With better handling, boosted power and all-wheel drive, the Vauxhall Grandland GSe is now the most powerful Vauxhall on sale. But how good is it?...
On sale Now | Price from £43,700
Over recent years, the majority of Vauxhall’s most powerful models have featured a badge that read something like VXR or GSi. That’s not the case anymore; now you’ll find the brand’s all-new GSe badge proudly placed on the rear, with the Grandland being the flagship model.
That’s right, the new performance focused sub-brand has taken the practical family SUV and increased the power of the petrol engine and added a beefy electric motor on the rear axle, puting a total of 296bhp at the mercy of your right foot.
There’s more to the new Grandland GSe than just increased performance in a straight line though, Vauxhall has also worked on the suspension to make the Grandland go around corners better.
Unlike many performance sub-brands, however, GSe stands for more than just performance and the Grandland GSe looks to offer all of these improvements while still giving you all the perks of a plug-in electric vehicle, including low emissions and a decent electric-only range.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? It won’t be a cake walk for the Grandland GSe though, and it’ll have to vanquish some tough foes, including the Kia Sportage PHEV, Volvo XC40 and even the Range Rover Evoque, if it wants to be successful.
So, does it really have what it takes to beat those accomplished rivals? Let’s find out, shall we?
What’s it like to drive?
While the Vauxhall GSe range also includes the Astra hatchback, you can definitely feel the changes more on this Grandland GSe. That’s true regardless of whether you’re sprinting away from the lights or driving along a winding road.
In the case of the former, the Grandland’s 1.6-litre turbocharged engine is up by 20bhp over the standard Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) and complemented by an extra electric motor propelling the rear wheels to create a combined output of 296bhp. That’s more than almost all of its rivals and an additional 73bhp over the standard front-wheel drive version. Plant your foot and you certainly feel that power increase, with the extra torque pushing you firmly into your seat as you sprint from 0-62mph in 6.1sec.
The only issue is the eight-speed automatic gearbox which, while it reacts quickly enough when you want a burst of power, has a tendency to be quite jerky as it flicks through the gears.
Aside from the fact that the Grandland GSe is actually pretty quick in a straight line, it’s arguably more impressive when you end up on a windy road. You see, as with the two Astra GSe models, Vauxhall has opted for stiffer suspension springs and added improved damping from experts Koni.
True, the normal Grandland wasn’t exactly the softest riding family SUV, but the new suspension works far better and gives the GSe far better body control. Indeed, when you turn into a corner you’ll find that there’s very little lean and a good amount of grip. It’s safe to say that the GSe takes the handling from simply being tidy to being quite enjoyable.
As is often the case with Vauxhall, however, it’s the steering that lets the Grandland GSe down. There has been an improvement over the normal car, especially when you flick into Sports mode for a bit more weight, but it feels quite artificial and you still don’t get all that much feedback from it. In turn, that steals some of the enjoyment that you’d otherwise feel on your favourite road.
It is, however, fine when you’re just driving around at normal A-road speeds or around town, which is probably what you’ll spend most of your time doing in this family SUV. In those cases, it’s actually the firm ride that gets tiring. Sitting on 19in alloy wheels, the Grandland struggles to settle down at any speed and gently tosses your head from side to side.
On top of that, it’s far less forgiving through potholes and over imperfections than rivals including the Sportage. It’s not that it’s uncomfortable, it just gets a bit tiring on a long drive.
When it comes to the efficiency part, you’ll find that the Grandland GSe can drive on electricity alone up to 84mph and for around 41 miles (providing you don’t sit at that top speed constantly). That’s slightly less than the Sportage but more than the Volvo XC40 Recharge’s 28 mile range.
What’s it like inside?
Disappointingly, not all that much has changed inside the Grandland GSe and, as such, everything seems a little dated. You see, where the new Astra has recently undergone an entire redesign, the Grandland has only been gifted with a fairly light facelift (on the inside at least). It certainly lacks the wow factor that you’ll experience in the Evoque or the XC40, but at least you’ll find soft-touch materials in all the right places.
There have been a couple of upgrades though, and the best of these is the new sueade-like Alcantara-trimmed sports seats. They’re comfortable, even on a long journey, and give far more support due to the increased size of the side bolsters. Strangely, however, unlike in the Astra GSe, you don’t get electric adjustment in the Grandland, which is a shame.
Aside from the seats, you won’t find many other changes over the standard car, apart from a GSe-specific steering wheel, which sees the standard wheel re-trimmed in nicer and thicker leather.
If you want to know what the Grandland is like inside or how practical it is, take a look at our full review here.
Keyword: 2023 Vauxhall Grandland GSe review