By Gareth Butterfield 
You could be forgiven for not having noticed, but Vauxhall’s Grandland has been around since 2017. We’re now on the second generation, and the new version wears Vauxhall’s now familiar Visor styling well.
In fact, the larger body the new version serves up looks very stylish, including bold features such as a name badge that lights up on the back. It’s quite cool for an SUV.
The interior is far less striking, but it’s a nice place to sit. Patches of fabric break up the swathes of hard plastic, and it’s all rather minimalist, barring a welcome row of physical controls for the climate settings.
The buttons on the steering wheel aren’t very pleasant to use, but the infotainment screen is pretty good, and nicely angled towards the driver.
This being Vauxhall’s biggest family SUV, the interior is a great size, with plenty of room for three adults in the back and a 550-litre boot.
I’ve spent a week in the electric version, which starts at around £36,000 and offers a theoretical range of 322 miles.
There are hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions available, with similar starting prices, but the electric one carries its weight quite well, and it’s surprisingly efficient, so it’s arguably the best option for the cost-conscious.
The penny pinchers will also be happy to see a generous standard kit list in the Grandland, which is becoming something of a trait with current Vauxhalls. And you don’t need to spend too much to leap up the spec chart, either. The plush “Ultimate” tops out at a base price of just £38,840.
This does make it quite appealing, especially if you compare it to some of its rivals – a few of which sit on the same Stellantis platform.
And that’s a good thing, because there’s little else to shout about with the new Grandland. As a functional tool, it’s really quite likeable, but it’s far from interesting.
This is a car for people who want a roomy, comfortable, functional family hack and they’re really not fussed about wowing the neighbours.
Yes, there are more exciting rivals but, let’s face it, there’s rarely any flair in this sector, so the Grandland fits in quite well.
Spec it in a nice colour and it looks smart without being brash. It’ll get you from A-to-B safely and reliably, and you’ll have room for the kids and the dogs.
If that’s all you want a car for, the Grandland will be a fine choice.
