Vauxhall has always been synonymous with the ‘more car for your money’ philosophy, and the new Grandland continues to uphold this tradition. The spaciousness of the car is one of its core strengths, with a 550-litre boot that is larger than the class norm by 10-20 per cent. The boot also features a false floor that can be used to create additional underfloor storage or removed for more loading space, providing over 950mm of both loading length and height with the back seats in place.
The second-row seats in the Grandland may not slide and fold as cleverly as some competitors, but they offer generous passenger space, even for taller adults. The back of the car is also equipped with sensibly-sized door storage areas, armrest cupholders, device charging points, and storage pockets.
Moving to the front of the car, you’ll notice a lack of decorative embellishments, with a focus on practicality and functionality. The centre console offers plenty of storage options, including a lower tier for bags, a large air-conditioned armrest cubby, adjustable cupholders, and a lidded device drawer with a wireless charging pad.
The driver’s seat provides excellent visibility in all directions, and the AGR-certified front seats offer a wide range of part-electric adjustments for long-distance comfort. The car’s secondary controls are straightforward and easy to use, with physical controls for the air conditioning and audio volume. The instrumentation is clear and easy to read, enhancing usability.
In terms of multimedia, the Grandland comes equipped with a 10-inch central infotainment system on the entry-level model, which offers wireless smartphone mirroring but lacks factory navigation. The mid-spec model features a 16-inch system with connected navigation by TomTom, although some testers found it to be less reliable and configurable than desired. Many preferred to use Google Maps on their smartphones for navigation.
The infotainment system also lacks direct access to ADAS functions, making it a bit cumbersome to deactivate them. Additionally, the screen tends to get hot to the touch on longer drives, which may be bothersome for some users.
Overall, the Vauxhall Grandland offers a spacious and practical interior with a focus on functionality rather than frills. Its multimedia system may have its drawbacks, but the car’s overall usability and comfort make it a worthy contender in the C-SUV class.
