► Choice of hybrid, PHEV and electric power
► EV has a maximum range of 435 miles
► Set to hit UK roads in autumn 2024
Vauxhall is forging ahead with its tree-hugging, eco-friendly vehicle strategy. The firm has just launched a reborn (and heavy electrified) version of the Frontera compact SUV – and it’s following that up with an all-new version of the Vauxhall Grandland family SUV.
Naturally, the all-new 2024 Grandland is similarly electrified. Vauxhall plans to sell it with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure-electric powertrains – and it’ll become one of the first cars in the Stellantis group to ride on the new STLA Medium platform.
It follows in the footsteps of the third-generation Peugeot 3008. The parts sharing between the two cars means Vauxhall can take advantage of Stellantis’s latest battery technology, which will give the electric Grandland a maximum range of 435 miles.
Vauxhall says it pulled inspiration from its Experimental Concept when it was sketching the new Grandland – so it looks a lot more striking than the old car. It also gets the next generation of Vauxhall’s Pixel LED headlights, an all-new infotainment set-up and a cleverer approach to storage than the previous model.
These are all important for family duty. The Grandland is wading into a crowded market, so it needs to do something different to stand out. Key rivals include the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq. Scroll down to find out how Vauxhall will tackle the competition.
What’s changed on the new 2024 Vauxhall Grandland?
Well, it’s bigger for a start. The new Grandland is 173mm longer than before, which has helped to liberate an extra 20mm of legroom for those in the back. The car is also 19mm taller and 64mm wider, so head and shoulder room should noticeably improve.
Vauxhall has also given the Grandland a bit more storage space. Its seats-up boot capacity has swelled from 514 litres to 550 litres – and there are more than 35 litres of storage bins dotted around the car’s cabin, including smartphone pockets in the front seat backrests, a massive centre console and Vauxhall’s brand-new Pixel Box.
What’s that, we hear you ask? It’s a storage bin that’s been specially designed to hold a smartphone. It has a built-in wireless charger and a glass lid that Vauxhall says will ensure you never forget your device when you get out of the car. Neat idea, but a tenner says it doesn’t work. Never underestimate the power of human forgetfulness…
It’s also worth mentioning that, while the Grandland’s seats-up boot capacity has increased, its maximum boot capacity has fallen ever so slightly from 1652 to 1641 litres. And, although Vauxhall hasn’t confirmed it yet, we expect the figures we’ve quoted thus far are for the most basic hybrid model. The PHEV will probably have less boot space to accommodate its battery pack and electrical gubbins.
What’s powering the new Grandland?
There are three options available: a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and an EV. The hybrid powertrain mixes a 134bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a 28bhp 48-volt electric motor and six-speed automatic gearbox.
Vauxhall hasn’t yet confirmed efficiency figures for the Grandland hybrid, but we expect it’ll be similarly economical to the latest Citroen C5 Aircross. The Citroen is available with the same hybrid system and can return around 50mpg in the real world. Not bad.
Note also how Vauxhall is cashing in on the newly relaxed rules meaning that badges and, ahem, insignia can now be illuminated for the full jazz-hands nighttime look (see below). Mobile billboard, anyone?
There’s also a plug-in hybrid and an EV. However, Vauxhall is being frustratingly light on detail for both these powertrains. For now, all we know is that the PHEV has a maximum electric range of 53 miles, while the EV is powered by a 98kWh battery that serves up a maximum range of 435 miles.
Vauxhall has been a little more open about the Grandland’s chassis technology, though. The SUV will be available with frequency selective damping, which the firm claims can be softened off to help filter out cobblestone vibrations or tightened up to better control the car’s body when you’re driving hard.
Any clever new technology to report?
Plenty. We’ll start with the Grandland’s interior and its new 16-inch infotainment system. It’s thin, wide and mounted high up on the dashboard to help minimise driver distraction – and it’s been teamed with a new digital gauge cluster and head-up display.
Thankfully, Vauxhall hasn’t fallen into the trap of shifting all the Grandland’s switchgear onto the touchscreen. Like the Astra, it retains a row of physical climate controls on the centre console. Plus, if you find all the data from the two screens rather overwhelming, Vauxhall has added a ‘Pure’ mode that pares back the info to just the essentials.
Obviously, there’s loads of safety equipment, too. Standard kit includes adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and post-crash braking, which will lock the brakes in place to help to prevent a secondary accident if you have had a shunt.
And even though the new Grandland is larger than the model it replaces, that extra bulk should be relatively easy to wrangle around town. There’s a roster of technology to assist you when parking, such as front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera (with a self-cleaning function, don’t you know) and a 360-degree parking monitor.
In addition, Vauxhall has given the Grandland the latest version of its Matrix LED headlights. They’re called Intelli-Lux Matrix LED HD – and the units have 51,200 (!) elements between them. Vauxhall claims this allows them to cut out oncoming vehicles with even sharper definition to help avoid dazzling road users driving towards you .
When can I buy one?
Soon. Vauxhall plans to put the Grandland on sale in July 2024. The company also says that the first cars will reach customers by the time autumn rolls around.
Vauxhall hasn’t yet confirmed UK prices and specs for the Grandland but, to be competitive with the likes of the Qashqai and Sportage, the firm will need to target a starting price of between £28,000 and £30,000.
We’ll update you with more info as soon as it’s available.