Vauxhall Frontera Electric review

Prices kick off at £23,295 once the UK's Electric Car Grant is applied. That makes it over £3,000 cheaper than an equivalently specced Frontera Hybrid with similar power.

The Extended Range battery adds a fairly hefty £3,500 to your bill, so it may be worth clicking away at your abacus and making sure its additional range is worth the outlay.

The Frontera's arch rival – the superb Renault 4 – is a big reason not to buy the Vauxhall. Because the R4 gets a bigger grant it's priced almost the same as the Frontera, but is much better to drive, full of design details and features superior tech. Goes just as far on a full charge too. Ouch.

Sod it, I want the Brit. What are my kit options?

There are three trim levels to choose from. Entry-level Design models now get 17in alloy wheels (previously you could have 16in steel wheels with covers that were much cooler) wheel arch cladding, black skid plates front and rear, and LED headlights. Inside you get the full dual 10in screen setup, a pair of USB-C ports front and rear, wireless smartphone mirroring, rear parking camera and sensors, cruise control, and the usual driver assist suite. For £100 extra you can have a white roof.

GS adds £2,300 to the list price, giving you silver skid plates, a black roof with tinted rear windows, gloss black power folding mirrors, and LED taillights. Inside you get the posh Intelli-Seats, electronic climate control, wireless phone charging and park assist.

Another £800 upgrades you to a Frontera Ultimate which brings gloss black roof rails plus the heated windscreen, steering wheel and seats. Those who've run an EV in the winter will know these are vital in combining comfort with long range. Heat the human not the car, people.

What’s the best spec?

We’re torn here. Our heart said Design when it brought the natty white steel wheels, but our head now says Ultimate for its heated elements that will help you eke out so much more mileage during the colder months. The standard range 44kWh car in Ultimate trim is £300 cheaper than the 54kWh Extended Range in base trim, FYI, and our pick is currently available for £273 per month on a three-year PCP deal. That's if you stick a £5,598 deposit down and stick to just 6,000 miles per year.