Vauxhall Frontera review

Vauxhall's sensible middle child, otherwise known as the Frontera. It's a mid-size SUV that's exactly as long as an Astra, but designed to sit between the lankier Mokka and Grandland in the line-up. Slapped on its bootlid is a name familiar to any Gen X and Millennial in the room. The Nineties and Noughties Frontera was part of Vauxhall's General Motors tie-up, and was chiefly a boxy, rebadged Isuzu. Its 2020s comeback is a Stellantis baby.

So beneath it sits the firm's 'cost-efficient' Smart Car platform, which it shares with the Citroen C3, Citroen C3 Aircross and Fiat Grande Panda. More models will be built on the same skateboard in the future: it's a big part of the reason Vauxhall has managed to keep the price low.

How low? From £22,495 (post government grant) for the Frontera Electric or £24,855 in this mild-hybrid form. For a 4.3m-long SUV with the offer of seven seats, it's neat value.

So the EV is cheaper?

Indeed. Vauxhall figures the average price difference between an electric and petrol car is currently 31 per cent, but it claims its one-size-fits-all undergubbins - suitable for both hybrid and electric powertrains - is helping to drive that disparity down.

So, for under £23k you can get yourself into a Frontera Electric with a 111bhp electric motor mated to a 44kWh battery for up to 186 miles of range. The caveat, of course, is that price parity is only achieved by using a small battery with minimal range. Compelling, huh? For more info, you want our dedicated Frontera Electric review.

Alternatively, you’ve the choice of two mild hybrids, combining a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol tuned to produce either 99bhp or 134bhp, coupled with a 48V hybrid setup that incorporates a 28bhp electric motor and six-speed DCT transmission. Total outputs are claimed as 108 or 143bhp. Which, yes, means modest performance and a best-case scenario of a nine-second dash from zero to 62mph and, yes, they're all automatic.

No plugging in is required, with the electric motor assisting the engine under acceleration and allowing for very brief running under full electric power, before recharging itself when not required. Click through to the Driving tab for more.

Does it feel cheap, though?

It’s not overly cheap to look at, thanks to the handsome Vizor front end that adorns every car in the Vauxhall range these days. But in the khaki green paint and on the optional white steel wheels there’s more than a hint of Smartprice Land Rover Defender to its looks, and it’s really quite stylish too.

Inside, while it's certainly a better effort than Vauxhalls of yonder, it's not overly inspiring. If you want a cabin that leaves a lasting impression, get a Peugeot. Though only you’ll know if you can get on with the driving position.

Vauxhall describes it as a clean, detoxed user experience, and certainly minimalism seems to be the key theme here. Adorning the dashboard sit two 10in widescreens, one for the driver, one for the infotainment, but there’s physical switchgear for the climate controls too. Phew.

Space is comfortable for five, while you can also spec seven seats for a few extra hundred quid; one advantage of the hybrid which the electric variant can't claim. Click through to the Interior tab for the full lowdown.

How do its rivals compare?

We've already mentioned the Citroen C3 Aircross and Fiat Grande Panda - those both start at around £20k, the former also offering a third row of seats. If you're on a budget, the Dacia Duster is well worth considering, while the Ford Puma has long been king of this sector.

Otherwise, there's the Jeep Avenger and Peugeot 2008 within the enormous Stellantis umbrella, or other solid all-rounders like the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Juke.

Twenty-twenties Frontera is categorically not 1990s Frontera – in fact, it’s a pretty solid effort from Vauxhall. In the khaki green paint and on the optional white steel wheels it’s a proper head turner, with a hint of design intrigue to stand out among its mostly samey peers. It’s a shame that the same can’t be said for the cabin, but it’s more than acceptable for the price.

The elephant in the room is the cheaper Frontera Electric variant. If a pure plug-in works for you – i.e. you don’t travel hundreds of miles a day and can take advantage of cheap home charging tariffs – then that's surely the Frontera to buy. Vauxhall will even throw in loads of free charging to help overturn any scepticism. But if you crave some Frontera nostalgia and need seven seats, the Hybrid still has the EV licked.