Opel isn’t quite the powerhouse it once was, but that hasn’t stopped this Stellantis brand from jumping on the speeding bandwagon of stylish and techy crossovers…
You should know: This is a fairly new Opel Grandland 1.6T Edition, which shares quite a bit of DNA with other PSA products like the Jeep Compass, Citroen C5 Aircross and a pair of Peugeots. As you can imagine, they are all similarly stylish and smooth, pretty versatile, fairly efficient and quite clever.
What else? This colour is called Deep Sea Mermaid’s Tears Teal Metallic. Probably. I just made that name up because we couldn’t find it on the iMax movie that is Opel’s South African website. However, it remained one of my favourite things about this sleek and solid new baby SUV. Oh, and the funky light bars on either end.
More info: In our southern African region, power comes from a 1.6L 4-cylinder turbo-petrol with 134kW or 300Nm, driving the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Other markets get hybrids or eight-speed boxes of cogs, but our price list is kept to a basic minimum with just one drive train and two trim lines.
This “Edition” model is the less sporty of the two but still provides all the modern safety and convenience features which its discerning crossover clientele demand, including advanced driver and safety aids, an almost fully digital cockpit, night vision and clever cameras, plus intelligent LED headlights.
Why you shouldn’t: Considering its refinement, style and toys, the asking price of roughly R740,000 seems justified, although it’s hardly competitive when one’s focus is shifted to the far east. Jump to the more butch “GS Line” derivative and the cost inflates by a further 40,000 ZAR.
Opel includes a 5-year/100,000km warranty and 5-year 90k service plan with each sale.
Why you should: Because you should consider its refinement, style and toys, then take one for a super-smooth test drive and figure out if you want to spend a bit more on this multi-brand German or take a chance on the umpteenth Chinese newcomer with every imaginable gadget and a chrome letter salad on its trunk lid.
I know which one I’d choose.
FULL SPECLIST
| Engine: | 1,598cc i-4 turbo-petrol |
| Transmission: | 6-speed Automatic, FWD |
| Max. Power: | 134kW @ 6,000rpm |
| Max. Torque: | 300Nm @ 2,000rpm |
| Avg. cons.: | (claimed 7L/100km) |
| 0-100km/h: | 8.92 seconds (No claim) |
| Top Speed: | No claim |
| List Price: | R739,900 |
