Opel Grandland Electric: Families can go electric
Electric family SUVs are too expensive or don't go far enough? The Opel Grandland holds its own and does almost everything else right - above all because it never annoys us.
Such peace and quiet! The new Grandland Electric is soothingly quiet, and not just because of the electric drive. Some brands have understood this: As soon as assistance systems start beeping at us, we counterproductively switch them off. Even the stupid EU-obligatory speed warning is not annoying here: when rolling past the town sign, it only beeps super quietly three times (and only from 3 km/h too much). Then it's quiet again. It reminds you, but doesn't get on your nerves: that's how it should be.
Opel has also packaged the electric SUV trio Mokka (small), Frontera (compact) and the family Grandland in a really cool way, without sacrificing practicality for style. Three examples: The head-up display is not playful, but concentrates on a huge number for the speed - as an over 50s driver, you appreciate that. There is still a one-sided parking light here, which we use to make the car visible at night without stressing the starter battery with parking lights. And despite digitalization, there are still buttons and a volume knob. Thank you!
As a hybrid, plug-in or electric vehicle
There is plenty of space for the family, everything in the cockpit is tip-top apart from the now unavoidable hard plastic in a few places, we sit excellently and are delighted with the magnificent Matrix LED light and the surprisingly small turning circle of the 4.65-metre-long Grandland. It is available from 38,770 Swiss francs as a 107 kW/145 hp hybrid or 143 kW/195 hp plug-in hybrid. We drive the electric version, which costs from 42,890 Swiss francs, and not the top-of-the-range 4×4 version with 239 kW/325 hp, but the small one with front-wheel drive and 157 kW/213 hp and a WLTP standard range of up to 545 kilometers. Test car price with options: 55,740 francs. That sounds like a lot, but the average new Swiss car also costs 47,000 francs.
The drive does what an electric drive does: it is quiet and silky and feels much more powerful than the 213 hp on paper. It feels good. No bumps? On the road, the Grandland sometimes feels a little bumpy. It doesn't matter, overall it always remains comfortable - and overland it is an excellent glider. It's just a shame that highway driving results in a severe loss of range; in one case, a full 240 display kilometers disappear for every 120 real kilometers. That's a shame, because it's unsettling. However, it should also be emphasized that in the daily mix, up to 470 kilometers are possible in the test and in the end around 400 on the freeway. And Switzerland is only 350 kilometers long.
Expert opinion Opel Grandland Electric
The Grandland fulfills all family needs, looks cool and also drives really well.
Advantages
+ excellent seats and plenty of space
+ plenty of power and comfort
+ Great range for everyday use
Disadvantages
- Highway range unfortunately poor
- Cockpit style is a matter of taste
