19:30, November 26 0
After the update, this crossover received a new face, a lot of technical improvements and a tuning package. They all came together organically, so the Opel Grandland creates the impression of a good old friend who does not require prior acquaintance, “grinding in” and character study. I sat down and drove off, everything was in place and working as it should.
Opel Grandland has been familiar to Ukrainians for four years, but then it entered the market with a different “face” and a slightly longer name Grandland X. Now there is no “X” in the name, but the appearance has changed significantly and many modern options have appeared.
«The mask» that changed the face
The first thing that catches your eye is the signature Opel Visor front, like on the new Astra and other models of the brand. The black “mask” of the radiator grille fits very well into the design and harmonizes perfectly with the black roof, glossy lining on the body and bumpers, shiny black rims and the Grandland logo on the rear of the same color.
Such “clothing” is a privilege of the GS Pack. It looks especially striking with the main body color «blue pearl», and the gloss black elements at the top and bottom create a fast, sporty profile. In general, this styling hints that the Opel Grandland is intended more for the highway and city than for off-road use.. This is facilitated by the crossover's front-wheel drive and ground clearance of 18 cm, which is quite sufficient to overcome city bumps and curbs.
Even more changes have occurred in the interior, which is now formed according to the PurePanel concept. The front panel has been completely redesigned. If earlier even in the top configuration there were analog instruments, now there is a completely digital “tidy”. It retains the speedometer and tachometer with round bezels, but in fact it is a digital display that can show any picture.
The central screen is also much larger than before — 10-inch (in cheaper versions — 7-inch), and the previously massive air deflectors are now much more modest and skillfully hidden by the designers in the dashboard. The steering wheel has a shape cut off from the bottom — this makes it more convenient to get into the car and looks more sporty.
Meet the updated Opel Grandland in the model showroom
New is the enemy of good
The center console has lost the traditional gear lever — now there is a stylish joystick. But the climate control unit and the electric parking lever button remained traditional. The comfortable chairs with the ability to extend the cushion under the knees have not changed either — they previously had a certificate from the German Institute of Ergonomics AGR with the necessary set for comfort — electric drives, heated and ventilated seats.
Perhaps this is why you feel at home in the interior of the updated Opel Grandland. Everything is convenient, at your fingertips, does not require getting used to or additional settings. Such a “homey” environment is the privilege of only those cars in which designers and ergonomists have done a great job, and this is precisely what distinguishes the German school of automotive engineering.
The second row is also comfortable and very functional. There's not a lot of passenger space, which is standard for cars in this class, and two adults feel comfortable enough and have heated seats.
The backrests can be folded from both the passenger compartment and the trunk, and there are many configurations — from transporting long items to creating a space with a flat floor. The trunk lid closes with a button, and you can open it with a wave of your foot under the bumper.
What to surprise
However, this Opel has something to surprise. For example, matrix headlights with adaptive beams not only independently switch low beam to high beam. There are as many as three high beam modes and seven low beam modes, which turn on automatically depending on the lighting, the presence of oncoming cars, steering wheel turns, speed of movement and even GPS indicators. And when driving at night, these headlights put on a real light show for the driver.. Thus, the car demonstrates the capabilities of 84 LEDs hidden in each headlight.. By the way, not only the headlights are LED, but also the turn signals, headlights and even foglights.
The test Opel Grandland has a 1.5-liter turbodiesel engine with 130 hp. with 8-speed automatic transmission. This power unit is known from other models of the Stellantis concern, but in this crossover it seems to be perhaps the most acceptable. You don’t feel the gear shifting moments, although on a diesel engine with a narrow range of high torque you have to do this often. The sound of a diesel engine weakly penetrates the cabin, except during active acceleration or in sport mode, when gears are switched at 3.5-4 thousand rpm. However, there is no desire to drive an Opel Grandland, because acceleration to hundreds reaches 11.5 seconds. At city speeds the car is more playful.
But the main advantage of a diesel engine is not in dynamic performance, but in fuel economy. And here Opel lives up to expectations — in the city it consumes 6-7 liters per hundred, and on the highway — 5.0 — 5.6 liters. The stop-start system helps save money in the city, and on the highway – a long eighth gear. Among C-segment crossovers, this is an unattainable indicator (if we are talking about non-hybrids, but their price tag is off the charts). True, the car must also be filled with AdBlue.
Grandland is reliable and predictable to drive. Of course, the steering wheel is not too sharp, but it has clearly defined feedback.. The suspension handles small pits and bumps well, but larger ones feel more significant. However, the car does not rock on uneven surfaces. The brakes are very effective and informative. The car holds the road well at high speeds, but there is noticeable roll in turns. This is the price to pay for a high body, because the suspension cannot be too soft.
Ask your nearest dealer for details of all Opel Grandland updates
Price advantage
As in the previous generation, there are enough driver assistants here. For example, emergency braking when an obstacle appears in front. But adaptive cruise control now not only maintains the speed of the car in front, but also stays within the lane if it is marked with markings. Monitoring speed limit signs, as well as setting a given speed in accordance with them, is also available here, but is of little use in our conditions.
As you can see, the Opel Grandland has enough advantages. However, there is one more thing that makes the choice of this car justified. This is the price. Gasoline version with 165 hp. with an automatic transmission costs 999 thousand hryvnia ($27,000). A 130 horsepower diesel engine with automatic transmission is only 8 thousand hryvnia more expensive, but it will save money on fuel in the future. Well, our “holiday” GS Pack with adaptive headlights and a black glossy body kit costs 1,293,500 UAH ($35,000) — some competitors are just starting their price lists with this price tag.
For this money you get a stylish and bright crossover in appearance, with a “digital” modern filling, a powerful and economical engine and a smooth gearbox. And most importantly, you don’t need to get used to the car, because German ergonomics have once again proven their effectiveness.
Choose an affordable Opel Grandland from a warehouse in Ukraine
Technical characteristics of Opel Grandland ENGINE Diesel, displacement 1499 cm3, power 130 hp. at 3750 rpm, torque 300 Nm at 1750 rpm. TRANSMISSION Front-wheel drive, 8-speed automatic transmission BODY Station wagon, 5 doors, 5 seats, dimensions (length/width/height): 4477/1906/1609 mm, wheelbase 2675 mm, curb weight 1523 kg, payload 477 kg, volume trunk 514/1622, tank volume 53 l, for AdBlue — 17 l. SUSPENSION Front – independent, rear – semi-independent. Tires 225/55 R18 RUNNING CHARACTERISTICS Maximum speed 192 km/h. Acceleration to 100 km/h in 11.5 s. Fuel consumption (combined/city/highway) 4.2/3.9/4.4 l/100 km PRICE from 999,900 UAH (GS package – 1,293,500 UAH)