The new Opel Grandland 2024: Increased size and technology

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Hardly any other current Opel model covers such a wide price range as the Grandland. The base model is officially available from 32,630 euros, the top of the range is expected to cost 59,000 euros – plus optional extras, of course. This range will not change much with the upcoming model change, even if Opel has not yet provided any details. The model kit presented suggests that the lower limit will shift significantly upwards. This is because the second Grandland will be considerably larger and technically more complex.

Significantly larger than before

At 4.48 m, the previous model was roughly as long as a Mercedes EQA. The successor measures 4.65 m, which is about as much as a Skoda Enyaq. This should go hand in hand with a considerably more generous amount of space. For those who can do without it, Opel's new Frontera is an offer in the well-stocked group of similar cars around 4.4  meters in length. The wheelbase of the Grandland increases from 2.68 to 2.78 m. The luggage compartment holds up to 1641  liters.

More powerful electric drive

The giant Stellantis Group intends to present its entire range of passenger cars on four platforms in the future. STLA-Medium is used by the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, among others, and the Opel Grandland also uses it. Further models from other brands such as Citroën, DS, Fiat and Jeep are expected to be based on this platform. For Opel, this means a big leap forward in electromobility. Apart from the Zafira, the brand's electric cars have so far peaked at 115 kW engine power, 54 kWh energy content in the traction battery and 100 kW DC charging power. Compared to this level, the STLA medium platform is making significant progress.

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Opel Grandland 2024 exterior view (7 Bilder)

Drive from the Peugeot 5008

The Grandland will feature three battery-electric drive systems, among others, which correspond to those that Peugeot has already presented for the even larger 5008. The base model of the electric cars has an electric motor with 157 kW and a 73 kWh battery. Above this is the model with the longest range, in which a 98 kWh battery is combined with a 170 kW motor. Under the conditions of the WLTP, more than 700 km should be possible in one go. The top-of-the-range model comes with two electric motors, which together deliver 237 kW. The idea of designing the front motor with 157 kW to be significantly more powerful than the rear motor with 80 kW is unusual. Also surprising is the decision to offer this powertrain only with the smaller battery, at least for now.

Charging with up to 160 kW

Charging is possible with direct current at up to 160 kW. This does not place it in the top group, but at least reduces the gap. It has not yet been officially confirmed whether Stellantis will enable targeted preconditioning of the battery. We expect this to be the case, as otherwise the charging power may fall far short of the promised maximum values at low temperatures. At the start, only 11 kW AC charging will be available, but as in the 5008, charging with 22 kW is likely to follow as an option. This would make full use of the comparatively widespread AC charging infrastructure in this country. In the everyday life of many driving profiles, this means a gain in convenience that should not be underestimated.

Various hybrid drives

Those who do not like electric drives still have a choice of several alternatives. Opel has set itself the goal of no longer offering new cars with combustion engines in Europe from 2028. If this remains the case, the Grandland is likely to be one of the brand's last new models to feature a combustion engine. Opel has not yet confirmed in detail how the Grandland versions will be equipped with conventional drive systems. As in the Peugeot 5008, we expect the hybrid drive to deliver 100 kW, of which the electric motor will contribute up to 21 kW. The plug-in hybrid is also likely to be the drive that will be installed in the Peugeot. There, a petrol engine delivers 110 kW and the electric motor 92 kW. The electric range is more than 80 km, which indicates an energy content of at least 18 kWh.

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Opel Grandland 2024 interior view (5 Bilder)

It is to be hoped that Stellantis will finally step up its game when it comes to charging the PHEV. Until now, 3.7 kW was standard in the Grandland plug-in hybrid. For an extra charge, a charger with 7.4 kW was available, but this is only single-phase. Charging at home is generally not accelerated with this, only at public charging points is it a little slower. It is quite likely that Stellantis will react, as some competition has already taken the lead here. In a new generation of plug-in hybrids, Volkswagen enables 11 kW of alternating current and up to 50 kW of direct current.

Price question

Opel has not yet revealed when exactly the second edition of the Grandland will be launched on the market. We expect sales to start in the third quarter of this year. The base model is likely to be considerably pricier than before, but will remain well below 40,000 euros. We are curious about the prices of the battery-electric Grandland models. On the one hand, Opel can't simply take off here, but on the other hand, it can't give cars like the Astra Electric too much internal competition. This has been on the market with an electric drive since 2023 and falls far behind considering the technical data of the electric Grandland.

(mfz)