Opel Insignia Review (2009-2017)
Check out our Opel Insignia used car review!
The Opel Insignia was one of my first ever car reviews for Changing Lanes. That was 2014. Now I think it's fair to say that we can class it as a used car review. I've updated my original review with some more background information. This will help you if you are thinking of buying a used Opel Insignia from between the years of 2009 and 2017.
The first generation Opel Insignia reached Ireland in 2009. It received a refresh in 2013 and stayed in production until 2017 when it was replaced by the all-new Opel Insignia Grand Sport.
Diesel was king in Ireland in 2009 and the Insignia looked after customers well in this regard. It quickly became a fleet favourite. The visibility of this generation of the Opel Insignia is still high on Irish roads. The Opel Insignia replaced the Opel Vectra and was a huge step forward in design.
Opel Insignia Review
In summer 2014, I tested the Opel Insignia SRi, the sporty one in the range with attractive OPC inspired body styling, 18" alloys, and sports suspension. The first generation Insignia has good presence on the road, while inside it's comfortable and good quality for the large car segment of this era.
The Insignia range was refreshed in 2013 and there were updates to the headlamp design, revised front bumper with slightly bigger and lower air intakes, along with different rear light clusters, new rear bumper and some other trim updates.
The 2013 facelift also saw a revamped interior, new steering wheel, better quality materials, and a new Intellilink touchscreen that removed more buttons for a cleaner look. There was also a new touchpad controller available and voice control.
Standard equipment is impressive and over the years there were five trim levels - S and SC being the more basic ones, SE and Elite the more premium ones and SRi the sporty one. SC and above have the IntelliLink infotainment system with 8” touchscreen and Apple CarPlay from 2015. Some of the safety features available on the first generation Opel Insignia include adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor, rear view parking camera, traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning system.
Opel Insignia Hatchback Vs Saloon Vs Estate
The Opel Insignia was available as a hatchback, saloon or Sports Tourer estate between 2009 and 2017. Interior space was competitive for a large car, not outstanding but the boot was a good size at 530 litres in the Insignia hatchback, 540 litres in the Insignia estate and 500 litres in the Insignia saloon.
My 2014 Opel Insignia was powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 163 hp. This engine is economical with good pulling power but it's a bit on the noisy side. In 2015 it was replaced by an improved and much quieter 2.0-litre diesel with 170 hp. Read our review of that diesel Insignia here. Manual and automatic gearboxes are available. Other engine options for the Insignia at the time included a 1.6-litre CDTi with 136 bhp and a 1.4-litre turbo petrol with 140 bhp.
Is the Opel Insignia a good car?
On the road the Opel Insignia majors at cruising effortlessly up and down motorways. This car has broad appeal. The suspension is on the firm side but not uncomfortable by any means. The steering is precise and intuitive giving a reassuring and sporty feel going around bends. This is matched to excellent grip and body control (no doubt down to that extra firmness in the suspension!). The car grips but there is a fair bit of movement of the car’s weight over the suspension. SRi models fitted with sports suspension are tighter in this regard.
The 2014 Opel Insignia SRi 2.0-litre diesel I tested had a normal retail price of €33,295.
Not surprisingly, the Opel Insignia is a popular choice as a company car for its comfort on long journeys and good suspension that absorbs bumps and ruts so well. The huge 530 litre boot and great rear passenger space make it a great family buy too. The Opel Insignia is the German car without the premium price tag but retaining that feeling of quality that you expect from a German car.
It isn't the most dynamically exciting car in the class (that accolade goes to the Ford Mondeo) but the Opel Insignia is more than up for the job of long motorway cruises, keeping everyone on board happy and comfortable!
If you are thinking of buying a used Opel Insignia, I hope this review has been useful.
Details correct at time of test
Model tested: 2014 Opel Insignia SRi Limited Edition 5-door Hatch
Price: €33,295 (as tested new in June 2014)
Engine: 2.0 litre diesel
Power: 163 bhp
0-100km/h: 9.5 seconds
Economy: 65.7mpg (4.3l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 114g/km
Tax band: A4 (€200 per year)
Caroline Kidd
Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 First Drive Review
The Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 is the Opel brand’s first plug-in hybrid. It will arrive in Ireland later in February as the new, all wheel drive, range topper of the Grandland X mid-size family SUV range. Caroline travelled with Opel Ireland to the Black Forest, Germany, to test drive it.
Styling
The Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 is a standard, friendly-looking family SUV, except for one key differentiating feature – the black bonnet that is exclusive to the Hybrid4. While this reviewer is a fan, Opel Ireland thinks it’s a risky move so dealer stock will be monotone only (the black bonnet will be available by special order). There’s a Hybrid4 badge at the rear and an extra flap housing the socket to charge the battery on board.
Interior
The new plug-in hybrid variant carries the same interior as the rest of the Grandland X range, except for a few new buttons and screens to control and monitor the hybrid system. The Grandland X cabin is quite sombre and conservative, but well-built with the latest technology features including the 8" touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Practicality
The Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 is a mid-size family SUV with seating for five and competitive rear seating space for this class of vehicle. The battery has been placed under the rear seats and there has been little intrusion to the space in the vehicle as a consequence of the electrified powertrain. Charging cables can be stored in a special compartment under the boot floor and the boot is still competitively sized.
Engines
The new Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine with two electric motors to produce an overall system output of 300 hp and 520 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful model in the Grandland X range. An eight speed automatic gearbox comes as standard.
There will also be a front wheel drive only Opel Grandland X Hybrid available from March with 225 hp.
CO2 emissions are as low as 29 g/km.
On the road
The Opel Grandland X starts in electric mode and has a pure electric range of up to 59 km. The driver can select easily between four driving modes on start up: Electric, Hybrid, Sport and AWD.
Once leaving the confines of Basel Airport, I slipped the Grandland X into hybrid mode. In this mode, the car intelligently selects how much electric assistance to give. Over the first leg of my test drive over motorway and then smaller, fast flowing roads through the Black Forest, my average fuel consumption was an economical 4.6/100km.
Opel engineers encourage owners to plug their new Grandland X Hybrid in every day because the best economy is returned from the car when the battery is kept topped up, as common with all plug-in hybrids. For drivers who travel a short commute comfortably within the 59 km, it would be possible to run the car on electricity only, dipping into the fuel tank rarely. Of course there is never fear of range anxiety because you always have the back up of the petrol engine.
On the return leg of the journey back to the airport, my battery power ran low as we did not charge at our lunch stop. Average fuel consumption was 6.3l/100km over a 100 km journey that included high speed Autobahn driving.
I dipped into Sport mode during my test drive and it turns the Opel Grandland X into a different animal. This performance biased mode gives the driver instant feedback through the pedals. However, this is not a sports SUV, the Opel Grandland X won’t hustle around corners like a hot hatch but it’s a pleasant pop of power in an otherwise demure SUV.
Charging
The battery can be fully charged in around two hours with a 7.4 kW wallbox or about seven hours using a three point plug at home.
Equipment
In Ireland the new Grandland X Hybrid 4 will be available in the high spec Elite trim. Equipment includes 19" alloy wheels, 8" colour touchscreen, leather seat trim, power adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, panoramic glass roof, front parking sensors, driver drowsiness system, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane assist and side blind spot alert.
Pricing
The new Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 Elite will go on sale in Ireland priced from €47,415. The Grandland X Hybrid (front wheel drive) will go on sale from €36,645 for the entry SC, €39,245 for the SRi and €41,745 for the Elite. All prices quoted here are inclusive of Government grants and incentives amounting to €7,500 for plug-in hybrids.
Rivals
The new Opel Grandland X Hybrid and Hybrid4 will compete against sister brand Peugeot’s 3008 Hybrid4 and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Summary
The new Grandland X Hybrid4 is a pioneering new product for the Opel brand. Along with the new Corsa-e, these models spearhead the brand’s move to electrification that will see the brand’s entire product portfolio with a battery electric vehicle or hybrid by 2024.
The Grandland X is currently available with diesel and petrol engines, and the Hybrid4 marks a new departure, now offering another option for buyers seeking to move to a lower emissions vehicle.
With the standard Grandland X range kicking off at €28,995, the Hybrid4 carries a significant investment. And though huge savings can be made on running costs, some strategy regarding charging at home and at your destination is needed in order to truly see the benefits of a PHEV.
The hybrid system itself is impressive, as are the performance figures for a standard mid size family SUV. But it’s the green credentials of the Opel Grandland X, not the sporty ones, which should truly inspire buyers to own one.
Caroline Kidd
Opel Corsa Review
There’s an all-new Opel Corsa arriving in dealerships now in Ireland. The Corsa is Opel’s most popular model worldwide and a household name since 1982. Now this historic supermini hero is in its sixth generation - but has never looked better! Built on a new platform, the new Corsa is lighter and more stylish than before with a welcome addition of new technology and equipment. Caroline travelled to Croatia with Opel Ireland to test drive the 2020 Opel Corsa.
Styling
The previous generation Corsa was rather disappointing in the style stakes but that’s been rectified. This new Corsa is seriously desirable in the metal – compact and sporty – with a raft of colour and trim options that depart a different vibe for whatever you’re having yourself. From sporty SRi to city smart Elite, hues ranging from cool grey to cheeky ruby red, the new Corsa has something for everyone! A contrast black roof is available on some models also.
Interior
The interior of the 2020 Opel Corsa has also been extensively modernised. Build quality is good and there is a grown-up feeling in here. It’s quite a conservative cabin so the red trim of the SRi model is a real fun and welcome addition. In Ireland, cars will be specced from standard with a 7” colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which will keep younger drivers very happy. Top of the range models get a 10” screen.
Practicality
The new Corsa carries pretty much the same dimensions as the previous generation of the car. Rear seating is okay for the supermini class but legroom and headroom are not the most generous in the class. The boot volume is up 24 litres to a total of 309 litres. The rear seats split fold 60:40.
Engines
At launch, the Opel Corsa is available in Ireland with a 1.2-litre petrol (75 hp), a 1.2-litre turbo petrol (100 hp) and a 1.5-litre diesel (102 hp). A new electric version, the Corsa-e, will arrive in Ireland in March with a range up to 330 km.
On the road
The new Corsa is lighter, lower and more rigid. The driving position has been much improved and it is now a more engaging car to drive. It sits on a new platform that it shares with the new Peugeot 208 however Opel engineers insist that they have tuned this car 'to be an Opel’.
We can believe it. Opel has such confidence in this car that they took us to the beautiful Dalmatian coast of Croatia and gave us roads that had many twists and turns, climbs and descents, to put the Corsa through its paces and have fun. The car was well set up for this. Yes the suspension is on the firm side but the Corsa is agile and fun to drive as small cars should be.
We sampled the new 1.2-litre turbo unit with 100 hp in Elite trim and the 130 hp version in the SRi spec. The 1.2 130 hp engine won’t make its way to Ireland. The 100 hp engine is very nice to drive, smooth and chirpy through the gears. A manual gearbox is standard on many models but there’s also a new 8-speed automatic, which we had the opportunity to test. For a small petrol auto combination, on a first encounter it performed well.
Equipment
In Ireland the new Corsa will be available in SC, SC Premium, SRi, SRi Premium and Elite.
The car will be well specced from base with standard equipment including 16” alloys, LED headlights, touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, air con, leather covered steering wheel, cruise control, electric door mirrors and front windows, high beam assist, lane departure warning with lane assist, traffic sign recognition and emergency city braking.
SC Premium will add heated front seats and steering wheel, automatic lights and wipers, anti dazzle rear view mirror and rear parking sensors.
SRi will add Opel Connect, sports style front seats, sport mode switch, LED tail lights, LED front fog lights, 16” Hurricane alloys, chrome tailpipe, black roof and rear privacy glass.
SRi Premium adds heated front seats and steering wheel, auto lights and wipers, keyless entry and start, electric parking brake and electronic climate control.
Elite models have 17” alloys, 10” infotainment screen, Multimedia Navi, heated front seats and steering wheel, auto lights and wipers, fabric and leather effect trim and rear view camera.
Pricing
In Ireland the new Corsa range kicks off at €17,975 for the SC, €18,875 for SC Premium, €23,000 for SRi, €24,300 for SRi Premium and €23,645 for Elite. The new 1.2-litre 100hp engine is available from €21,695 and the diesel from €21,645.
Rivals
Rivals include the Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, Citroen C3, Toyota Yaris and Mazda2.
Summary
The new Opel Corsa is a much improved car. Gone goes the frumpy look and in comes a stylish smart supermini with lots of kerb appeal. Technically, it’s lighter and more fun to drive than before. On price, it’s not the cheapest but when you dig a bit you can see that the entry model is a highly equipped car. The tastier SRi and Elite versions do carry quite a premium, however the Corsa feels fun and special enough to warrant a place in the higher end of the market for stylish, high spec superminis.
Welcome back Corsa!
James Brooks Is New Managing Director Of Opel Ireland
The Gowan Group has formally completed the acquisition of Opel Ireland and has appointed James Brooks as Managing Director of Opel operations in Ireland.
James will succeed Gillian Whittall who is leaving the Company following the successful completion of the acquisition. A qualified accountant, Mr Brooks is joining Opel Ireland from Kia Motors Ireland where he was Managing Director. He is former Treasurer and President of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry.
Speaking about the appointment, Michael Dwan, Gowan Group Managing Director said: “We are delighted to announce that James will be joining Opel Ireland as MD. He has huge experience in the Irish motor industry forged initially as Finance Director, Fleet Director and Business Development Manager at Opel Ireland for 9 years and latterly as MD of Kia for 14 years. He is a highly regarded leader and I am confident that he will lead the Opel brand back to the market position it can justifiably achieve.”
“I would like to play tribute to Gillian who has been very professional and supportive as we transitioned ownership of the Opel brand in Ireland. She leaves with our thanks and very best wishes.”
James Brooks said: “I am genuinely excited by this opportunity and look forward to getting on board with Opel Ireland and meeting all the people associated with the business. The commitment made by Gowan Group in acquiring Opel Ireland represents a serious statement of intent. This is a great brand with an exciting product pipeline, a strong dealer network and customer base. We are ambitious to develop and significantly grow the brand in the months and years to come.”
Opel To Join Gowan Group In Ireland
Gowan Group has acquired Opel Ireland and will be Opel’s wholesale import partner in Ireland upon approval of the transaction by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in Ireland.
This move is in line with Opel’s business strategy in selected European markets to enhance agility, efficiency and competitiveness.
Gowan Group will assume responsibility for all of Opel Ireland’s operations and current Opel employees will transfer on completion of the transaction.
“This is another decision in line with the goals of our PACE! strategic plan which will make our sales set-up in certain European countries more agile, efficient and therefore competitive,” said Xavier Duchemin, Opel/Vauxhall Managing Director Sales, Aftersales and Marketing. “We are confident that our brand will perform even better in Ireland with this new set-up.”
“We are delighted to become Opel’s import partner in Ireland”, says Michael Dwan, CEO, Gowan Group. “We have an in-depth understanding of the Irish motor market and a strong appreciation of the Opel brand. The close engagement with our colleagues in Russelsheim through this process, together with the expertise and capability within the Group and within Opel Ireland, the strong dealer network and customer base and the exciting new product pipeline all underpin our belief that Opel will fully realise its potential in the Irish market in the years ahead. We look forward to welcoming the Opel Ireland team into the Gowan Group.”
Gowan Group has been involved in motor distribution in Ireland for fifty years, importing Peugeot vehicles since 1969 and Honda vehicles since 1984.
Opel sold over 5,800 vehicles in Ireland in 2018 achieving a market share of 3.8%. Opel is now aiming, through this new business model, to grow profitably in Ireland in the coming years.
Opel Combo Life Review
Caroline drives the new Opel Combo Life.
The new Opel Combo Life solves that problem of needing to carry a lot of people, and needing to do it in the cheapest way possible. Available as a five or seven seat vehicle, in two different lengths, with pricing starting from just €21,800, the Opel Combo Life could be the bargain of the century.
In fact the Opel Combo Life has just won 'Best Buy Car of Europe 2019' at the authoritative Autobest awards. So the secret might be out already. But here’s what I thought of the Combo Life from an Irish perspective.
What is the Opel Combo Life?
While the Opel Combo Van has been sold for many years (this is actually its fifth generation), the Combo Life passenger vehicle is a new model for the Opel brand. Space, practicality, versatility and value are its key attributes in the market. To that end, the Combo Life is available in a standard length with five or seven seats or as a longer ‘XL’ model with seven seats.
The van DNA runs strong in the styling of the Opel Combo Life in that it’s boxy to maximise space, with plenty of squared off edges. But at the front it has the typical look of an Opel about it with a large front grille with two chrome wings around the Opel Blitz insignia. Style icon it is not, but at this price do you care?
How practical is the Opel Combo Life?
The van-like proportions and design of the Opel Combo Life make it an excellent people carrier. There is plenty of glazing and the large doors and high roof also give an airy, spacious feel to the cabin. There are also proper opening windows in the rear.
Access to the rear seats is through two sliding doors that open and close easily. I was driving a seven seat version of the standard length vehicle (from €23,800). There is excellent headroom all round and loads of legroom for passengers in row 2, with Isofix child seat brackets available. The seats split fold and are really easy to fold flat. Access to row 3 is simple enough, though there is not much legroom back there in the standard length vehicle so these two extra seats are more suitable for children or occasional use.
When the seats in row 3 are folded into the boot floor, you have a massive 597 litres of space in the standard length vehicle or 850 litres in the XL version. The boot opens wide, with a large square opening making it easy to load and stack to the roof should you need it!
Considering the Combo Life’s roots, the cabin is surprisingly well-appointed. It’s a straightforward Opel cabin that actually works really well here. The plastics are all hard but the quality looks fine. There are satin chrome accents on the steering wheel, on the door handles and in the air vents. The ergonomics are good with a steering wheel and instrument cluster that could have been lifted from an Astra or Grandland X. A smart 8” touchscreen comes as standard in the centre of the dash with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are numerous storage areas of different sizes that should also prove useful for a family on the move.
Is it well-equipped?
In Ireland the Opel Combo Life is sold in just one trim level called Energy. There’s a good spec including the 8” colour touchscreen, 16” alloys, rain sensitive windscreen wipers, front fog lights, automatic high beam assist, heated and electric door mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, electric front windows, 60/40 split folding rear seats, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, speed sign recognition, forward collision alert, emergency brake assist, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, automatic lighting control, driver drowsiness system, blind spot alert, and front and rear parking sensors.
There are also a number of options available for more comfort and convenience including reversing camera as part of the Parking Pack (€500), Winter Pack including heated seats and steering wheel (€250), head-up display (€455), and a Child Pack (€300) including rear-view child-minder mirror, rear side window sunblind, fold-flat passenger seat and a luggage restraint net.
Driving the Opel Combo Life
The fifth-generation Combo is based on a new architecture shared with the Peugeot Rifter and Citroen Berlingo, stablemates at the PSA Group that took over Opel in 2017. The Combo Life is naturally not the last word in sophistication and refinement on the road, but it's pleasant to drive for what it is. It’s comfortable and stable and not too noisy on the move. In fact, there is more of an MPV feeling behind the wheel than a van one.
Engine options include a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 110hp and a 6 speed manual (from €21,800), a 1.5 litre diesel with 100hp and 5 speed manual (from €23,050) and the same engine with 130hp and an 8 speed automatic gearbox (from €25,350). The seven seat standard length Combo Life is available with the 1.5 diesel, priced from €23,800. The Energy XL 1.5 diesel seven seat vehicle is available from €24,675.
My test car has the 1.5 litre 100hp diesel and it's adequate for the Combo Life. It only gets noisy when you really put your foot down hard - other than that it settles into the background. It’s not the speediest mover with a 0-100 kmh figure of 13.1 seconds, but it does the job. My fuel consumption over a few days of driving averaged at 5.8 l/100km and it is only €200 to tax per year.
What's the verdict?
It’s easy to approach the Opel Combo Life with a sprinkle of cynicism. But if you look beyond the boxy looks and are willing to sacrifice style, the Opel Combo Life is a spacious and straightforward people carrier. Opel Ireland is offering a simple range here with just one well-specced trim level available from just €21,800 as a five seat, or €23,800 as a seven seat.
The Opel Combo Life is neither exciting nor sexy, but it’s a good value seven seat MPV with impressive comfort, practicality and driver assistance and safety features.
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Opel Combo Life Energy 1.5 Turbo D 7-seat
Price: €23,800 (Range from €21,800)
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo diesel
Power: 100hp
Torque: 250Nm
0-100km/h: 13.1 seconds
Top speed: 172km/h
Economy: 4.2/100km
CO2 emissions: 111g/km
Motor tax: €200 per year
Opel Grandland X Review (2019)
Caroline drives the Opel Grandland X Ultimate!
In 2018, Opel Ireland welcomed the new Grandland X to Ireland in the highly lucrative five door, family SUV segment. Available from €28,395 with a choice of 1.2-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and 2.0-litre diesel, the Opel Grandland X occupies a peachy point for family buyers looking for a cool mid-size SUV.
I’ve already tested the Opel Grandland X 1.2-litre petrol and it was a car that I enjoyed for its straightforward practicality, stylish design and on point petrol engine. Now at the opposite end of the spectrum I’m testing the Opel Grandland X Ultimate. Under the bonnet there is a top of the range 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The car also has an impressive spec including a number of more luxurious features as standard. But you do pay dearly for it, with a list price for this model of €41,595.
What's new?
The Grandland X’s neat frame is enhanced with 19” alloys, while the roof and door mirrors are finished in black on the Ultimate trim car. There are also silver coloured roof rails, premium ergonomic seats, heated leather seats and trim, adaptive AFL LED headlights, OnStar, touchscreen with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, 360° camera, Advanced Park Assist and a Denon premium sound system.
Inside the Grandland X there is reasonable space for five however the middle rear passenger will get short changed on leg and shoulder room. The electric tailgate comes as standard on the Ultimate trim and opens to reveal 514 litres of space.
The dashboard design is simple and straightforward with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility on the 8” colour touchscreen. The quality is good and the design straightforward and easy to navigate, however it's a little way off the showstopper you might expect of a car priced in the region of €40,000!
On the road in the Opel Grandland X Ultimate
The 2.0-litre engine is a powerhouse for the Grandland X with 177hp and 400Nm of torque giving it a trailer load of 2 tonnes. The Grandland X 2.0-litre makes brisk progress on the road and it doesn't sound too coarse for a large diesel engine either, changing gear with reasonable efficiency too. Motor tax for this model is €270 per year and over a week of driving my fuel consumption was 6.3l/100km.
The Grandland X works well as a family car in that it's easy to drive and get along with. It handles well though there is some lean in corners but generally it's very composed and pleasant to drive. The ride comfort on the 19" wheels of the test car was not as smooth and soft as I remembered from my test drive last year, but these are small nuances.
Should I buy it?
Opel Ireland is offering the Grandland X in five trim levels: SC, SRi, Elite, Ultimate and the new '120 Years' edition to celebrate 120 years of Opel. The Grandland X is undoubtedly a very valuable vehicle for Opel that's stylish and practical.
Certainly the Opel Grandland X Ulitmate is the Grandland X with all the bits thrown at it - top of the range diesel engine, effortless automatic gearbox and many luxury features.
In its most basic guise with a 1.2 litre petrol engine for example, the Grandland X certainly feels like a good alternative to the usual suspects in the family SUV class. For me this expensive top of the range model feels less convincing but for Opel fans looking for a powerhouse of an engine and plenty of luxury features, look no further than the Opel Grandland X Ultimate!
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Opel Grandland X Ultimate 2.0
Price: €41,595 (Range from €28,395)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel
Power: 177hp
Torque: 400Nm
0-100km/h: 9.5 seconds
Top speed: 211km/h
Economy: 4.9/100km
CO2 emissions: 128g/km
Motor tax: €270 per year
Opel Ireland Announces New General Manager
Gillian Whittall has been appointed as the new General Manager for Opel Ireland.
In her new role Gillian will report to Stephen Norman, Group Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors and Opel Ireland.
Gillian joined Opel Ireland in 2008 as Head of Marketing & PR, bringing extensive experience from high profile brands including AIB, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Danone.
Speaking about her new appointment, Gillian said: “I’m delighted to take on the role of managing Opel in Ireland. The brand is embarking on a new era, already evident in the new Grandland X. By combining the agility of Groupe PSA with the design and engineering excellence of Opel in Germany, the brand will continue to strengthen its offering in the market, impressing both our loyal customers and newcomers to the brand alike."
Stephen Norman added: “With Gillian’s extensive brand experience, Opel Ireland will quickly deliver the path to growth and profitability, through our strategic plan PACE!”
Opel Grandland X Review
The Opel Grandland X is a brand new model for the Opel range, a mid-size SUV slotting in above the Opel Astra. Grandland X gives Opel a key product to compete for family buyers, who more and more are opting for SUVs.
The Opel Grandland X is a good-looking SUV with familiar Opel design cues. It shares underpinnings and engines with the Peugeot 3008 launched last year, but the Grandland X feels very much like an Opel. The Grandland X has a sleek and compact presence but there’s room inside for five as well as a generous 514 litre boot.
And while the interior design may not be as avant-garde as the Peugeot, the interior of the Grandland X is good quality and packed with technology including the Opel OnStar personal assistant and a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Will the Opel Grandland X make a good family car?
Comfort and space is a must for a family car and the Opel Grandland X does not disappoint. On the road it’s an agile and pleasant SUV to drive with light but predictable steering. The handling is not going to set the world on fire, but as a family car that’s easy to drive and get along with, you can’t fault it.
Opel is lucky to have some excellent engines to offer with Grandland X. I was driving the 1.2-litre petrol with 130hp and the SRi model tested with lots of goodies retailed at €30,595 (the range kicks off at €27,995).
For anyone thinking of switching back to petrol, I couldn’t recommend this engine more. It’s nippy with plenty of torque, and refinement is excellent. It’s smooth and efficient while C02 emissions mean motor tax is just €200 per year.
There’s also a 1.6-litre diesel with 120hp (from €28,995) and a range topping 2.0-litre diesel with 177hp.
Opel Ireland is offering the Grandland X in four trim levels: SC, SRi, Elite and Ultimate. While the starting price of €27,995 is higher than some rivals, Opel bites back with a good standard specification.
All the equipment you could ever need
Equipment includes OnStar with Wifi hotspot, smartphone projection, dual zone climate control, cruise control, electric windows, 17” alloys, lane departure warning, speed sign recognition, rear parking sensors, high beam assist, and auto lights and wipers.
My 1.2 SRi model on test (€30,595) had 18” alloys, ambient lighting, electrically folding door mirrors, front and rear alloy effect skid plates, front parking sensors, keyless entry, 60/40 split folding rear seats, blind spot alert and a power tailgate.
The Opel Grandland X enters a packed segment full of rivals but it’s a really valuable car for Opel. It ticks all the boxes for a family car and the 1.2-litre petrol model is very pleasant to drive. The Opel Grandland X doesn’t do anything extraordinary but it’s comfortable and laden with technology so deserves to do well in its segment.
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Opel Grandland X SRi 1.2
Price: €30,595 (Range from €27,995)
Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol
Power: 130hp
Torque: 230Nm
0-100km/h: 11.1 seconds
Top speed: 188km/h
Economy: 5.1/100km
CO2 emissions: 117g/km
Motor tax: €200 per year
If you are looking for a petrol family crossover, you might also like this review of the Nissan Qashqai.
Opel Crossland X Review (2017)
Opel is getting serious about SUVs. Compact crossovers are big news these days and Opel has treated their Meriva MPV replacement to an SUV-like makeover. The new Opel Crossland X doesn’t just sound like a more adventurous soul: it looks the part too.
The debut Opel Crossland X will sit alongside the Opel Mokka X, while the soon to arrive Grandland X will top off Opel’s SUV range.
Opel Crossland X sports SUV-inspired styling, elevated seating position, spacious interior, and customisation options.
The Opel Mokka X is quite a popular compact SUV in its own right and on paper it’s closely matched in price to the Crossland X.
But park these two side by side and it’s obvious they are distinct enough from eachother to likely attract a different customer.
Naturally any self-respecting crossover these days has all the paraphernalia of ‘urban toughness’ and Crossland X is no different. The front, rear and sides bear all the cues of Opel’s new design language punctuated with grey plastic cladding and a skid plate front and back. The bi-colour option adds a different coloured roof and some attitude from the Opel Adam, making the car stand out in the car park.
But the individuality ends there. Once you slide into the Crossland X, you can see practicality and affordability are at its core. While the dash design resembles the Corsa and Astra, it looks quite bland and dull here and the plastics look and feel cheap in places. It’s a shame that there is not more character inside here like the outside of the car. A 7” touchscreen comes as standard as part of the Intellilink infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.
Yet the cabin is well designed for use as a family car. The new Crossland X is 16cms shorter than an Astra but 10cms higher. The large windscreen and windows mean that the cabin is bright, the doors open wide and the passenger space is very good for a compact car. The raised ride height gives an elevated position for all. The boot is a good 410 litres with a low, flat load area.
There is a small engine range for the Opel Crossland X with a choice of 1.6-litre turbo diesel (99 or 120hp) and 1.2-litre turbo petrol (81 or 110hp). My test car was powered by the 1.6-litre diesel with 120hp. The diesel is quite noisy around town but smooths out on longer runs. On the flip side there is no shortage of power and it is economical. Low mileage or urban drivers should consider one of the 1.2-litre turbo petrols as petrol power would appear to be a better fit for a compact car like this unless you really need the economy and power for frequent longer runs on the motorway.
Elsewhere, the Opel Crossland X does well as an everyday runabout with light steering making it very manoeuvrable around town. The light steering translates into a not so exciting drive outside of town with little dynamic appeal but it’s comfortable and spacious so not at all unpleasant.
In Ireland the Crossland X range starts at €21,995 for an SC model with standard equipment including Opel OnStar, dual zone climate control, cruise control, 16″ alloys, front fog lights, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition. SE models (from €23,495) add a contrast colour roof as standard, 17″ alloys, ambient lighting, rear parking sensors and some updated styling features. Diesels start from €23,995.
The Opel Crossland X is a great new option in the Opel showroom for buyers looking for a compact but practical family car with a fun look. It’s a shame the interior is not a bit more exciting to look at. Practicality really is this car’s strong point and while diesel does not seem the most flattering engine choice for it, the Crossland X offers a lot of space and spec within the ease of a compact frame.
Model tested: Opel Crossland X SE 1.6 CDTi (120PS)
Price: €26,495 (Range starts €21,995)
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo diesel
Power: 120hp
Torque: 300Nm
0-100km/h: 9.9 seconds
Top speed: 187km/h
Claimed Economy: 4/100km
CO2 emissions: 105g/km
Motor tax: €190 per year
Caroline Kidd