Opel Grandland X Ultimate: we test the most complete SUV from Opel

In June of this year the diesel will be replaced by a new 130 hp 1.5 CDTI, for which there is already a price: €28,600 with the Selective trim and €30,300 with the Excellence trim, which is €2,000 and €1,200 more respectively than the current 1.6 CDTI. A 180 hp 1.6 Turbo petrol will be added, for which no price has yet been revealed. There will also be a plug-in hybrid version, the Grandland X PHEV, which will feature all-wheel drive. It is expected in 2019.

New top of the range: 177 hp diesel and 8-speed gearbox

It’s not that the 120 hp 1.6 CDTi doesn’t deliver, because it does. And it will improve further with the new 1.5 CDTi. But the Grandland X deserves a powerful engine like the 177 hp 2.0 CDTi. With 400 Nm of maximum torque, and coupled exclusively to the new 8-speed automatic gearbox with torque converter, this new version has it all: comfort, performance and ease of use.

It reaches a top speed of 214 km/h, with 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 9.1 seconds. It has no trouble pulling from low revs, nor in revving up to the fuel cut-off, although it gives its best between 2,500 and 3,000 rpm. The automatic gearbox would benefit from a “sport” driving mode that changes gears automatically while prioritising dynamism somewhat more. In “D” mode it is very smooth, though not especially quick. If you want sportiness you have to change gears manually, always moving the lever to the sequential gate, as there are no paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

During our test drive, mainly on motorways and secondary roads at a “relaxed” pace, we measured a real-world consumption of close to 8 l/100 km, in line with what rivals of similar size and performance offer. The chassis of the Opel Grandland X is set up to prioritise ride comfort, but it willingly accepts dynamic driving, because the suspension is soft but the bodywork does not roll excessively. It could only improve with a slightly quicker steering rack.

In none of its versions can the Opel Grandland X be fitted with all-wheel drive. In return, the IntelliGrip traction control lets you choose between five driving modes (normal, snow, mud, sand and ESP off) depending on the terrain, to optimise torque distribution to the front wheels. Combined with M+S tyres, it can be a perfect alternative (and much cheaper, from around €300) for the kind of off-tarmac use these vehicles usually see.

Standard equipment on the Opel Grandland X Ultimate

The equipment of this Ultimate version deserves a detailed look. At the moment it is the only one available with the most powerful engine, the new 177 hp 2.0 CDTi. It is offered as a step up from the already comprehensive Excellence trim, with the 1.2 Turbo petrol priced at €31,350, a premium of around €3,500. In summer, when the new 130 hp 1.5 CDTI arrives, it will also be offered with the Ultimate trim, priced at €35,593, €4,100 more than the Excellence trim.

The standard equipment of the Ultimate version is very complete, including the following highlights: mixed leather and fabric upholstery, sporty ergonomic front seats, 19-inch bicolour alloy wheels with 235/50 tyres, hands-free opening for the tailgate, cruise control, black roof, the AFL adaptive lighting system with LED headlights, NAvi 5.0 IntelliLink navigation with an 8-inch colour screen and voice control, dual-zone climate control, traffic sign recognition, automatic parking assistant, 360-degree rear view camera, blind spot warning and lane departure warning.

To make choosing a little easier, what does a Crossland X with the Ultimate trim add over the Excellence? To mention the most important items: 19″ wheels instead of 18″, AGR ergonomic seats, the black roof and AFL LED headlights, the navigation with camera and wireless phone charger, and parking assistance.

Which Opel Grandland X should I buy?

With the current range configuration, and also taking into account the arrival of the new engines, choosing a Opel Grandland X will depend largely on your budget. If you can afford the new 2.0 CDTi Ultimate, you will surely be happy. But my advice, unless you are clear that you want the most powerful engine (only with the Ultimate trim) or the top-of-the-range model without any fuss, is to choose the Excellence trim and complete it with what you really need from the options list. The advantage is that this optional equipment list is extensive, well structured and the prices are very competitive, especially when choosing options grouped into packs.

As for engines, without yet knowing the performance of the new 130 hp 1.5 CDTI (an engine that already uses Peugeot), but knowing the result the current 120 hp 1.6 CDTi delivers, here is the point: the Grandland X 2.0 CDTi Ultimate automatic costs €39,800, compared with €35,600 for the 1.5 CDTi with the same trim and manual gearbox; and this version will not, for now, have the 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Opel Grandland X Ultimate

So it is a good time to buy the 120 hp 1.6 CDTI and save around €2,000 that you can invest in equipment. Between the 130 hp petrol and the 120 hp diesel there is about €1,700 in difference in favour of the former. Don’t be put off by the fact that it is a three-cylinder. It is very pleasant to drive, has better performance than the diesel, and with long gear ratios that benefit consumption it can also use very little fuel, around 8 l/100 km in real driving. Choose the diesel without hesitation if a high percentage of the kilometres you cover each year will be in town, where the 1.6 CDTI is more pleasant to drive and has a greater advantage in consumption over the petrol.

Opel Grandland X image gallery