Vauxhall Grandland review - Interior, design and technology
The refreshed Grandland looks smarter on the outside and now features decent onboard technology
The Vauxhall Grandland is a practical and well-built family SUV, but alongside more stylish models (including the Peugeot 3008 on which is it based) it was looking a bit drab – both inside and out. A facelift in 2021 brought a sharper look, with the Grandland featuring Vauxhall's signature 'Vizor' front end, along with new bumpers, body-coloured trim and upgraded onboard technology.
The exterior design can be livened up further by choosing one of the firm’s brighter paint colours, such as Dark Ruby Red or Cobalt Vertigo Blue, but spec your Grandland in white, grey or black and it’ll fade into the sea of urban crossovers found lining the UK’s city streets.
The interior now includes a new dual-screen layout called Pure Panel that feels much more modern that the pre-facelifted car's set-up. Entry-level Design versions include two seven-inch displays, while a 12-inch digital instrument display and a 10-inch media touchscreen are featured on GS Line and Ultimate models.
Buyers won't feel too short-changed in opting for the base Design trim, as standard equipment includes: 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, auto wipers, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. As mentioned above, GS Line-spec cars get the bigger dual screen set-up, along with integrated sat-nav, a rear-view parking camera and extras such as 18-inch black alloy wheels, privacy glass, a black roof and sports seats.
Upgrading to Ultimate models brings items such as bigger 19-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad, an automatic tailgate and upgraded upholstery.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
Every Vauxhall Grandland gets a colour touchscreen display, although the entry-level Design has a smaller screen. It’s slick enough and easy to use, with a simple menu set-up and plenty of hidden features. A DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB ports are also standard.
The new Pure Panel set-up keeps physical climate controls for the cabin temperature which means it's easier to operate when on the move. The Design trim misses out on sat nav, while plug-in models feature Vauxhall Connect which offers subscriptions to live traffic updates and road safety alerts.