This is the new Vauxhall Frontera. It’s a compact SUV designed to rival the likes of the Ford Puma, Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro – and it’s set to hit the UK market later this year.
Vauxhall is hoping to invoke some of the ruggedness of the original Frontera from the 1990s and 2000s by packing this new car with loads of practical features. So, there are roof rails, clever storage solutions and a boot big enough to rival SUVs from the class above.
Vauxhall hasn’t yet confirmed how much the new Frontera will cost, but the brand claims the car will continue its ‘long-standing tradition of bringing affordable mobility to a wide range of customers […] at an attractive price.’
It sports an evolution of the design language introduced by the Astra hatchback, with more rounded versions of the brand’s Visor grille and L-shaped daytime running lights. Given its focus on affordability, it’ll also play a pivotal role in Vauxhall’s ambition to become a carbon-neutral car manufacturer by 2038. Scroll down to learn more.
What engines are available?
Vauxhall hasn’t yet released all the technical specifications for the new Frontera, although the brand has announced the SUV will be offered with either a pure-electric or 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain. Incidentally, that’s the same range of powerplants open to buyers of the Fiat 600e and Jeep Avenger.
However, we’re not convinced that the Frontera will share its mechanicals with those cars. In fact, we reckon the Frontera will be one of the first cars to ride on Stellantis’ new ‘Smart Car’ platform. In essence, this is a more affordable, pared-back version of the E-CMP architecture found under the 600e and Avenger, which will help Stellantis compete with the influx of cheap Chinese EVs flooding the European market.
Other Stellantis cars that have been earmarked for the Smart Car platform include the Citroen e-C3 and the upcoming replacement for the Fiat Panda. The former is vying to become the cheapest European-made electric car with a starting price of just £23,000.
To get the e-C3’s price down to that level, Stellantis had to make some serious tweaks to its electric car architecture. For starters, the e-C3 uses a lithium ferro-phosphate battery pack instead of the lithium-ion battery found in the Jeep Avenger. The reason? That chemistry uses fewer rare earth materials like cobalt and manganese, meaning it’s cheaper to manufacture.
And because the battery pack is the most expensive part of any electric car, the e-C3 makes do with a smaller one. It measures 44kWh in capacity rather than the 54kWh you’ll find in almost every other compact Stellantis EV we’ve seen to date. Despite this, Citroen still reckons the e-C3 can cover 199 miles between charges.
Finally, the e-C3 has a less powerful electric motor. Most Stellantis EVs (excluding the Fiat 500e) use either a 136hp or 156hp electric motor – but the e-C3 features a 113hp unit. We’re expecting the electric Frontera to adopt the same powertrain.
What’s the Vauxhall Frontera’s interior like?
Early impressions suggest it’ll be rather practical. Vauxhall says the Frontera’s boot measures 460 litres with the rear seats in place and a whopping 1,600 litres with the bench stowed. That’s eons ahead of the 350 litres of space you get in the Vauxhall Mokka – and it means the Frontera’s practicality is comparable to the Kia Niro.
The Frontera is a more than just a box on wheels, though. Vauxhall has fitted it with some clever storage solutions, too. For example, you can have it with a wireless smartphone charger but, because that tech can make some smartphones overheat, the Frontera’s is cooled.
There are also smartphone pockets mounted to the backrests of the front seats and a handy strap in the centre console that can be used to secure tablets. And, praise be, it looks like it’ll come with proper buttons for the climate controls.
Vauxhall has even managed to drag some of its more expensive innovations into the Frontera’s more budget-friendly price point. Like the Astra, the Frontera will be available with ergonomic seats that the company claims can alleviate back pain on long journeys.
Buyers shouldn’t be left wanting for tech, either. There are two 10-inch screens on the car’s dashboard – one for the digital gauge cluster and one for the infotainment system. Vauxhall will also offer a smartphone mount and dedicated app that will allow the driver’s phone to become the car’s infotainment screen, which we expect will be reserved for lower-spec cars.
Luke Wilkinson is Deputy Editor of Parkers. He has five years of experience in car journalism and spends his time writing news, reviews, features and advice pieces for both Parkers and its sister site CAR magazine.
