Vauxhall’s electrification drive, within the wider pivot to EVs within the Stellantis group as a whole, is well underway.
The Grandland, which is coming onto the market over the coming weeks, is the first Vauxhall to be based on the Stellantis STLA Medium platform – used by some EVs already on the market, such as the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008. Length wise, the Grandland is more comparable to the former rather than the seven-seater E-5008 we got our hands on earlier this year.
While the new Grandland will also be offered in 1.2 petrol-hybrid form, the STLA Medium platform on which the car is based is ‘electric first’, rather than an ICE platform repurposed for electric motors – which allows the full benefits of an electric drivetrain to be reaped. Whilst Vauxhall have used the Grandland marque previously, this new model is a significant 173mm longer in length than the outgoing ICE-only model, though it is still being positioned as a compact SUV.
Despite its purposeful look and large sweeping bonnet, that is noticeable once you’re sat in the driver’s seat, the Grandland does still feel like a compact SUV. Even on some of the more narrow Suffolk lanes that we tested it on, the size was never a major issue.
Vauxhall’s push to make the initial purchase price of EVs the same, or near to, ICE counterparts, also continues with the Grandland. Whilst the smaller Vauxhall Frontera EV has achieved price parity with its petrol twin, the Grandland EV remains more expensive than the ICE – but barely so, with the EV starting at £37,345, and the petrol starting at £34,700. Once you take into consideration the cheaper cost of ownership, the EV is even more clearly an attractive proposition.
That entry-level £37k price already makes it cheaper than some of the key competition: for context, the Tesla Model Y starts at £46,990, while the Nissan Ariya starts at £39,645 and the Ford Explorer £39,875.
This sub-£40k price point is a strategic move from Vauxhall, helping the majority of models avoid the incoming EV ‘luxury car tax’ – where those with a list price over £40,000 will pay a £410 supplement a year in vehicle excise duty from year two, for five years. This means that the Grandland EV in ‘Ultimate’ trim level, at an on-the-road price of £40,495, will have to pay the tax. However, Vauxhall estimates that 80% of buyers will go for the two trims priced below £40,000.
Get inside the Grandland, and you’ll notice that buttons are back – Vauxhall have clearly been listening to the feedback from consumers across the EV industry, much like Volkswagen who recently cut back on the number of touchscreen controls in favour of physical ones. This includes physical controls for the climate, which are so much easier to hand than plodding through a touchscreen. That also extends to real physical buttons on the steering wheel, rather than the easier to mis press capacitive ones seen on many other EVs.
Vauxhall have ensured this car is comfortable on long journeys, with a combination of unique ergonomic seats – which, for the three hours we spent the Grandland in, felt fantastic – and standardly equipped ‘Frequency Selective Damping’ – which alters the damping of the suspension on the fly, in response to the current road conditions.
The on-board satellite navigation uses TomTom mapping system, much like Stellantis’ Peugeot E-5008 we tested back in the summer. This gives built in charger mapping when it comes to plotting routes, and makes it an on-board navigation you actually want to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still supported, for those who prefer that.
Currently, all Grandlands come with a 213 horsepower motor, delivering 0-62mph in nine seconds. This was still more than adequate for motorway cruising and overtaking the occasional slow vehicle, but it lacks the electric punch you’d expect from rivals such as Tesla. For those that want some more punch, Vauxhall is bringing a more powerful dual-motor option to market in 2025. All models also have a 1,200kg towing capacity.
More impressive is the range, standing at an estimated 325 miles across the range, while rapid charging is capable at a maximum speed of 160kW. Also from next year, this will be joined by a long range model, packing a larger battery and offering a seriously impressive range of 435 miles – which will make it one of the longest range electric cars on the market, particularly at its price point.
Overall, the Grandland Electric looks to be an attractive EV for its segment, particularly when it comes to price – and time will tell what percentage of buyers pay the relatively small premium to go for the full EV model over the petrol hybrid. Despite being priced lower than the competition, build quality both inside and out was still on par, and the design maintains a premium and desirable look.
