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.

There are two key things to note here. Firstly, it's available with mild hybrid or fully electric powertrains, and both are priced exactly the same, starting from £23,495.

Secondly, it sits on Stellantis' 'cost-efficient' Smart Car platform, which it shares with the Citroen C3, plus upcoming 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 that Vauxhall has managed to keep the price low.

Seems… reasonable?

It does. 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 just shy of twenty-three and a half grand, you can also 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.

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 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. But there’s quite a bit of hard plastics too.

Space is comfortable for five, while you can also spec seven seats for a few extra hundred quid, one advantage of the hybrid compared to the electric variant which does without. 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 - expect those to start from around £25,000 too. If you're on a budget, the Dacia Duster is well worth considering, while the Ford Puma has long been king of this sector. Note that an electric one of those is on its way too.

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.

The new Frontera is categorically not the old 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, far from just another samey mid-size SUV. It’s a shame that the same can’t be said for the cabin, but it’s more than acceptable for the price.

But the elephant in the room is the identically priced electric variant. If electric works for you – i.e. you don’t travel hundreds of miles a day and you can take advantage of cheap home charging tariffs – then it seems the Frontera to buy. It’s the better to drive, and it’ll cost you less over the long run. It’s where we’d spend our money.