Vauxhall has opened the order books for its Frontera Electric Extended Range – a new version of the its small electric SUV featuring a larger 54kWh battery offering up to 253 miles (WLTP) on a single charge. Crucially, it’s priced from £27,495, undercutting the forthcoming Electric Car Grant limit and avoiding the luxury car tax.
The Frontera Electric range now includes two battery options – the existing 44kWh version and this new longer-range model – alongside two mild hybrid petrol versions. Significantly, the entry-level 44kWh electric model is now cheaper than its petrol-hybrid Frontera, further strengthening the firm’s push to bring EVs into the mainstream.
All Frontera Electric variants are also available with Vauxhall’s ‘Electric All In’ package. This includes £500 towards a home wallbox or public charging credit, eight years of roadside assistance and 10,000 miles of free charging for drivers switching to the Octopus Intelligent Go tariff.
What this means for you
If you’ve been holding off switching to an electric car because of price, the Frontera could make you think again. Vauxhall’s move to undercut petrol-hybrid versions and keep pricing under grant thresholds is a sign of how rapidly EVs are becoming more affordable.
The Extended Range model delivers useful extra miles for not much more money – and its relatively efficient 3.9 miles per kWh figure should help keep running costs low. Add in the bundled incentives and strong equipment levels, and it’s clear Vauxhall’s aiming to reduce the faff factor of going electric.
Whether you’re commuting, ferrying the family or just want something a bit more future-ready, the Frontera Electric is shaping up to be one of the more accessible electric SUVs on sale – we’re already rating it preferable to the hybrid in our review.
Editor’s view: This isn’t price parity; EV now undercuts petrol…
This is exactly the sort of action we need to see more of. EVs that are priced realistically, don’t skimp on kit, and have a range that doesn’t make you sweat before lunchtime. Vauxhall’s pricing strategy here is bang on the money, and I wholeheartedly approve.
What I particularly like is that the Frontera Electric 44kWh is now cheaper than the petrol hybrid. That’s a major moment for EV affordability, and it sends a clear message to other carmakers: if Vauxhall can do it, so can you. Experts rivals to fight back shortly – if they don’t, they could lose out.
I’ll reserve full judgement until we’ve driven it, but on paper, the standard Frontera isn’t at all bad, and represents stonking value for money, as it currently sits on our cheapest electric cars list. The Extended Range version could well become a go-to recommendation for anyone wanting an affordable, family-friendly electric SUV.
Keith Adams – Editor, Parkers
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