2020 Opel Grandland X Hybrid 4

We are on the way to Opel, following the general trend for a larger car, a higher seating position and more safety. We don't really believe in the e-mobility yet, but to be honest, we haven't really thought about it. Friends tell us that operating an e-car can be quite complicated.

Let's have a look. The Grandland could be our choice. It has just the right pinch of modernity, not the little toy steering wheel like the Peugeot 3008 we looked at before. The seats are very comfortable and the dashboard is clearly arranged. Also the 7-inch colour display in the middle is very harmoniously integrated, does not stand so awkwardly to the top.

But how much does such a car cost? 27.500 € are for the petrol engine, 30.700 € for the Diesel. Both have the same power, but the Diesel has almost a third more torque, ideal for such a big car. And the CO₂ values promise almost 12 percent less fuel consumption.

However, we find over 3.000 € additional price already steep. 2.300 € would be due for an automatic. But for the city we have our second car. Unfortunately we can't choose for the chic two-tone paintwork and instead of chrome-plated we get black or silver-coloured strips. But air conditioning and heating in the back for the children we have. Their rear seat backs are even 40 : 60 divisible.

Traffic sign recognition does not even have every e-car and although not adaptive, you can adjust the speed. No, you have to stay in the lane yourself, but you might be warned when leaving it. And then also the conversion of probably all lights to LED, which means more light intensity and less need for repair. The high beam is switched off for oncoming traffic even automatically.

To be honest, when a Diesel engine consumes just under a litre when idling, we still don't really believe in the effect of start/stop, but we like to take the system with us without extra charges. The dealer is a little disappointed with our choice and desperately tries to get us excited about the hybrid version. But it costs about 13.500 € more. After all, 4.500 € discount by government and dealer would sweeten the price jump.

Yes, we would then be back to the gasoline engine, but significantly more powerful, together with the electric motor superior to the Diesel with 520 to 300 Nm. In a radius of 50 km we allegedly never need to refuel and at 100 km our new car then consumes just a third. But we also need the car for longer distances and there the consumption is higher than with a Diesel engine.

If you do not want to keep a logbook, you must pay tax on one percent of the list price each month for private use of the car. For a Diesel it would be about 310 €, for hybrid 220 €. However, only the tax for the difference of 90 € has been saved, which for absolute top earners amounts to only 400 € per year, a much to long time, until the surcharge is payed off. Remaining are the great hybrid extras, for which you pay comparatively little.

We are neither top earners nor four-wheel drive fans, and when we were offer the 51,000-€-hybrid 4 with additional electric drive at the rear axle, we quickly leave the shop. But one called after us, if we could wait a little longer with the car purchase, the hybrids might be even cheaper until the end of the year because of possible fines for Opel to pay because of CO₂-exceeded.