Vauxhall Grandland (2017-2024) review

Vauxhall’s biggest crossover, ahead of the Mokka, Crossland and upcoming Frontera. You might recall it as the Grandland X, as it was called when it was launched in 2018, before it ditched the ‘X’ as part of a makeover back in 2022. You also might remember that Vauxhall has already shown us an all-new generation of Grandland. That car will arrive later in 2024 with orders opening at some point in the summer. It looks particularly smart and you’ll be able to spec it with a mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric powertrain, but for now we’ll draw your focus back to this first-gen facelift. 

The updates in design mean that this car is certainly more interesting to look at than the Grandland X was. It wears Vauxhall’s familiar ‘Vizor’ front end, and also gets a two-tone roof, sharp lines and a range of funky alloy wheels, which all help to give it greater road presence.

Which, given the competition in this ever-popular sector, matters. Take your pick from the Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq, to name but a few.

What’s underneath the face?

At one point the Grandland was available with a 1.5-litre turbo diesel and two plug-in hybrid petrol powertrains, but just before it dies in 2024 you’ve a choice between a 1.2-litre turbo 3cyl petrol (available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed auto ‘box) and a slightly more powerful 1.2-litre turbo 3cyl petrol that’s further boosted by a 48V hybrid system. 

The hybrid can only be combined with a six-speed dual clutch auto, and Vauxhall claims 134bhp for the petrol engine and an extra 28bhp from the small electric motor. It also reckons on just over 50mpg.

Sounds good. What’s it like to drive?

We’ve driven the 1.2-litre petrol with the six-speed manual ‘box and the 48V hybrid. The standard petrol feels slightly cumbersome, with a 0-62mph time of 10.4 seconds meaning progress is fairly pedestrian. 

The hybrid system ups efficiency, but the power boost doesn’t really help with speeding up progress as the handover between electric and petrol power can be quite cumbersome. More on that over on the Driving tab.

What's the cabin like?

It’s unsurprisingly digital first in here, with base spec models getting a seven-inch instrument cluster and infotainment display, and upper spec models getting a 12in instrument display and another 10in infotainment touchscreen.

Said set-up looks fancy and it’s functional enough too. The display in front of the driver is informative and easy to read, while the touchscreen is intuitive and responsive, allowing you to easily switch between sat nav, media and anything else you require. Our biggest gripe is that the infotainment display still doesn’t make use of the full screen. More on that over on the Interior tab.

Still, perhaps the best news of all is that Vauxhall hasn’t fallen down the same trap as others in the industry, namely the VW Group, keeping the climate control panels entirely separate to the touchscreen as well as the steering wheel clear of any haptic feedback buttons. Thumbs up from us there. 

What will it cost me?

Great question, because this close to the final nail in the coffin you’re only able to buy the Grandland in top spec Ultimate trim. That means prices start at £35,395 for the base spec petrol and manual gearbox combo. Probably worth pointing out here that the new Nissan Qashqai starts at just over £30k.

With seemingly no end to the public’s love affair for crossovers, the Grandland soldiers on for a little while longer yet. It has already joined the Vauxhall Vizor gang, but the upcoming second-gen car is clearly better looking. 

Inside it lacks the glitz and glamour of some rivals, but it’s fuss-free, practically packaged, and as unpretentious as they come, even if it does score a couple of tech related own goals. Not as bad as some of its VW Group rivals, mind.

However, it can’t quite match its competitors when it comes to the drive, which is bland and unengaging, nor the ride, which is simply too firm for a family crossover. Which, in an overly crowded sector, makes it all too easily forgettable.