Vauxhall Frontera Electric review

Prices kick off at £23,995, or a more tempting £22,495 once the current UK government grant is applied. That makes it over £2,000 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 Renault 4 rival proves that lighter, more modest cars with similarly modest batteries take on charge nice and quickly on a long trip — even if their quoted charge time isn't phenomenal. So if long trips are the exception to your rule, then you may do just fine with the entry, 44kWh jobbie.

To help tempt you over the line, Vauxhall is offering a choice of charging deals too. Take your pick from £500 towards a home wall box, £500 public charging credit at Tesco stores or a £500 Octopus charging credit, all part of Vauxhall’s drive to make the electric transition easier. Buy the Frontera online through a Vauxhall retailer and there’s even 50,000 Tesco Clubcard points on offer too. That equates to £1,000 to spend in restaurants or on holidays...

What are my kit options?

There are three trim levels to choose from. Entry-level Design models offer 16in steel wheels with covers, 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 £400 you can have a white roof, white steel wheels and roof rails.

GS adds £2,400 to the list price, giving you 17-inch diamond-cut alloys, 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, front parking sensors and blind-spot alert.

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 says Design, on the natty white steel wheels, which comes as part of the £400 Design Styling Pack only available, somewhat predictably, with Design trim.

But our head 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...