Vauxhall has followed price cuts to its Corsa and Mokka electric vehicles (EV) with reductions to its its Grandland and Crossland SUV ranges as part of a move to streamline trim grade complexity.
The two SUV models will adopt a new simplified trim strategy which features Design, GS Line and Ultimate grades during 2022 – along with price reductions of up to £2,430 – as the Insignia retains just two trim grades for customers.
Vauxhall responded to Government’s reduction of the plug-in car grant (PiCG) values and eligibility threshold by reducing prices of its EV models.
Now its Grandland and Crossland will be subject to price reductions, with the brand claiming to maintain “equal or increased spec levels on most versions”.
Vauxhall said that the new trim strategy created a simplified range structure to deliver a more transparent price walk between versions.
Speaking to AM for a profile feature in the February edition of AM, Peter Brown chief executive of drivvn, which counts Stellantis as its biggest customer, said that complex vehicle model ranges were one of the main barriers to an effective online customer journey.
“At a dealership there is scope to have the customer taken through the configuration process, but, online, things need to be far simpler,” he said.
“It’s very hard for people to understand that if you opt for a certain option pack then you automatically can’t have this or that other option.”
New trim grades
Vauxhall’s New Grandland line-up sees the removal of its former Elite trim option and the addition of two new drivetrain options in the form of the Grandland Plug-in HYBRID-e Ultimate (225PS) and Grandland Ultimate 1.2-litre (130PS) Manual.
Standard on the entry-level New Grandland Design are: 17-inch alloys; a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; and dual-zone electronic climate control.
Grandland GS Line features a black roof, door mirrors and wheel arches combined with 18-inch alloys, tinted rear windows and alloy-effect skid plates. It also adds Vauxhall’s new Pure Panel cockpit with a 10-inch colour touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster.
Ultimate features 19-inch alloys, IntelliLux LED headlights and body-colour front bumper, rear bumper, wheel arches, door claddings and skidplates, along with Alcantara upholstery with heated front seats and steering wheel.
Elite Edition and SE trims are removed from the Crossland range too, with Crossland Design 1.2-litre (130PS) automatic and Crossland Ultimate 1.2-litre (110PS) added to the line-up.
Design builds on the outgoing SE trim, adding safety tech including Driver Drowsiness Alert, Forward Collision Alert and Auto Emergency Braking.
Standard features also include 16-inch bi-colour alloys, a seven-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, lane departure and speed sign alerts.
GS Line gains a Black Pack – including a gloss black Griffin logo, skid plates and taillights – along with a contrasting roof colour, tinted rear windows, 17-inch alloys, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Dual Zone Electronic Climate Control.
Ultimate’s highlights include 19-inch alloys, LED headlights and body-colour front bumper, rear bumper, wheel arches, door claddings and skidplates as well as Alcantara seats, which are heated in the front.
The new Insignia’s new Design trim includes 18-inch alloys, eight-inch touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and dual-zone climate control.
Insignia GS Line features 20-inch alloys, Alcantara interior trim, AGR approved ergonomic active sports front seats and wireless smartphone charging.