A GRANDER PROSPECT (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Vauxhall plays the value card with this Grandland Plug-in Hybrid mid-sized family SUV. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 27

The Plug-in Hybrid version of Vauxhall's Grandland might well be the one you actually need. There's practicality, value and just enough battery range to make it everyday-usable.

Backgroundword count: 121

So, if you're looking for a new mainstream brand mid-sized affordably priced family SUV and you've done your homework, you'll be choosing between Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and EV drivetrains. If the car in question must also function over longer distances, we wouldn't blame you for ignoring the EV option. In which case ideally you might like a Plug-in Hybrid; but that's an expensive option isn't it? Vauxhall though, wants to assure you that it isn't. With this model, the Grandland Plug-in Hybrid. The headline here is that in Plug-in Hybrid form, the Grandland costs exactly the same as the non-pluggable 48V hybrid version. Which maybe makes this PHEV Grandland the clever choice in this model line-up. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 325

Quite a bit has changed with the drivetrain of this MK2 Grandland PHEV model compared to the first generation version of this Vauxhall Plug-in Hybrid SUV. The 1.6-litre four cylinder petrol turbo engine is much the same as it was with that old car. But it's now mated to a seven-speed auto (rather than eight speeds) and a much bigger battery - 21kWh (rather than just 13.2kWh as before). That of course means a much longer EV drive range - up to 51 miles (compared to 34 miles before). The rechargeable Hybrid technology combines two energy sources: a 152PS turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a 127PS electric motor that powers the front wheels. Depending on driving conditions and selected modes, the engine and motor operate independently or together. In Electric mode, the vehicle runs exclusively on electric power, making it ideal for city driving and low-emission zones. In Hybrid mode, the system intelligently switches between electric and petrol power or uses both based on performance needs. When operating together, the petrol engine and electric motor generate a peak power output of 225PS with 350Nm of torque. 0-62mph takes 7.8s en route to 137mph. As for ride quality, well as with other Stellantis models in this segment riding on the conglomerate's current STLA Medium platform, that's rather clunky and you'll feel potholes and speed humps more keenly than you should. The 'Progressive Hydraulic Cushion' suspension system of this car's close cousin, the Citroen C5 Aircross Plug-in Hybrid, copes rather better with poor surfaces. Don't expect cutting-edge handling dynamics, but potential family customers aren't likely to be looking for those. And having slightly less weight than the full-electric version certainly helps at speed through tight turns. Likely customers though, will probably be more interested in technology, like the Intelli-Lux Matrix LED HD headlights of the top variants, which feature 51,200 elements and cut out oncoming vehicles with really sharp definition to help avoiding dazzling oncoming road users.

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