When it comes to mid-sized SUVs, the Lebanese car market has a lot to offer.
From the Mazda CX-5, and the Honda CRV, to the Nissan Juke, and the Hyundai Tucson, without forgetting the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Infiniti QX30 and the Peugeot 3008, just to name a few, car buyers can really get confused when making up their mind.
However, this year, a newcomer from a veteran brand is standing out from the competition.
The Opel GrandLand X.
Lucky for us, A.N Boukather, Opel’s new exclusive distributor in Lebanon offered BelleBeirut a test-drive of the German automakers’ all-new midsized SUV. Needless to say, the car was a delight to drive mostly thanks to its excellent handling on various types of roads in and around Beirut.
Here’s an in-depth review of what I thought about it:
From the outside
Shape, look and design
Although it is not that obvious, the Opel GrandLand X is built on the same platform as the Peugeot 3008. It may not look as aggressive as its French sister, but the GrandLand X’s lines are well proportioned, and give it a cleaner look even more than most cars in its class.
Granted there is no distinctive trait in its exterior, I mean it has nice LED lights in the front and the back and sporty-looking alloy wheels, but that would be it. However, the GrandLand X does look very smooth and the Opel logo will be enough to catch any onlooker’s attention.
On the inside
Dashboard, seating and space
At first glance, one would say that the car’s exterior is not a head turner, but that impression quickly changes when you take the wheel. The high driving position gives you excellent visibility, the comfortable seats are perfect for long drives, the ergonomic dashboard gives you full control, whereas the fully connected Opel Intelilink system and excellent road assistance features make the car stand out. These are just some of the advantages that the GrandLand X has over the competition.
That said, the car feels very solid and the choice of interior materials ranks well above the average compared to other midsized SUVs available on the market. The seats are well positioned, and the back is very spacious. I have two children, which meant two car seats that were installed without any hassle in the rear seats (kudos for the Isofix). The trunk’s size is also okay compared to other cars in its class.
Driving
What it is like behind the wheel
The GrandLand X is not a 4×4 or an AWD, but it certainly drives like one. Maybe even better. At 165 hp, the 1.6L turbo-charged engine provides enough power to allow the car to cruise comfortably over any type of terrain. The engine, although quiet, sounds much bigger than it is!
The suspension truly feels like it was conceived to ensure maximum convenience to the front and rear seats, even with relatively large wheels. What I liked most about the car was its super-responsive steering wheel, even at great speeds.
With a new set of tires (of course), the GrandLand X handles superbly and provides you with maximum safety. Aside from that, it offers three features that I was happy to experience in a car of this size on Lebanese roads: the Lane departure warning (mostly works on highways here); the blind spot detection and the hill start assist.
These features and many more, made the car a delight to drive in the busy streets of Beirut and the tough roads of Mount Lebanon. The icing over the cake? The fuel efficiency is excellent!
Verdict
My judgment
Small families who are looking to go on a long mountain drive over the weekend will do so with ease in the GrandLand X, and will be happy to know that it is a safe, comfortable, quiet and all in all easy car to drive!
To get a closer look at the car, pass by A.N Bou Kather’s new Opel showroom in Baabda or check out Opel Lebanon’s Instagram page by clicking here.
