Equally as fetching is the Grandland’s interior, although this does come with a disappointing mix of high-quality and cheap-feeling materials. The doors, for example, are draped in tactile fabrics, although the buttons on the steering wheel feel dreadfully cheap, as does the rather unconvincing metal-effect trim on the dashboard.
Vauxhall’s latest infotainment system is fine, if not astounding. Sure the glossy 16-inch screen on our GS test car certainly does have its own wow-factor, and we like that Vauxhall has kept some physical switches for the climate controls (these can also be accessed via the screen), but it can be a tad slow to respond at times. The digital instrument cluster doesn’t show all that much info and can glitch between displays at times, too.
What we’re more impressed with is the vast amount of storage available. The Grandland is undeniably ‘grand’ in terms of its sheer proportions, but that means there’ll be plenty of room for families young and old, while the Vauxhall’s 550-litre boot is cavernous enough to swallow anything you throw at it. It’s just a shame there’s no frunk for the charging cables.
As of the time of writing, there’s only one powertrain available in the UK (that is, if you discount the petrol mild-hybrid version) and this outputs 210bhp and is connected to a 73kWh battery pack which, according to Vauxhall, is good enough for 330 miles on a single charge. It’s a shame that it only charges at a maximum of 100kW, although a model with a bigger battery, a claimed 425-mile range and 165kW charging is on the way.
