2023 (73) Vauxhall Grandland 1.6 Plug-in Hybrid Ultimate 5dr Auto

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

Thanks to its association with the French PSA conglomerate, Vauxhall was able to introduce a Plug-in version of its mid-sized Grandland X SUV back in 2019. In 2021, that car, rebadged simply 'Grandland', was upgraded inside and out, with a Hybrid range based around the more affordable front-driven drivetrain. On the used market, it's an undeniably interesting package for a family buyer wanting a degree of EV tech but not quite ready to take the plunge into full-battery motoring.

History

If you're looking for a compact but family-sized SUV from the 2021-2024 period, you might well have overlooked the existence of the PHEV version of Vauxhall's Grandland mid-sized SUV, so, just to remind you, this was the Luton brand's version of the design which, with different bodywork but the same PHEV engineering was also sold by Peugeot as the 3008 Hybrid and by Citroen as the C5 Aircross Hybrid. From 2017, the Grandland (then badged as the 'Grandland X') offered Plug-in Hybrid tech with a choice of front or AWD formats. With this model's update in 2021 (at which point it was re-badged simply as the 'Grandland') just the front-driven 225PS PHEV powertrain continued, badged 'Plug-in Hybrid-e'. It sold in this form until the second generation model was launched in mid-2024.

What You Get

As usual with a plug-in, there's nothing apart from different badging and an extra charging flap to designate this Hybrid variant's PHEV status. As well as losing an 'X' (in its name), in 2021 this Grandland Hybrid gained quite a lot in terms of its adoption of the brand's far more interesting 'Vizor' trim detailing on the front of the car. This saw Vauxhall's revised Griffin logo proudly positioned in the centre, flanked by slim LED headlamps and more muscular bumpers. Inside, changes were made with the adoption of Vauxhall's Pure Panel cockpit with two widescreen displays for more of a digital experience. Ahead of the driver is a display of 12-inches in size, offering up essential information, while the central 10-inch display controls all infotainment via a touchscreen. As before, driver and passengers benefit from the elevated seating position typical of an SUV, which ensures good visibility in all situations. And in the second row? Well in terms of legroom, there's space for an average-sized adult to sit behind a six-foot driver in reasonable comfort. Like most cars in this class, you'd really be pushing things if you wanted to try and accommodate three adults back here but a reasonably low centre transmission tunnel makes that possible if need be. Finally, let's consider the boot. Once the tailgate raises, you're faced with a square, usable space, though it's not particularly large in this Hybrid variant - just 390-litres. That's quite a bit down on the more satisfying 514-litre capacity you'd get if you were to opt for one of the conventional engines in this car.

What to Look For

Though quite a few owners in our survey seemed happy, there are certainly things that you'll need to look for. In some instances, the side airbags have refused to inflate. And various electrical problems have been reported, with things like the infotainment system, the rear parking system and the parking sensors, so check all of these thoroughly. Make sure that the infotainment system works as it should and doesn't freeze or crash. If it does, the system might need an update. We've come across reports of weak batteries in several models - if the engine won't crank or cranks very slowly then that's a tell-tale giveaway. In a number of instances, a weak key fob battery caused problems with the start stop button functionality on the dash. We came across issues with broken starter motors - if you turn the key and hear a clicking sound, that's the tell-tale giveaway. And in some other instances, we had reports of alternator failure, clogged fuel filters, fuel pump failures, blown fuses and defective spark plugs. More expensive versions have big 19-inch alloy wheels that could easily have picked up kerbing damage. Check the cabin for the usual family scuffs and scratches. And insist on a full service history. The drive battery in used Grandland PHEV models should have quite a bit of life in it, unless you happen to be looking at one of the very earliest '17-plate Grandland X versions. When the battery is on its way out, you'll obviously find that it won't go as far on each charge - and when it starts to run low on charge, you'll find that the car will particularly start to struggle going uphill. When it gets old, the lithium-ion battery used here can suffer from the ionised liquid in the battery freezing certain cells; those cells are then unable to receive charge. Before going to all that trouble though, make sure the issue really is the battery. If the car won't charge, it could be a problem with your home electrics (or those at the public charge point you're using). Check the charge light to make sure that electricity really is going through the charge port. And make sure there really is charge in the socket you're using to power from - plug something else into it to see - say, your 'phone. If that charges OK, it could be that your charging cable is demanding too much power, so try another power source. Another problem could be that the circuit may have tripped due to a circuit overload. Or perhaps there could be a problem with the charge cable: this needs to be cared for properly. Repeatedly driving over it (as previous owners may conceivably have done) will damage it eventually. Make sure you do a charge-up before signing for the car you're looking at. When you do this, make sure that when you plug in to start the charge cycle you hear the charge port and the cable locking and engaging as they should; that's all part of the charger basically confirming with the car's onboard computer that everything's good to go before releasing power. But if the charging cable fails to lock as it should, then that won't happen. If there is a failure to lock, the issue could be actuator failure, caused by a blown fuse.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2021 Grandland Hybrid - Ex Vat) An air filter costs in the £6-£28 bracket. An oil filter costs in the £4-£11 bracket. A fuel filter costs in the £5-£47 bracket. Front brake pads sit in the £21-£109 bracket for a set; for a rear set, it's in the £18 to £103 bracket. Front brake discs sit in the £33-£68 bracket. Rear brake discs sit in the £24-£71 bracket. A radiator is around £222-£344. And a pollen filter is in the £6-£33 bracket. A wiper blade is in the £7-£27 bracket.

On the Road

From 2021, Vauxhall only offered this Hybrid Grandland model with the lowered-powered 2WD 225PS petrol drivetrain; few had seemed much interested in the previous 4WD Grandland X variant with 300PS, so it was dropped. The engine is a Peugeot-derived 1.6-litre petrol turbo unit mated to a single electric motor with drive via an 8-speed auto gearbox. It's a pretty rapid confection - 60mph from rest takes 8.9s on the way to a top speed of 140mph (it's 84mph in all-electric drive, but getting anywhere near that would decimate the quoted 34 mile driving range capability). The bulk of this particular contender (1,735kgs) is evident in the slightly firmer way it rides across more terrible tarmac tears, an issue the engineers have tried to address with softer suspension settings. Which in turn results in an extra degree of body roll through the bends should you try and chuck this car about in the kind of manner a typical owner never would. You get three main driving modes, with the one you'll be using most of the time being the 'Hybrid' setting that chooses the best mix of electric and petrol propulsion to suit the driving style whilst optimising efficiency. The alternative settings are either 'Sport' (where the car combines the power of the electric and petrol motors to offer livelier performance). And 'Electric' (where the car uses only the battery-powered electric motor, resulting in an ultra-quiet and smooth drive with zero exhaust emissions. Charging the 13.2kWh battery takes three hours with a standard Mode 3 cable - or 1 hour 45 minutes if the optional on-board charger has been fitted (which really ought to be standard). You'll need 8 hours to charge from a domestic socket.

Overall

We can see the attraction of the plug-in hybrid SUV, we really can. But with all of the models of this sort from this period, you have to be prepared to pay a big premium for the extra tech. And accept practicality compromises in return. In this regard, the Grandland Hybrid is no different from its market rivals from the 2021-2024 period. Or from the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid and Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid models that share its engineering. Shop for a model with an attractive price though - there are quite a few out there - and the picture might look very different. Then, it'll be simply a question of making sure you regularly plug the thing in. If you can work all of that out and you cover only short distance family mileage, then visits to petrol stations might become pleasingly irregular. And a fresh dimension in family mobility could open up to you.