic, then matte plastic and underneath again a fabric finish. That’s a lot of different materials. The result: it looks a bit unsettled. Perhaps Opel could do something about this. Another point of feedback: the buttons on the steering wheel are made of a type of plastic that is very sensitive to light. Depending on how the light falls in the car, the functions on the buttons are unreadable. The solution is simple: use a different material.

Frequency Selective Damping

Of course, the Opel Grandland also has fine features. For example, the Electric and Plug-in Hybrid versions of the Grandland have a suspension with Frequency Selective Damping technology. Using an extra valve in the shock absorbers and a second oil circuit, the damping characteristics adjust to the road surface and driving style. On a clinker road and during short fierce movements, this technology provides a bit more comfort. With a more dynamic driving style, the damping will become firmer for a more direct contact of the wheels with the road. The technology also increases stability when cornering, at high speeds and during hard braking.

The starting price of the Opel Grandland

Prices for the new Grandland Hybrid with 48-volt technology start at 42,999 euros. It is equipped with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine of 100 kW (136 hp), a 21 kW (28 hp) electric motor and an electrified six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The braked towing weight is 1,100 kilograms. At low speeds in town, the Hybrid can drive up to 1 km purely electric. When braking, the electric motor becomes a dynamo and recharges the battery.

Opel Grandland Plug-in Hybrid price

In addition, customers can opt for the plug-in hybrid variant, available from 43,999 euros. That’s just 1,000 euros more. The plug-in hybrid has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder. System output comes out to 143 kW (195 hp) with 350 Nm of torque. The PHEV can drive 87 kilometers electrically on a full charge of electricity. Charging can be done with 3.7 kW AC. The braked towing weight of the PHEV is 1,500 kilograms. The hybrid and PHEV both have a 55-liter fuel tank.

Price Opel Grandland Electric 73 kWh

So what about the Opel Grandland Electric? That version is available from 45,999 euros. In that case, you get a 157 kW (213 hp) strong electric motor with 345 Nm of torque and a 73 kWh battery (net capacity). The range is up to 523 kilometers (WLTP). Fast charging is possible with 150 kW. The power turns out to be more than enough in practice. The car feels nice and smooth, but also somewhat heavy. Not surprisingly, the car weighs about 2,100 kilograms versus 1,600 kilograms for the Hybrid.

Price Opel Grandland Electric 82 kWh

Furthermore, the all-electric SUV is offered with an 82 kWh battery (net capacity) and a local emission-free driving range of up to 582 kilometers (WLTP) in the richly equipped GS trim. That car costs 49,499 euros. Fast charging is possible with 160 kW. The versions with 73 and 82 kWh battery may tow 1,200 kilograms with brakes. By the way, this battery version also has 213 hp and 345 Nm. Charging to 80% is possible in less than 30 minutes with a DC fast charger.

Large 97 kWh battery

With the 97 kWh battery, available from 2025, the Grandland Electric will be able to travel up to about 700 kilometers (WLTP) between charges. The price of that version? We are betting on around 54,000 euros. The final price will be released later. An all-wheel drive electric version will also follow in 2025. That will presumably get 235 kw (320 hp).

Differences in weight

The difference in weight between the gasoline Hybrid and electric version with 82 kWh is substantial. The 1.2 Turbo Hybrid has a registration weight of 1,600 kilograms versus 2,120 kilograms for the 83 kWh battery. The PHEV – which is in between in terms of weight – is the fastest car from 0 to 100 km/h at 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h. The hybrid reaches 202 km/h and needs 10.2 seconds for the 0-100 sprint. The electric versions are limited to 170 km/h and sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds. Also of note: the electric versions have a multilink rear suspension. With the hybrids, it is a torsion beam. Too bad, because with multilink a Grandland really drives surprisingly well. Even with torsion beam it is a fine car, but such a multilink really finishes a car.

Conclusion review Opel Grandland

The new generation Opel Grandland is a mature family SUV with very pleasant driving characteristics and especially an excellent seating position. The space also stands out, both in the front and in the rear. The dashboard may deserve some adjustments, but overall the new Grandland is a more than successful and especially complete car. The Grandland Electric has a noticeably lower center of gravity, while the Hybrid feels more nimble. Especially the electric push of the hybrid with 1.2-liter three-cylinder is pleasant, especially at low revs. The car feels nice and smooth. Still, a Grandland Electric is also worth considering, because even with 73 kWh, the car has a substantial driving range.