Priced at R789,900, this family SUV introduces several industry firsts alongside significant improvements in size and technology.

The standout feature is the 3D Vizor with illuminated Griffin logo at its center, flanked by the revolutionary Intelli-Lux Pixel HD lighting system.

This cutting-edge technology uses over 50,000 individual elements to deliver precise high-definition light distribution, automatically cutting out oncoming traffic while maintaining optimal brightness.

“The all-new Grandland is a milestone for Opel. The relationship to the Opel Experimental is unmistakable. It offers innovations that were first seen on this extraordinary concept car. The new Grandland will therefore strengthen our position in the important family crossover segment,” said Mike Whitfield, Managing Director, Stellantis South Africa.

The new Grandland has grown substantially compared to its predecessor – 173mm longer, 19mm taller, and 64mm wider. At 4,650mm long and 1,905mm wide, it sits on 19-inch alloy wheels and commands a confident road presence. The long 2,784mm wheelbase translates to increased interior space, while boot capacity has grown to 550 litres with seats up, expanding to 1,645 litres with rear seats folded.

Inside, a 16-inch central display dominates the dashboard, while a fully digital cluster provides essential driver information. The Intelli-HUD head-up display keeps eyes on the road, and Pure Mode can be activated to reduce screen clutter during challenging driving conditions. Physical buttons remain for climate control functions.

The AGR-certified seats introduce powered bolsters with pneumatic pockets for improved lateral support, plus ventilation and massage functions for the driver. Rear passengers enjoy 20mm more legroom than before. All interior fabrics are 100% recycled, supporting Opel’s sustainability goals.

Storage solutions include the innovative Pixel Box with illuminated translucent glass housing a wireless smartphone charger. The vehicle offers over 35 litres of interior storage compartments throughout the cabin.

The Grandland GS Line 1.6T features a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 134kW and 240Nm, paired with an automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is rated at 7.0 l/100km combined and 5.3 l/100km on the highway.

Chassis technology includes frequency selective damping (FSD) that adapts damping force based on road conditions and driving style. This provides comfort over rough surfaces while maintaining sporty handling when needed.

Standard safety features include Automatic Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Extended Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Adaptation, and In Crash Braking.

The Intelli-Drive 2.0 system offers semi-automatic lane-change assist, while parking is simplified with front and rear sensors, rear-view camera, and 360-degree Intelli-Vision camera.

The Grandland comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty with roadside assistance, plus a 12-year/unlimited kilometre anti-corrosion warranty. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 15,000km, with the first five years or 90,000km covered by Opel’s service plan.

Now that gap has been filled by a new kind of MPV, the new Opel Zafira Life.

The Zafira Life comes in two flavours and features a seven-seat layout as standard, while an eight seat is available as well. Opel also offers an optional premium seat upgrade for the middle row, which replaces the three-seat bench with a pair of swivelling captain’s chairs and a folding table.

The Opel Zafira Life’s overall shape is somewhat familiar, because it’s a sister model to the van-based Citroen SpaceTourer and Peugeot Traveller people carriers. These are not available in Mzansi. The main difference is the Opel-ified front end of the Zafira Life, with a rounded look and a distinctive design that seems to be the result of blending the rounded front of the Citroen with the grille of the Peugeot. It’s a neat look, but aside from the Opel badges, it’s the only difference between the Zafira Life and its sister machines.

It’s a similar story under the skin, where you’ll find the Stellantis 2.0 diesel. Developing 110kW of power and 370 Nm of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The cabin is lifted wholesale from Stellantis models, too. There are two trim levels called Edition (which is geared towards the private hire and mobility conversion markets) and Elegant, the latter of which we drove at launch here. The Elegant model is very well equipped, with heated leather seats, panoramic glass, a rear camera, touchscreen infotainment with navigation, head-up display, and tinted windows all part of the spec list.

The remarkable thing about the Zafira Life is that its van roots create loads of space for passengers and luggage inside, while the sliding side doors mean access is simple, even the tightest spots. There’s also the option of power opening and closing doors for added convenience.

The high-set seats mean you get an SUV-style view of the road ahead, while the assorted driver aids help you to position and manoeuvre the car, and a secondary mirror allows you to keep an eye on the back seats if you need to. The seats in the rear slide back and forth on runners and can even be removed completely, although they are very heavy, and you’ll need somewhere to store them if you want to use the Zafira Life’s full boot capacity.

There’s a huge tailgate at the back, although it raises and lowers fairly easily on its gas struts. If you want quick access to the boot, there’s also separate opening tailgate glass, which allows you to put lighter items in without opening the back completely.

All this practicality is great, but don’t go thinking that the Zafira Life’s roots mean it’s van-like to drive. On the contrary, it has a very car-like feel about the way it drives, with a nimbleness that you won’t find in any other non-Stellantis van-based MPV. The steering is light and quick to respond, while the handling balance is reasonable.

Pricing for the Opel Zafira Life Edition is R749 900 while the Zafira Life Elegance is set at R869 900.