Opel has never really struggled with engineering, but for a while it did struggle with identity. The previous Grandland was competent enough, yet it blended into traffic like it was actively trying not to be noticed. The new Grandland changes that completely. It looks confident, feels modern, and for the first time in a long while, Opel has an SUV that knows exactly who it is.
This is a crucial model for the brand, especially in a market now crowded with aggressively priced and feature-packed Chinese rivals. The question is whether the Grandland has enough personality and substance to stand its ground.
Styling
The first thing you notice is the design. Inspired by the Opel Experimental concept, the new Grandland looks sharp and purposeful. The 3D Vizor front end, illuminated Griffin logo and Edge Light Technology give it a proper face, not just another generic grille-and-headlights arrangement.
The lighting deserves special mention. Opel’s Intelli-Lux Pixel Matrix HD headlights use more than 50,000 individual elements, and they are not just for show. They work brilliantly, adapting seamlessly to traffic and road conditions. The 19-inch wheels fill the arches nicely, and overall, the Grandland finally looks like a flagship rather than a placeholder.
In short, it is a good-looking SUV. And that already puts it ahead of its predecessor.
Interior
The transformation continues inside. The cabin has been completely redesigned, and it is genuinely a nice place to spend time. The layout is modern without being overwhelming, and material quality feels solid throughout. It is well assembled and feels like it will age gracefully, which is something buyers still value.
Up front, you get AGR-certified ergonomic seats with massage and ventilation. These are excellent, especially on longer drives. The 16-inch infotainment screen dominates the dash, supported by an Intelli-HUD head-up display and wireless charging.
Rear passengers benefit from good legroom and headroom, and boot space measures a generous 550 litres, expanding to 1,645 litres with the seats folded. Practicality is clearly part of the brief.
A big win here is the presence of physical climate controls. Real buttons. Actual knobs. In 2025, that alone deserves applause. The infotainment system works well overall, but it does suffer from too many sub-menus, which can make simple adjustments more fiddly than they need to be.
On the road: Comfortable, but not quite effortless
Power comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 134 kW and 240 Nm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. On paper, the numbers are respectable. In practice, this is where the Grandland slightly stumbles.
The engine tends to labour under hard acceleration, and the gearbox often holds onto gears longer than expected at lower speeds. It is not unpleasant, but it does feel like it is working harder than it should. That effort shows at the pumps too. Opel claims a combined fuel consumption of 7.0 L/100km, but during our time with the Grandland we averaged 8.6 L/100km.
The good news is that ride quality is excellent. The suspension is well judged, soaking up poor road surfaces with ease, and the Grandland feels stable and comfortable both in town and on the open road. Steering is light and predictable, making it easy to live with day to day.
Driver assistance features are comprehensive, with Intelli-Drive 2.0, a 360-degree Intelli-Vision camera system, and a full suite of safety tech all included.
The bigger picture
There is no escaping the fact that the Grandland enters a fiercely competitive segment. Chinese brands offer long feature lists and sharp pricing, and they are not slowing down. At R789,900 for the GS Line 1.6T AT, the Grandland is not the cheapest option out there.
What it does offer, however, is character, strong build quality, advanced lighting tech, and a cabin that feels properly thought through. It feels European in the way it drives and in how it is put together, which will matter to many buyers.
Final word
The new Opel Grandland is a significant step forward for the brand. It looks great, feels well built, and finally has an identity of its own. The cabin is comfortable and practical, the tech offering is strong, and the ride quality is genuinely good.
The 1.6-litre turbo engine is the weak link in an otherwise solid package, both in terms of performance feel and real-world fuel consumption. Still, taken as a whole, the Grandland is a compelling SUV that proves Opel is back in the conversation.
