Opel Grandland review: Grand by name but is it more than grand by nature?
Opel's new family SUV is sharp and well-proportioned, with an impressive interior and a composed driving feel — so is it better than its name suggests?
In Ireland, 'grand' is a masterclass in understatement. It's our go-to response to whatever the question and can mean anything from winning the Lotto to burying a family pet. Either way, 'grand' is what we say when things are fine, manageable, or too complicated to explain. So when Opel named its family SUV the Grandland, my initial reaction was, 'Is it merely passable? Politely forgettable? Or the automotive equivalent of 'it'll do'?'
To be fair, naming cars is a global branding minefield. Some get it just right, but for every Golf or Focus, there's a Pajero (awkward in Spanish) or the ill-advised Ford Probe. Brands try everything — mythology (Yaris), florals (Corolla), or the add-an-'o' trick (Terrano, Murano, Vivaro, Bolero). Off-roaders get action-hero names like Pathfinder, because you never know what you'll meet on the school run. Then there are automotive gems like the Renault Wind and VW Thing, proving you can get it very wrong.
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Irish Independent
25-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Opel Grandland review: Grand by name but is it more than grand by nature?
Opel's new family SUV is sharp and well-proportioned, with an impressive interior and a composed driving feel — so is it better than its name suggests? In Ireland, 'grand' is a masterclass in understatement. It's our go-to response to whatever the question and can mean anything from winning the Lotto to burying a family pet. Either way, 'grand' is what we say when things are fine, manageable, or too complicated to explain. So when Opel named its family SUV the Grandland, my initial reaction was, 'Is it merely passable? Politely forgettable? Or the automotive equivalent of 'it'll do'?' To be fair, naming cars is a global branding minefield. Some get it just right, but for every Golf or Focus, there's a Pajero (awkward in Spanish) or the ill-advised Ford Probe. Brands try everything — mythology (Yaris), florals (Corolla), or the add-an-'o' trick (Terrano, Murano, Vivaro, Bolero). Off-roaders get action-hero names like Pathfinder, because you never know what you'll meet on the school run. Then there are automotive gems like the Renault Wind and VW Thing, proving you can get it very wrong.
