Vauxhall Grandland - Engines, performance & drive

The first thing you notice when setting off in the mild-hybrid Vauxhall Grandland is the lack of engine noise (if you have the Eco mode selected). There’s impressive flexibility to the electric motor, which can work up to 84mph and cover 50 per cent of town and city driving according to Vauxhall. 

That’s just as well, because the petrol engine isn’t the most cultured unit, although the lack of refinement is dialled down somewhat by the smooth, yet sluggish, automatic gearbox. There’s 134bhp available, which sounds like plenty in the surprisingly light (1,600kg) Grandland, although it feels every bit of its 10.2-second 0-62mph time thanks to that unresponsive gearbox and a petrol engine which appears to be heavily reliant on the turbocharger and electric motor for torque. 

The steering has a good weight to it, although it’s not overly keen to self centre, so you’ll be turning the wheel a little more often than expected around town. More surprising is the ride; we found it jiggly and brittle at both low and high speeds. 

Compared to the MHEV, the Grandland Electric felt much more compliant over bumps and ruts in the road. We put this down to the extra weight (a whopping 532kg more than the hybrid) and a multi-link rear suspension set-up, which is not included on the hybrid due to cost. This enabled the EV to deal with imperfect roads better, plus it also gets Vauxhall’s frequency-selective damping technology, which adds another valve in the damper to provide different characteristics depending on road conditions and driving style. 

What is the Vauxhall Grandland like to drive?

In town

Around town, the Grandland is a breeze to drive thanks to great visibility. An elevated seating position and proper rear three-quarter windows help here, as do the various safety systems, which worked perfectly for us. It’s a shame the hybrid doesn’t have the same low-speed ride quality as the EV. 

On A- and B-roads

The Grandland isn’t the kind of car you’d take on a spirited drive. The mild-hybrid powertrain doesn’t feel especially punchy, and a slow gearbox dulls the experience. The steering, while nicely weighted, doesn’t give you much feedback from the front wheels. Overall grip is pretty decent, and the Grandland corners in a safe, stable manner. 

On the motorway

The Grandland is pretty refined on the motorway in terms of wind and road noise. The EV is comfortable on long trips, but the hybrid feels unsettled in comparison. 

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed

The mild-hybrid 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol unit is pretty familiar now, having been used across a variety of Stellantis products. The hybrid integration is fairly smooth; with 134bhp it’s enough for a car the size of the Grandland.

The Grandland mild-hybrid accelerates from zero to 62mph in 10.2 seconds and has a top speed of 119mph. The Grandland Electric manages the same sprint in nine seconds flat.