Vauxhall Grandland Electric long term test review

Vauxhall Grandland long term report 2: What’s the difference between GS and Ultimate spec?

Key details

Spec: Vauxhall Grandland GS | Price: from £37,605 (£37,605 as tested) | Mileage: 937 | Test miles per kWh: 3.1 | Report date: 2nd February 2025

If you’re buying a Vauxhall Grandland Electric, you may be trying to decide between the GS and Ultimate trim. But what’s the difference between the two specs?

The most obvious answer is money, because (at the time of writing) a Grandland Electric 210hp in GS trim is around £1,500 cheaper than the same car in Ultimate spec.

Why the difference in price? Simple, the Ultimate version of the Grandland gets a lot more standard equipment than the GS.

The headline upgrades are the 360-degree parking camera, powered tailgate and uprated 10-speaker sound system with integrated subwoofer.

Ultimate spec also gets a head-up windscreen display for the vehicle’s speed and route directions, along with Vauxhall’s Intelli-Drive 2.0 package (which includes semi-automated lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, long range blind spot detection, and anticipated intelligent speed adaptation).

Does any of that stuff sound important for you? If so, you should choose the Grandland in Ultimate spec.

But, if you think you can live without the 360 camera and semi-autonomous tech, the GS spec might be the car for you.

Having driven both versions, I think the GS version is the better of the two. Why? Ride quality and comfort.

The Grandland Electric Ultimate is a fine car, but it runs on 20in wheels that can make the ride quality quite firm and bumpy on less than perfect roads.

The GS version, however, is fitted with 19in wheels that are much better when it comes to potholes and rough roads.

Having a young son who suffers from car sickness, the softer ride quality will always be the winner for me. I also find the spec of the GS to be more than sufficient for my family car needs.

Parking isn’t a problem, with the parking sensors and rear-view camera making it simple to guide the Grandland into a narrow space.

You also get a decent amount of tech to help you with driving, which includes adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.

I also really like the cloth seats in the GS. Not only are they easy to clean (always handy when travelling with a small child), but they are extremely comfortable.

In fact, I’d go as far to say that the driver’s seat in the Grandland GS is one of the best of any SUV I’ve driven – it’s that good.

The front seats in the Grandland GS and Ultimate are certified by AGR (the German “Campaign for Healthier Backs”). They also feature a slot that that relieves pressure on your back, which ensures your body is perfectly supported.

As someone who suffers from back pains after long periods of sitting down, I can vouch that the tech works well. And this means I can travel long distances, without any of the usual aches and pains when I climb out of the car.

Vauxhall Grandland long term report 1: The ultimate electric SUV?

Key details

Spec: Vauxhall Grandland GS | Price: from £36,055 (£37,605 as tested) | Mileage: 250 | Test miles per kWh: 3.0 | Report date: 5th January 2025

The latest Vauxhall Grandland is one of the best family SUVs on sale, majoring on comfort and practicality.  

When it was reviewed by our team, the Grandland scored a respectable 7 out of 10. But what’s it like to live with one?

As part of our drive to give you with the best car buying advice available, I’ll be testing a Grandland Electric GS for six months to see how it performs as a daily driver.

On paper, I’m a high-value customer for the Grandland Electric. I’m a professional in my 40s and I have a young family. Importantly, I also have a home EV charger.

So far, Vauxhall’s SUV has made a positive start. The large 550-litre boot is very useful for my needs. And it expands to 1,645 litres of storage space when you flatten the rear seats.

During its first week on test, the Grandland proved itself by swallowing a six-foot Christmas tree in one go.

Under the metal, the Grandland Electric GS features a 77kWh battery (73kWh useable), which provides a maximum advertised range of 323 miles from a full battery charge.

The powerful electric motor sends 210hp to the front wheels, which is more than sufficient for my family car needs with 0-62mph taking 9 seconds.

Having lived with the Mokka Electric for six months previously, I’m already accustomed to Vauxhall’s SUV cabin design.

The Grandland is like a larger version of the Mokka with a snazzy touchscreen system and digital driver’s display fitted as standard. Importantly, you get physical buttons and dials for key in-car controls (climate, audio, screen demisting etc).

However, while the layout is familiar, the Grandland takes things up a notch when it comes to quality. 

The 16in infotainment system is a clear upgrade on the 10in system you get in the Mokka, with a higher quality display and faster operation when hooked up to Apple CarPlay.

The seats in the GS are excellent, with high quality fabrics and lots of padding for back support. You also get cushion extension in the base, which provides added support for your upper legs (handy for tall drivers, like me).

With 250 miles under the belt, things have started well. The spacious rear seats easily accommodate my 20-month-old son’s child seat. And the middle seat is wide enough for an adult to use, which means my partner can sit comfortably next to our child on a long drive.

A full charge from our 7kW home wallbox takes around six hours with 15% battery charge remaining, while a rapid charge (100kW) takes 30 minutes from 20% to 80%.

Over the next few months, I’ll be using the Grandland for family trips, commuting and work travel. The winter will represent a big challenge and I’m keen to see how Vauxhall’s electric SUV will perform.

But early impressions are positive.