MOTORING REVIEW: Opel Grandland hybrid SUV is good family option

Opel Ireland sold 2,257 passenger cars in 2025, with its Mokka SUV the most popular, followed by the Corsa and the new Grandland, which was launched in February of last year, and has already sold 537 units, compared to the 287 registered in 2024 for the previous model, proving this latest version has made a big difference for sales.

Grandland is designed, engineered, and built in Europe and is offered with all-electric (BEV), mild-hybrid (MHEV), and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

This second-generation is longer, wider and taller than before, styled with clean lines, a flat bonnet, the brand’s Blitz logo permanently lit in centre front, and the Opel name also lit across the rear. Nice touches. It’s a high vehicle which helps with getting in and out. My review car had grained wheel arch and lower door cladding, available only on the hybrid version, and had 19-inch alloy wheels. The vehicle will appeal to many families for its looks and practicality. Three trims are SC, Elegance, and GS.

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The Grandland feels premium, is very spacious for five occupants, and offers high levels of comfort for long-distance travel. Ergonomic front seats in my review car were upholstered in a two-tone cloth; the driver’s had 6-way manual adjustments and lumbar support, as well as power cushion tilt (in GS trim).

The central console is angled towards the driver, with a wide screen and large touch controls, which proved user-friendly. These include heating controls for the front seats and steering wheel, along with applications and media management. It also incorporates a digital version of a traditional analogue clock. 

The driver’s information display shows a lot of information, all easy to see at a glance, with the current speed shown prominently. The ‘Pure’ option mode reduces the amount of content on this cluster to reduce distractions. Thankfully, Opel has kept physical controls for frequently used settings, such as air conditioning, climate control, volume, and screen demisters. All are easy to get to while on the move. 

Stellantis-type automatic transmission selection is easy to use and includes a manual (M) option. Drive modes are Eco, Normal and Sport.

Good storage areas are essential in a family car, and the cubbies include a large, cooled space below the front armrest, good-sized door bins, and a cooled glove box. A wireless charging pad is only offered with the top trim.

Rear passengers enjoy decent head and leg room, and there’s almost a flat floor for the middle passenger, thanks to a low tunnel. The middle seat back comes down as an armrest with two cupholders. There are clothes hooks on the B pillars in all grades.

Boot capacity is 550 litres with the rear seats up, consistent across electric, petrol, and plug-in hybrid models, and up to 1,645 litres with the rear seats folded down. The car has a wide tailgate, a high boot floor with a bespoke reversible rubber/carpet mat, and a sealant kit. The tailgate was manually operated. 

The long list of features included an excellent reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, eight airbags, auto high-beam LED lights, automatic emergency braking, and extended traffic sign recognition. As with many new cars, I found the safety alerts annoying at times and managed to turn most of them off, except for some persistent alerts, which I will discuss with the product people in Opel. 

A 136hp 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology powered my car. The battery is mainly charged by engine braking and can allow the car to operate in EV mode in urban areas for up to 50 per cent of the time. The engine is paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is circa 5.5 L/100kms, and annual road tax is €200. There’s a maximum braked towing capacity of 1,100kg. 

The 2025 Grandland received a four-star safety rating in Euro NCAP tests.

Hybrid prices are from €40,995; the all-election from €39,075 (includes applicable grants and rebates).