Vauxhall Frontera Electric review

It’s the new Vauxhall Frontera, making its return after a 20-year absence. This Frontera definitely isn’t the old one, though, and it absolutely definitely isn’t a rebadged Isuzu MU, as was the case two decades ago.

Indeed, there’s no mistaking it as a Vauxhall thanks to that Vizor front end, while there’s a Dacia-ness to its rugged looks, particularly on steel wheels (you want the steel wheels). It sits between the bigger Grandland and smaller Mokka, sharing roughly the same footprint as an Astra hatchback but with a slightly bigger boot.

It’s available with a fully electric (in case you hadn’t guessed by the name) or mild hybrid powertrain, our full review of which will follow soon. Vauxhall’s party piece here is price parity, with both starting from an appealing £23,495.

Tell me more of this electric powertrain, please…

From launch you’ve the sole option of a 111bhp electric motor mated to a 44kWh (usable) battery for up to 186 miles of range. Anyone who’s been paying attention to TG.com recently will note that’s the same powertrain as you find in the Citroen e-C3 and e-C3 Aircross, with which it shares the same ‘Smart Car’ BEV platform.

So, it’s not going to get you from London to Edinburgh on one charge, but that’s not Vauxhall’s aim here. The firm is pushing hard to eliminate the price disparity that usually exists between electric and petrol cars; a 31 per cent premium, it reckons. The Frontera Electric is meant to challenge that.

And anyway, if you do need to travel further, a Long Range version capable of up to 248 miles is on its way next year. Or consider the mild hybrid, which pairs a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo in two states of tune with a gearbox-integrated hybrid setup. Stay tuned for our full review of that one.

Is the Frontera Electric any good?

It’s not going to have you all hot under the collar at the thought of driving it, but it goes well enough. It’s all very leisurely, from the steering to the acceleration to the brakes, and seems geared for comfort more than anything else. Which seems well judged for its target audience. Full details on the Driving tab.

And it’s a similar story inside, where it lacks the glitz and glamour of some rivals but feels fit for purpose. Clean surfaces, minimal distractions, reasonable space. All versions get dual 10-inch windscreens, and physical climate controls too.

Upper-spec models get front Intelli-Seats, complete with a slot that helps to relieve the pressure on the tailbone, while there’s good room in the back too. But unlike the mild hybrid there’s no seven-seat option here, on account of the battery. Click through to the Interior tab for the full lowdown.

What about rivals?

It’s not short of them. Within Stellantis there’s the Citroen e-C3 Aircross, Fiat 600e, Jeep Avenger and Peugeot e-2008, while there’s also the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Soul EV, MG 4 and the upcoming all-electric Ford Puma to consider.

The Vauxhall Frontera Electric feels well judged. Its driving manners exceeded our expectations, it blends the company's now familiar image with the kind of rugged looks people favour these days, and above all there’s no arguing with the cost.

Price parity with the hybrid is a very strong selling point, and it may well tempt some to go electric; particularly those who can take advantage of home charging. But it's telling Vauxhall can only make the numbers match up for a runabout with limited range.

It’s a shame you can’t spec the Design trim with the Style Pack (white steel wheels for the win) AND the Comfort Pack (heated steering/seats make such a difference to range in colder weather). Oh, and it’s let down by the uninspiring cabin. Otherwise, this isn't a bad effort at all.