Vaux hall Grandland

FIRST UK DRIVE Electric SUV struggles to match rivals in terms of range and tech, but it does have price on its side

- Tom Jervis

VAUXHALL hasn't had the best start when it comes to electrifying its line-up. Although the Corsa Electric, its SUV-like Mokka sibling and the larger Astra aren't necessarily bad cars, they have long looked overpriced and suffered in terms of range compared with the strongest EV rivals.

The new Grandland is the first Vauxhall to be built on a dedicated EV platform, albeit one that can also accommodate internal combustion-engined cars. The STLA architecture underpins the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008, and on paper, things look promising especially when it comes to the cost.

Starting from just over £36,000, the Grandland EV is keenly priced when you consider its rivals. The entry-level E-3008 starts from almost £46,000, while even the cheapest Renault Scenic will set you back around £1,500 more than the Vauxhall.

The newcomer's price tag should lead to decent residual values, and initial predictions from industry expert CDL Vehicle Information Services suggest the Grandland will retain around 62 per cent of its original purchase price after three years.

That is no good if the kit list is stingy, though, but even the base Design trim gets 19-inch alloy wheels, a 10-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors plus dual-zone climate control.

However, we recommend spending an extra £2k to get the mid-spec GS. This brings adaptive LED headlights, a 16-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, upgraded upholstery, diamond-cut alloys, a powered bootlid and a reversing camera. Rangetopping Ultimate models feature a 360-degree camera system and a panoramic sunroof.