The Opel Grandland is back, and it’s a welcome return to form for the brand. This German compact SUV is a solid rival to the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, reviving the old rivalry between the two brands. Yes, it isn’t cheap, it isn’t flashy, nor does it boggle the mind with an electrified drivetrain, rather a 1.6T inline four-cyl with 134kW and 300Nm. Again, the sticker price might feel lofty at R789,000 for the only model in the range, the GS Line – but let me explain. It’s front-wheel driven, cogs swapped via an eight speed auto and returns a respectable 7l/100km fuel consumption figure.
The first thing that caught my eye was its aggressive styling, which if you squint your eyes bears a mild resemblance to Mad Max’s iconic Interceptor – albeit for the family man. It’s hot – 3D lamp enclosures, illuminated badges, on 19 inch alloys the Grandland won’t be ignored, especially in my test unit’s black paint scheme. But don’t let its looks fool you; this is a serious contender in the compact SUV market despite the bar having been raised not only by its contemporaries but also a spate of new challengers from China and even India.
Inside, the Grandland feels premium and spacious, with a load of tech features that’ll keep you entertained on the road. Comfortable too thanks to a frequency-selective damping (FSD) technology, with a raft of safety tech to keep you protected – the Grandland making full use of the Stellantis Intelli-Drive 2.0 ADAS system including semi-automated lane-change assist, intelligent speed adaptation, and traffic sign recognition.
So, is the Opel Grandland worth the investment? Absolutely. It’s a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable, feature-packed SUV that’ll stand out from the crowd. Is it enough to reignite the rivalry between Opel and Volkswagen? I think as much as the Tiguan is an excellent contender, the European manufacturers have a fight on their hands and it isn’t with each other.