Vauxhall Grandland review - MPG, running costs & CO2 emissions

The latest Vauxhall Grandland gets a tried-and-tested 1.2-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance in entry-level guise. As well as that option, the Grandland is offered for the first time as a full EV. This gets a 73kWh battery from launch, although Vauxhall will introduce a model with a larger 97kWh battery in 2025 for improved range. 

A plug-in hybrid model will also arrive later for those that want to be able to use their car like an EV for shorter trips around town while still having the option of a combustion engine for trips further afield. It’s expected this model will be capable of an electric range of 50 miles.

The Vauxhall Grandland Hybrid’s electric motor is impressively versatile, and is able to power the SUV up to speeds of 84mph. Vauxhall estimates that the electric motor can account for up to 50% of around-town and city driving.

While range figures for the Vauxhall Grandland Electric are impressive, charging speeds are rather middling. The 73kW model can charge at up to 100kW, meaning a 10 to 80% top-up will take around 30 minutes, while the model with the 97kWh battery can be charged at 160kW speeds, doing the same 10 to 80% charge in 26 minutes.

During our test of the 73kW version we managed 3.3 miles/kWh, for an estimated real-world range of 240 miles in our hands. That’s a disappointing 90 miles off the official figure in cool April weather in the UK. An efficiency-boosting heat pump is at least fitted as standard, unlike in rivals from Volkswagen, so the range shouldn’t plummet too much in wintry weather.
 

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How much will the Vauxhall Grandland cost in tax?

Following the changes to VED (road tax) from April 2025, the Grandland Electric is also liable to the standard rate of just under £200 a year.

Grandlands costing over £40,000 will also incur the luxury car tax surcharge – electric models registered before April 2025 are exempt, but EVs will be liable for the charge after that date. The surcharge applies from years two to six of the car’s life. The EV will cost less for company-car buyers because of its zero-emissions status, though the inevitable low CO2 emissions of the upcoming PHEV should also mean it sits in a low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band. 

What will the Vauxhall Grandland cost to insure?

Insurance groupings for the latest Vauxhall Grandland are yet to be released, but the outgoing mild-hybrid model using the same 134bhp engine as the new one sits in group 20. With Vauxhall having positioned the new model as a more upmarket option, we suspect the Grandland to sit in a higher insurance group than that. The upcoming PHEV and the electric versions are also likely to be more expensive to insure, though this is all yet to be confirmed.