Opel Grandland Review (2022)

Read Caroline’s Opel Grandland review for everything you need to know about buying Opel’s updated mid-size SUV in Ireland.

A few years ago it was clear that SUVs were the motor industry’s next big thing. Any car brand worth knowing was producing them at pace to deal with consumer demand.

Opel has long been the purveyor of family cars like the Astra and the Insignia. Now SUVs have become a key part of the brand’s range too.

2021 saw the successful debut of the  new Opel Mokka small SUV featuring Opel’s distinct new design language.

The updated Opel Grandland is this year’s follow-up. It gives the German brand a shot again at the popular mid-size SUV segment with a new look and a new interior.

What’s new for the Opel Grandland?

The most welcome news for the Grandland is the bold new look at the front bestowed by Opel’s ‘Vizor’ face. It gives the Grandland a much more distinct and modern presence in line with the new Astra and the Mokka.

Paint yours in a striking colour like Vertigo Blue and glam it up in SRI or Elite trim and you have one of the most handsome SUVs in the segment.

SRI models come with a Black Pack featuring a high gloss Opel logo and badging, contrast black roof and mirror caps, high gloss black roof rails, 18-inch alloy wheels and rear privacy glass.

Inside the interior has also been revised with a new digital instrument cluster on all but the entry model giving a more modern finish to the cabin. All but the entry model also get a wireless smartphone charger and 10-inch touchscreen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto (7-inch screen on SC models).

Segment first adaptive IntelliLux LED® Pixel Lights with high beam assist now feature as standard across the range.

The new Opel Grandland goes on sale in Ireland priced from €37,395 and is available with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Inside the Grandland

The Opel Grandland has a straightforward cabin that’s easy to navigate and feels solidly built too. It might lack some of the glamour of the interior of the Peugeot 3008 for example. But some might actually prefer this more traditional layout.

It’s a car that grows on you, the more time you spend in it. There’s lot of standard equipment including a rear view camera, cruise control, active lane keep assist, side blind spot alert, traffic sign recognition, driver attention alert, and automatic dual-zone air conditioning.

The SRI models (from €40,195) get an AGR driver’s seat for more comfort and support, electrically adjustable driver’s seat lumbar adjustment, adjustable driver seat cushion extension, half leather-effect seat trim, and alloy sporty pedals on automatic versions.

Elite models (from €41,995) come as standard with keyless entry and start, heated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, electrically adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, 19-inch alloy wheels and handsfree electric tailgate.

The Grandland has a spacious interior for this class of vehicle and will seat three in the rear, with the footwells offering plenty of legroom for adults. The boot offers just over 500 litres of space, which is good for the class too.

What’s it like to drive?

There are three flavours for the Grandland: petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid. Buyers can choose from a 1.2-litre petrol with 130hp and the choice of a 6-speed manual gearbox or 8-speed automatic. There’s also a 1.5-litre diesel engine available with 130hp and an 8-speed automatic (from €41,695).

There are plug-in hybrid versions of the Grandland available but they are the most expensive of the range, starting from €48,295 for a front wheel drive version with 225hp.

But the Grandland 1.2 petrol on test for Changing Lanes with a 6-speed manual gearbox is nice to drive and offers adequate performance for a family SUV, while not costing the earth to run either. Over a week of driving my average fuel consumption was 6.5 litres per 100km.

The Grandland moves effortlessly over the tarmac. It offers all you could need in terms of comfort and refinement, while the controls are light making it nice to drive around town too. It’s not designed to be sporty, but the handling is fine with plenty of grip from those front tyres.

Did you like it?

The compact SUV class has seen a number of new entrants since the Grandland debuted for the first time in 2017, like the latest Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga.

The latest update gives the Opel Grandland more character. In the right colour, it’s an eye-catching combination.

Inside, the cabin is not the most adventurous by design, but it’s solidly built and calmly appointed to create a cocoon of comfort and safety that’s a must for a family car like this. It’s also well-equipped with plenty of comfort and safety features as standard.

Like all these SUVs, the Grandland has gone up in price. But buyers have shown that they are willing to pay more for a lofty driving position behind the wheel and chunky SUV looks. The Grandland feels spacious and practical, that’s for sure and it’s easy to see its appeal.

The Opel Grandland is a car that grows on you – now just more stylish and more digital than before!

Model tested: Opel Grandland 1.2 Elite
Price: €41,995
Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol
Power: 130hp
Torque: 230Nm
Top speed: 188km/h
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 10.4 seconds
Motor Tax: €270 per year

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Written by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes