Dual-motor Vauxhall Grandland AWD cheaper than the single-motor model
Vauxhall has just announced pricing for its dual-motor, Grandland Electric AWD, which will start from £36,995.
Yet thanks to the UK Government’s £1,500 Electric Car Grant (ECG), this 320bhp, all-wheel drive SUV will be priced from £35,495. This also makes it £1,500 cheaper than the 210bhp, front-wheel drive single-motor Grandland, meaning buyers are getting a quicker, higher-spec car for less money.
When it comes to the Grandland AWD, Vauxhall does away with the entry-level Design trim and offers its flagship C-segment SUV in either mid-tier GS or flagship Ultimate trim.
Inside, the GS comes with a a heated steering wheel and a 16-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatability. Further tech includes a 10-inch digital driver display, plus wireless phone charging and USB-C charging.
Externally, the Vauxhall Grandland AWD gets 19-inch diamond-cut alloys, a black roof with a matching front panel and rear spoiler, plus darkened rear windows and an illuminated version of Vauxhall’s 3D ‘Vizor’ at the car’s front end.
Across the Vauxhall Grandland AWD range, a power tailgate is also standard.
The range-topping Ultimate Grandland AWD, the Ultimate, is priced from £36,995 after the grant and comes with matrix LED headlights, a heated windscreen, heated front seats, a driver’s head-up display, and a 10-speaker Focal sound system. The wheels are also upgraded to 20 inches.
The Ultimate builds on the already-generous safety features of the GS trim, which include a rear-view camera, lane keep assist, parking sensors front and rear, plus intelli-LED front and rear lights.
Amongst others, Ultimate trim cars come with semi-autonomous lane change, a 360° panoramic camera, curve speed adaption, rear cross traffic allert, and Vauxhall’s Intelli-Lux HD headlights aimed at reducing dazzle without compromoising visibility.
Irrespective of trim level, the Vauxhall Grandland AWD comes with just one choice of battery – a 73kWh unit returning up to 311 miles on a single charge. With a maximum DC charging speed of 160kW, a 20-to-80% top-up can be done in just 26 minutes.
With 320bhp and a 0-62 run of 6.1 seconds, the Grandland AWD is the most powerful EV Vauxhall has produced as of yet and comes with four driving modes: ‘Normal’ restricts power to ‘just’ 313bhp through the front wheels, with the rears engaged when necessary.
‘AWD’ splits power distribution 50:50 between the front and rear and unleashes all 320bhp, while ‘Sport’ divides power 60:40 between wheels front and back, and adds heavier steering and a sharper throttle response into the mix.
Finally, ‘Eco’ limits the Grandland AWD’s power to 215bhp and is FWD only.
As part of its drive to encourage UK motorists to make the switch from petrol or diesel to electic, the Grandland benefits from the Stellantis-owned brand’s ‘Electric All In’ offer, providing owners with eight years of roadside assistance and a £500 credit, which can be used to spend on Tesco charging credit, Octopus Electroverse charging credit, or Ohme home charger installation.
Vauxhall is one of the more active manufacturers in promoting EVs. Each of its models are priced under £40,000 meaning they all qualify for the ECG. Moreover, Vauxhall’s ‘Electric Streets of Britain’ campaign seeks to improve the number of public charging facilities nationwide, especially for those who do not have a charger at home.
