Opel is replacing its Grandland SUV with a stylish new model with modern electric and hybrid powertrains and a focus on technology and efficiency. The new flagship Opel SUV will also be larger than its predecessor, with more space both in the cabin and the boot.
Bold look
Opel has redesigned the Grandland from the ground up, with all-new underpinnings based on parent company Stellantis’ new electric platform. That has allowed Opel to completely overhaul the Grandland’s design and grow the car’s footprint, with the flagship SUV now 173mm longer than before, 19mm taller, and 64mm wider.
As with other models in the Opel range, the new Grandland gets the brand’s ‘vizor’ nose, but an illuminated Opel logo is in there, inspired by the Opel Experimental concept car revealed last summer. And that isn’t the only light-related innovation, with clever matrix headlights allowing the car to change the light distribution depending on traffic conditions and to provide new welcome and leaving animations. At the rear, meanwhile, the Opel lettering is illuminated.
Lights aside, the new Grandland gets a two-tone colour scheme designed to make it look more elegant, while the lines are designed to ‘stretch’ the car visually in terms of length and width.
Spacious cabin
As well as changing the Grandland’s design, Opel has also used the increased dimensions to create more cabin space and a bigger boot. Although Opel hasn’t confirmed full boot capacities, it has announced there will be 1,641 litres of space when the rear seats are folded, putting the Grandland roughly on par with the Skoda Karoq in the same configuration. The brand has also promised an extra 20mm of rear legroom compared with the old Grandland.
But space isn’t Opel’s only consideration, and the company has also made progress with the Grandland’s interior design. The whole dashboard is designed to make the cabin look wider, but it still accommodates a massive 16-inch central touchscreen display, a widescreen digital instrument cluster, and a head-up display.
As is so often the case, physical switchgear has been phased out in favour of touchscreen control, but Opel has promised to keep some switches back, including those for “frequently used” settings such as climate control.
Opel has also been focussing on its seats for some time, and just like the old Grandland, the new model is offered with seats certified by the German Campaign for Healthy Backs (AGR). With pneumatic bolsters for greater support and ventilation and massage functions for the driver, Opel says the seats continue the brand’s “award-winning reputation” for comfort.
Long-range electric powertrain
The headline addition to the new Grandland range is the electric motor and battery, which will combine to offer a huge range and rapid charging. According to Opel, the Grandland’s battery will be available with up to 98kWh of capacity, which should be enough for an official range of up to around 700km on a single charge if Opel is to be believed. The company also claims recharging the battery to 80 per cent will take around 26 minutes, although it hasn’t said how much charge the battery has to start with to achieve that time.
In addition to the long-range electric powertrain, the Grandland will also be available with a choice of two hybrid systems. The basic Grandland Hybrid will use 48-volt mild-hybrid technology designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while there’s also a Grandland Plug-In Hybrid with up to 85km of official range from its rechargeable battery pack.
Official performance and economy figures are yet to be published, but we’re expecting the new versions of the Grandland to offer more efficiency than the equivalent versions of the existing model.
No pricing as yet
Given the lack of precision on performance and economy figures, it’s no surprise that there’s no detail on pricing as yet. However, we’re expecting the Grandland’s starting price to be competitive compared with rivals such as the VW Tiguan and Skoda Karoq, despite Opel’s decision to electrify the range.
“The new Grandland is a milestone for Opel,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl. “With it, every Opel without exception is now available electrically. This is a big step in our electric offensive. The new Grandland was designed and developed in Rüsselsheim and will be built in Eisenach. The relationship to the Opel Experimental is unmistakable. It offers innovations that were first seen on this extraordinary concept car. The new Grandland will therefore strengthen our position in the important C-SUV segment.”
The new Open Grandland arrives in Ireland at the end of 2024 in time for "251" registration period in January 2025.