Vauxhall Grandland Electric long-term test: report 6
Our sub-editor needs a comfortable, practical car for a lengthy commute and active weekends. We're finding out if Vauxhall's electric flagship can go the distance...
The car Vauxhall Grandland Electric Ultimate Run by Chris Haining, sub-editor
Why it’s here To find out what Vauxhall's electric family SUV has to offer in what is a highly competitive class
Needs to be comfy and relaxing on a long motorway commute; economical to run; offer the practicality an action-packed life demands
Mileage 8134 List price £39,995 Best Price £39,995 Price as tested £40,645 Official range 322 miles Test range 265 miles
24 November 2025 – Sounding out boot space
Pester power. It’s how, as a kid, I regularly came home from a supermarket trip with a new toy car. And it’s how I got my way when my wife and I were deciding what colour to paint our bathroom. I’m not proud, but nor do I have any regrets – especially now that I find myself on the receiving end of my Vauxhall Grandland Electric’s pestering. But I’ll get to that.
First, I find my three-hour commute to the office is a great opportunity to catch up with new music releases. Typically, I’ll hear about a new (to me) band via BBC 6 Music through the Grandland’s DAB radio. Then later I’ll investigate said bands’ repertoire via the Tidal app, streaming via the Grandland’s wireless Android Auto phone connectivity. It’s how I’ve discovered such up-and-comers as Just Mustard, Sorry and Porij, all of whom are now part of the soundtrack of my life.
It helps that my Grandland has a sound system from French hi-fi brand Focal, which is one of the better set-ups I’ve had in a car. It’s crisp, detailed and full-sounding, without being overblown in the bass. In fact, the lower register is what really stands out… and it’s where the pestering began.
Again and again, listening to certain tracks that I was very familiar with revealed low bass notes I hadn’t noticed before, even through my home hi-fi system. After weeks of taunting me with enjoyable near-seismic rumbles, my Grandland persuaded me to buy a subwoofer for my living room.
The trouble is, to deliver meaningful low frequencies, a subwoofer’s speaker cone has to move a lot of air, and that means they tend to be big. As a result, you need a sizeable vehicle to shift a subwoofer from shop to chateau.
Happily, the Grandland’s boot proved well up to the task; the boxed sub nestled between the wheelarches in a way that would have been impossible in my BMW 5 Series saloon. In fact, getting it home was easier than finding space for it in the living room. Or, indeed, convincing my wife that we really needed it. I guess I should have pestered her first.
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