It is a windy and rainy morning in January when Opel sends the Grandland plug-in hybrid onto the track from the headquarters-as long as the tank and battery are empty. According to the official test cycle, the drive concept of the SUV offers impressive long-term qualities: the official WLTP values show a combined range of up to 897 kilometers, of which up to 87 kilometers purely electrically. “But we thought: more has to go!” Says Grandland chief engineer Dirk Kaminski.
The initial question of the in-house test drive was therefore: “Can our top SUV crack the 1,000-kilometer brand?” And so the Grandland with 143 kW (195 hp) system performance in the top-equipped GS variant-once fueled and the 17 , 9 kWh battery fully charged-sent on the track. The framework conditions were anything but ideal: While the official WLTP values are tested at temperatures around 23 degrees Celsius, the thermometer showed fresh 11 degrees Celsius at the start. And instead of low -roll resistance, 19 inch winter tires were raised.
“Can our top SUV crack the 1,000 kilometer mark? We once fueled it and sent him fully charged on the route. ”
-Grandland chief engineer Dirk Kaminski-
“Made in Germany”: The Grandland runs off the assembly line in Eisenach-the drive portfolio ranges from battery-electrical to hybrid with 48-volt technology to plug-in hybrid.
“In every respect”: Dirk Kaminski has been responsible for the development of the “Golden steering wheel 2024” title holder as a Grandland chief engineer.
The route was also as realistic as it was everyday: Typical commuter routes from the Rhine-Main area around Rüsselsheim and Frankfurt to the Rhein-Neckar area and back again. Motorway lines on free travel, stop-and-go traffic, country roads and city traffic including traffic light stops-the test track depicted all real everyday requirements. All the more, the result even exceeded the expectations of the Opel professionals: the top SUV covered a total of 1,115 kilometers with a tank filling and battery charge. A third of it, namely 380 kilometers, purely battery-electrical and therefore locally emission-free. The average speed of the test drive was 80 km/h; The total average consumption of 4.6 liters fuel per 100 kilometers.
Kilometers driven in a row is the impressive result
“The fact that the Grandland – at the end of the test was just four degrees Celsius – made such outstanding values, once again encouraged us that we set up a car with an all -day drive concept in every respect “Kaminski sums up. The chief engineer particularly emphasizes the coordination of highly efficient combustion engines and electric motor: “With every delay, the engine jumps to electrical operation, so that at low and medium speeds, thanks to the recuperation, long distances can be covered with emission -free.”
Ideal for fleet and leisure
Not least with these results, the new Opel Grandland Plug-in-Hybrid as a vehicle is recommended for fully electric commuter routes as well as for the long-distance route of company car and leisure drivers who want to be able to resources and without reach. Especially since the use of recycled materials and the waiver of chrome also shows what Opel understands “Greenovation” and sustainability in the new top-of-the-line SUV.
“The result shows that we have put a car in every respect.”
-Grandland chief engineer Dirk Kaminski-
Is there more?
There is another question at the end: Which route would be able to cover the new Grandland plug-in hybrid with a full tank and full of battery under ideal test conditions-for example in early summer? Dirk Kaminski: “The knowledge that we as a team pull out of the 1,115 kilometers now driven is: Under optimal conditions, more would certainly be possible.”
February 2025
Photos: Opel