GRANDLAND’S SPORTYHYBRID SUV

BY TED WELFORD,PRESS ASSOCIATION

What you’re looking at here isVauxhall’s most powerful car.Yes, now the ridiculously fun VXR8 is no more, the quickest model from this brand is actually ahybrid SUV,with the Grandland GSe.

GSe, standing for ‘grand sport electric’, is Vauxhall’s new sporty subbrand, and it’ll be focusing purely on hybrids and EVs as the brand increasingly pushes towards full electrification in its line-up. Already,it’sonly the Crossland that stops Vauxhall offering every car it sells as ahybrid or EV.One of the first GSe models we’re seeing is the Grandland, but is it worthchoosing?

The Grandland has been around since 2017, when it arrived as along-awaited Nissan Qashqai rival, and has proven popular since, with Vauxhall heavily revising it in 2021.

It’s been around for afew years as aplug-in hybrid too, with uptake for electrified versions increasing in momentum, Vauxhall hopes the GSe will continue that. It’s alittle more than just a Grandland with more power and aslightly sportier look, with Vauxhall giving the model asportier suspension setup and revised steering to hopefully liven up the experience.

It slightly lessens the GSe’s impact when you learn that the Grandland has previously been offered with this powertrain that makes it the brand’s most powerful car,and in fact it’sbeenaround since 2020.

But nevertheless, it pairs a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine with two electric motors that enable it to be Vauxhall’s only current four-wheel-drive model. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is adopted too.

The performance figures aren’t to be sniffed at, with its combined 296bhp and 520Nm of torque allowing for a 5.9-second 0-60mph time, and 146mph top speed. A14.2kWh battery allows for up to 41 miles of electric driving ability, pushing CO2 emissions down to 27g/ km. It can alsobecharged in under two hours if you choose the optional 7.4kW charging, or double that timewith the standard 3.7kW

Previously the 296bhp Grandland had the same behavioural characteristics as an unruly child –put your foot down and it felt unnecessarily fast, but without the dynamics to back up theperformance on offer.Tweaks to the chassis have undoubtedly helped, with the Grandland no longer feeling like it’s about to topple over if pushed hard around acorner It’s still very brisk, and it’s able to getup to speed much faster than you’d expect afamily crossover like this to –itwill certainly raise eyebrows, even if you do have to contend with the indecisive gearbox and unpleasant engine noise.

The sportier suspension is not so welcome, however,feeling unsettled over bumps, even on relatively smooth Spanish roads. We also found the seats, which are said to have been approved by an organisation for ‘healthier backs’, to be unpleasantly solid and unforgiving, while offering little support under hard cornering.

Vauxhall really smartened the Grandland up with the 2022 update, giving it its new ‘Vizor’front end, encompassing ablack grille strip housing the Vauxhall emblem and LED lighting. It remains an eye-catching, but not overthe-top choice, which has been subtly smartened up for this GSe guise.

There’s new 19-inch ‘Monza’ alloy wheels, along with various black styling and ablack roof.Note that the black bonnet option, which reminds us of an old banger that had amismatched bonnet fitted on the cheap, is not being offered on UK cars.

The Grandland’s interior might seem abit ‘old Vauxhall’ in places, such as on theclimate controls and general layout, but theergonomics are generally very good, with an easy-to-use 10-inch touchscreen and clear 12-inch digital dials that offer plenty of scope for various configurations.

As we’ve mentioned we’re not afan of the seats, though the Alcantaratrimming on them and the door cards helps to add a sportier feel to thecabin. It scores plenty of marks when it comes to interior space as well. There’s plenty of room in the rear,even for taller adults, while despite arelatively largebattery being fitted, the boot still offers plenty of space.

The Grandland GSe sits right at the top of this SUV’s line-up, and that bodes well when it comes to theequipment front. It is jam-packed full of equipment, including park assist, a360-degree camera, clever pixel LED headlights, keyless entry and an electric boot.

All this brings theGrandland GSe’s price up to £43,700, which is most certainly not an insignificant figure, but it’s only £1,340 more than the 222bhp Grandland plug-in hybrid model, and which lacks four-wheel-drive. The better Hyundai Tucson PHEV is available for a few thousand pounds less, though.

There’s alot to admirethe Vauxhall Grandland for,and it’s most certainly amodel that’s got better with time. It’s smarter to look at than when it first launched and has amuch-improved interior,yet retains an impressive level of practicality that will suit families perfectly

This GSe model doesn’t show the Grandland at its finest, though, and despite welcome changes to the steering and suspension, it’s still along way from being the performance SUV it’s labelled at. Stick with the regular Grandland hybrid if you’re set on aVauxhall, though there are better rivals out there in the form of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage PHEVs if you’re happy to forgo the performance pretences.

Factfile

VauxhallGrandlandGSe

Price:£43,700

Engine:16-litrepetrolenginewith electricmotor

Power:296bhp

Torque:520Nm

0-60mph:59seconds

Topspeed:146mph

Economy:2354mpg

Emissions:27g/km

Electricrange:41miles