Europe’s compact crossover market gets a big boost this year with the arrival of some fresh electrified metal. Ford has already previewed its Explorer and Peugeot has pulled the covers off its e-3008, both of which will start filtering through to showrooms during 2024. And arriving soon after the Peugeot, is the e-3008’s Opel (Vauxhall for UK buyers) cousin, the Grandland.
The Grandland rides on the same Stellantis STLA Medium platform as the Pug, and it’ll get the same electric powertrain lineup, too. So while Opel hasn’t revealed specs yet, we already know that the e-3008 starts off with a single-motor, front-wheel drive model making 207 hp (210 PS) that can cover 326 miles (525 km) on a full charge of its 73 kWh battery.
A Long Range version uses a 98 kWh pack to bump output to 227 hp (230 PS) and extend the driving range to 435 miles (700 km), while a flagship dual-motor variant sends 316 hp (320 PS) to all four wheels and matches the base car’s 326-mile range.
Related: Opel And Vauxhall Grandland’s Electric Successor Coming In 2024
Opel says it’s going all-electric by 2028, but we suspect the Grandland will also be offered with combustion power, at least initially. The STLA platform can handle both hybrid and EV powertrains and Peugeot has confirmed that the plain 3008 that will sell alongside the e-3008 will come with the firm’s new 1.2-liter mild-hybrid engine, so expect Opel to offer it as well, unless it wants to miss out on tens of thousands of sales. The little triple sends 134 hp (136 PS) to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, while a PHEV is probably very likely to be on the menu, possibly wearing Opel’s sporty GSe badge and trim.
The test team has equipped this latest prototype with a new set of wheels, but unfortunately hasn’t stripped away any layers of disguise since our spy photographers last snapped the Grandland in November. That makes it hard to get a clear idea of what the finished car will look like, though we can be sure it’ll feature the same chiseled design language and ‘vizor’ face introduced on the Astra a couple of years ago.
