You’re my Heart, You’re my Soul.
Introduction: In 1899, Sophie Opel, the entrepreneurial
wife of the late Adam Opel, who had been a Leader in both the Sewing machine
and Penny farthings markets, began the production of the first of 65 handmade
Opel Patentmotorwagen "System Lutzmann" in Rüsselsheim, Germany. Fast
forward a century and nearly a quarter, Opel have sold over 70 million units
and in conjunction with their sister brand Vauxhall are found in over 50
countries, worldwide – Nowadays the Opel company is with the Stellantis group. The
gorgeous Grandland is a technologically advanced vehicle that stands tall and
proudly German in a hugely competitive crossover market. I thoroughly enjoyed
driving this eye-catching vehicle all over Durban, but what really got me going
was the beautiful leopard like, distant rasping purr coming from the exhausts
as I accelerated hard through the 6 gears within the automatic transmission.
Engine/ Economy/ Drive/ Comfort: The Grandland
comes with a 1.6 Liter, 4-cylinder, Turbo engine, supplying 121 Kws and 240 Nms
of torque to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Opel
claim a combined average of 7 Liters per 100 kms but I achieved a slightly
higher number at 8 Liters per 100 kms due to my heavy foot, whilst satisfying
my intriguing fascination with speed. The Grandland drove beautifully on its 18
inch “Diamond Cut” Bi-colour Alloy Wheels and combined with exceptional comfort
in the driver’s seat, kept me dreaming of a long road trip that this vehicle
would be ideal for. Fast fact: Did you know that the seats have been scientifically
designed for posture and are certified by Aktion Gesunder Rücken aka AGR – This
is essentially a drive towards promoting healthier backs through better posture.
Features: Opel’s very own patented headlamps
use a whopping 168 LED facets which are blended into the sides of the front
grille to offer coherent adjustment of the light beam depending on the driving conditions
and surroundings, all this with no glare to other vehicles. Other standard
features include: Forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, emergency
braking, traffic sign recognition, lane assist, drowsiness warning, ergonomically
functional dashboard/ pure panel, 30 cm Digital cluster, 25 cm Touchscreen
Infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple car play and NAVI 5.0, Keyless
Entry & Start, Speed cruise control with limiter, blind spot monitoring, advanced
park assist (front/ side/ rear), Leather seat trim, Wireless smartphone charger
conveniently situated next to the driver, 60/40 rear seat split, heated and cooled
front seats and heated rear seats.
Interior/ Exterior/ Boot: The cabin is
spacious, with a premium feel thanks to the leather and quality materials used
throughout the vehicle. The exterior looks are accentuated with a few cosmetic enhancers,
such as, front & rear silver skid plate Inserts, chrome side window moulds,
high gloss black roof rails and matching paint colour body Claddings. The
decent size 514 Liter boot extends to 1652 Liters with the seats folded which
is more than enough for families wanting to pack up on Friday afternoon and get
away from the hustle of the city. The hands-free power lift gate is so
convenient especially when returning to the car with both your hands full with
packets of meat and beers for the weekends traditional braai.
Price/ Warranty/ Service Plan: R720 900/ 5
year/100,000km warranty with roadside assistance and matching service plan/
20000 km service intervals/ 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.
In Summary: If you are on the prowl for a
sleek and impressive, modern vehicle that drives beautifully and has an array
of features, then test drive the Grandland today. This wonderful car took me straight
down memory lane to the awesome 80’s for a few nostalgic reasons. My Dad and wife
both owned an Opel Kadett back in the day and I can vividly remember our family
pumping, You’re my Heart, You’re my Soul, from one of Germany’s other
hugely successful products, the rock band, Modern talking! I naturally cranked
the very same treffer a few times over the past week, for obvious reasons, but
also because, I found the Opel to have an infectious level of Heart and Soul. Thank
you, Opel, for the fond memories, then and now!
*This article is written in my opinion only. For detailed
information on the specs, please contact Opel SA*
