Vauxhall Grandland Electric Review 2025

There's no shortage of family sized electric SUVs to choose from, so Vauxhall is entering a busy market with its battery-powered Grandland. To make life even harder, there are several closely related in-house Stellantis rivals it must face, let alone those from other manufacturers. Read our full Vauxhall Grandland Electric review to discover if it's likely to make an impact.

Compared with several alternative SUVs the Vauxhall Grandland Electric treads something of a different path. It competes with the likes of the Nissan Ariya, the Skoda Enyaq and the Volkswagen ID.4, which were all designed from the ground-up as EVs. The Grandland Electric, as you'll likely have gathered, is the same as other Vauxhall Grandland models but with its combustion engines replaced by battery-powered motors. 

It's an approach shared by several other Stellantis-built models all of which use gently tweaked versions of the same underpinnings, including the forthcoming Citroen e-C5 Aircross, the new Jeep Compass Full-Electric plus the more coupe-esque Peugeot E-3008 and its seven-seater Peugeot E-5008 sibling. 

For buyers who feel comforted by a sense of familiarity when making the switch to an EV, that could be a good thing — after all, not everyone wants something as 'out there' as the aforementioned Ariya. 

Vauxhall launched the Grandland Electric with one 213PS motor and 73kWh battery combination for an official WLTP Combined cycle driving range of up to 323 miles. It's smooth and effective, as well as being much more pleasant an experience than the underpowered three-cylinder engine in the Grandland Hybrid. In time the range will be fleshed-out with a larger battery version providing over 400 miles of range plus a punchier dual-motor model. 

The Grandland Electric majors on value, with Vauxhall slashing the price of all versions soon after its 2024 launch. As a consequence, it has a much lower starting price than its rivals but look carefully at the specifications — the entry-level Design trim is modestly equipped by today's standards, so we'd recommend going for the mid-range GS at the very least. 

It's a good thing Vauxhall has cut the cost because at its original price the Grandland Electric was a hard sell against better-rounded rivals. The cabin isn't as nice as the Skoda Enyaq's or — more awkwardly — the Peugeot twins.

We also have reservations about its ride quality, which is oddly firm for a car that has no interest in being sporty. This could prove to be a hindrance if Citroen manages to give its e-C5 Aircross the kind of suppleness being hinted at in its pre-launch marketing.

Some ground is clawed back by the Vauxhall Grandland Electric being roomy and very practical. It also includes something of an endangered species inside — physical climate control adjusters! Even its Peugeot cousins don't include those. 

Pre-registered bargains are commonplace right now among EVs, so if you're able to score a good deal on a Vauxhall Grandland Electric it might make more sense than it does on its attributes alone.

One of the great mysteries of the Vauxhall Grandland Electric is why it rides so firmly. Take it on a route you've done countless times before and you'll find yourself thudding over imperfections in the road surface you've not previously noticed.

This isn't one of those cars where the ride settles with increased speed. In fact, the Grandland Electric isn't so bad when negotating features such as large speed bumps, yet smaller imperfections make it constantly fidget. What's particularly curious about all of this is that the Electric version as a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension setup while combustion-engined Grandlands make do with a more basic torsion beam. The change hasn't fixed its ride quality issues. 

Don't go thinking this approach has been in aid of making the Grandland Electric sporty because it simply isn't. Body roll isn't excessive at least, meaning it feels stable in high-speed corners, offering a good balance and decent grip. The front tyres are untroubled by the thrust from the electric motor but its not as if 213PS is a particularly outrageous power output by today's standards. 

Provided you're not too distracted by the unsettled ride you'll notice that the Grandland Electric is quiet at cruising speeds, with little in the way of wind or road noise making its way into the cabin.

Only one battery and motor combination is currently available for the Vauxhall Grandland Electric. This sees a 73kWh providing energy to an electric motor driving the front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission.

Total output in Sport mode is 213PS, reducing to 180PS and Normal and 160PS when Eco is selected. Maximum torque is quoted at 345Nm for a 0-62mph acceleration time of 9.0 seconds. That doesn't sound special when cars such as the Tesla Model Y Performance will rocket to 62mph from rest in just 3.5 seconds but really the Grandland will be more than fast enough for most.

The most important thing is its electric motor makes for effortless performance, unlike the Grandland Hybrid, whose little three-cylinder engine must be liberally thrashed to make anything resembling forward progress.

What's strange is the delay between putting your foot down and anything happening. Electric motors are able to offer all their torque instantaneously, so to deliberately sandbag the Grandland Electric seems an odd choice.

Yes, other electric cars also increase their pace gradually, both to preserve the battery's reserves and to help those transitioning from combustion engines, but the lengthy pause that happens every time you accelerate in the Grandland Electric is frustrating, particularly so when Sport mode has been selected.

The Vauxhall Grandland Electric has a four-star Euro NCAP rating even though the safety body hasn't actually crash-tested it. Because it's so similar to the petrol- and battery-powered Peugeot 3008, that car's score has been carried over here, just as it has with the larger 5008. 

Four out of five isn't terrible but for cars of this size and type, five stars is the norm. It looks like the safety assistance score contributed significantly to the downgrading, managing just 62% in that category. 

All versions of the Grandland Electric come with eight airbags, lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control. The Ultimate trim adds further safety features, including lane-change assistance and rear cross-traffic alert. 

The Vauxhall Grandland Electric can tow braked loads up to 1200kg. A removable tow ball costs £605. 

The Vauxhall Grandland Electric's 550 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place is generous, providing considerably more space than the 466 litres offered by the Nissan Ariya, even if its a little behind the Skoda Enyaq's 585 litres and the Peugeot E-3008's 588-litre capacity.

Its rear bench split-folds in a 40/20/40 fashion, opening up a 1645-litre load space, although this is again trumped by the E-3008's 1663-litre volume in the same configuration. While the folded seatbacks don't lie entirely flat, sliding most oversized loads along the floor shouldn't prove particularly difficult. 

There's plenty of cabin space for all five occupants with ample headroom. Outward visibility isn't the best with thick windscreen pillars to look around and a shallow depth to the rear window. 

A large, lidded cubby sits between the front seats which is plumbed in to the air-conditioning circuit should you want to keep a drinks cool in there. Slightly forward of that are two cupholders with a movable middle section, ensuring a snug fit for whichever size of receptacle you've gone for.

Just ahead of that is another cubby with a sliding lid and a translucent section at the front, providing a view of the phone charging pad within.

While there's a noticeable step up in quality from its predecessor, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric still feels cheap in places. 

There's a noticeable lack of soft-touch surfaces and the blend of materials doesn't exactly scream 'premium' — the faux carbon fibre topping the dashboard is particularly egregious. And why does everything have to be so... grey?

At least everything seems to be screwed together well.

The size of the Vauxhall Grandland Electric's infotainment screen depends on your chosen trim level, although regardless of that, the housing always has the same dimensions.

That means if you go for the Design with its 10.0-inch display there are two black panels on either side of the touchscreen, which just looks naff. You'll be left wishing you'd upgraded to either the GS or the Ultimate grade each time you look at it.

Those cars use a 16.0-inch screen which fills the whole housing, although we still have misgivings about this layout. The ultra-widescreen display is quite a stretch for the driver when using controls to the far left, even if most of the frequently needed aspects are squeezed into the middle section.

Its responsiveness is fine but there's a noticeable lag when the system is tasked with various functions, such as loading up the integral navigation system. 

Although we prefer the more stylish, less sombre cabin in the Peugeot E-3008, the Grandland Electric has something its cousin does not — physical controls for the fan speed and temperature settings for the climate zones. A victory for common sense. 

Shortly after its launch Vauxhall Grandland Electric prices were slashed, with savings ranging from £3650 to £4700 depending on the version.

New prices start at £37,355 for the Grandland Electric Design while the better-equipped Grandland Electric GS is £38,505. For the range-topping Grandland Electric Ultimate you'll need £39,995.

These compare very favourably against the Peugeot E-3008 fitted with the same motor and battery combination which costs £46,060 in Allure trim and £49,440 for the range-topping GT. You'll also have to add £700 if you want an efficiency boosting battery heat pump, which is standard on the Vauxhall.

Elsewhere the Skoda Enyaq starts at £39,010 for a version with a 63kWh battery and 204PS, while the cheapest 63kWh and 217PS Nissan Ariya is £39,655. 

As electric cars are no longer exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), the Vauxhall Grandland Electric will have the same £195 annual fee as any other car from year two onwards.

As mentioned above, Grandland Electric prices were slashed across the board in 2024, so although EVs also now have to pay the government's Expensive Car Supplment — also known as the premium car tax — all versions of the Vauxhall dip under its £40,000 threshold. Just be aware that option extras also count towards this limit, so even choosing a colour on the Ultimate version beyond the standard Carbon Black metallic will nudge the price into levy-attracting territory, equating to £425 each year from two to six. 

For many Grandland Electric drivers, the list prices won't be as relevant as they'll be more interested in the company car tax payments. They're nicely affordable thanks to EVs enjoying a Benefit in Kind (BiK) rate of just 3%. 

You can expect to pay more to insure the Grandland Electric than the petrol-powered models. The Design is in group 34, while the GS and Ultimate are each in group 36 — by contrast the Grandland Hybrid ranges from group 18-25 depending on the trim level.

Vauxhall Grandland Electric: Range and charging

According to the WLTP Combined cycle tests, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric can travel up to 323 miles on a single charge in Design specification, dropping slightly to 322 miles for the GS and 320 miles in Ultimate guise. We averaged 3.5mi/kWh during our time with the car which approximates to more like 270 miles.

Its 73kWh battery can be recharged at up to 160kW, so in optimal conditions using a DC ultra-rapid public facility, a 20-80% top-up is possible in 26 minutes.

We'd advise using those sparingly as they're expensive. Wherever possible, it's preferable to install a domestic wallbox and take advantage of electricity tarrifs with EV-specific elements. Using such a connection with a 7kW AC electricity flow will complete a 20-100% recharge in 6 hours 45 minutes. 

Three different trim levels are available for the Vauxhall Grandland Electric using the firm's familiar Design, GS and Ultimate hierarchy.

Standard features for the Vauxhall Grandland Electric Design include:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Dual-zone climate control
• 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Adaptive cruise control
• LED headlights
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Battery Heat pump

Opting for the mid-range Vauxhall Grandland Electric GS adds:

• 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Intelli-Lux HD LED headlights
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• 16.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Rear parking camera

Go for the range-topping Vauxhall Grandland Electric Ultimate for: 

• 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Powered tailgate
• Heated windscreen
• Focal audio system
• Head-up display
• 360-degree parking camera