Should you buy one?

Having now driven the Grandland in the UK, we can confirm it’s much improved when compared to its predecessor, but still off the class best. There’s an awful lot it does right, but it’s let down by a stiff and fidgety ride, and a hybrid powertrain that’s just not punchy enough for everyone.

The best SUVs are evolving scarily quickly, and the top-performing opposition are a frightfully talented bunch. Making a splash is a tall order. To be fair, Vauxhall’s not done a bad job. The interior quality and seats are genuinely excellent, while the handling is tidy if uninvolving.

But other than that, and a few clever interior solutions, it’s hard to think of a single area where the Grandland excels or makes a lasting impression. The flipside of that at least is that it also doesn’t do anything terribly badly. So, if you’re moving to this from the old one, you’re likely to be quite pleased. But against the ageing but brilliant Skoda Karoq, or the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, or Volkswagen Tiguan, it’s not such a positive story.

What we like

It’s another decent-looking Vauxhall that helps banish the memories of some quite dismal previous models. It’s refined at speed, and has comfortable seats, while the 1.2-litre mild hybrid is capable of delivering diesel-matching mpg figures if you drive it sympathetically.

What we don’t like

It needs a bit more power, or at least the option of a stronger non-plug-in powertrain, better ride comfort on battered UK roads, and a more involving feel from behind the wheel. It’s also barely any cheaper than the Grandland Electric which should prove far cheaper to run.