Vauxhall Frontera

The Vauxhall Frontera is not meant to be a dream car, but a solid family car. That is why it is an SUV, because such a car is built in height to get maximum space out of its length. What makes the Frontera special is that Vauxhall uses simplicity as an element of style. The Frontera deliberately uses simple, straight lines; as if the car was drawn by a child. The blue colour adds a playful element to the test car.

On the inside, too, things are straightforward and it is immediately clear that Vauxhall is not missing the mark. The high seat provides an authentic SUV feel. The space in the rear is good for a car of this size, as four adults sit quite decently in this compact SUV. The materials used are simple, but feel sturdy.

Equipment

To arrive at a low price, noticeable savings have been made on equipment. Although all the usual features are present, they are simply implemented. For instance, there is only one camera (no cameras all around), only one climate zone (not two), the audio system has modest sound and the central display is relatively small. There is only a basic on-board computer that shows the remaining range, but not the consumption. And that is crazy, because the consumption is needed to determine the range!

Battery and range

The Frontera is available with a combustion engine or electric motor and, to keep the price down, both start with a key. And that is a weird sensation with an electric car because nothing is ignited at all!

The reason for this test drive is the arrival of the "long range" version. To offer a longer range, much more has been done than just modifying the battery. Under the floor is a slightly taller battery than before, giving it a capacity of 54 kWh (is 44 kWh for the standard version). The car has been lowered, the lower bumper modified, the rear air conduction improved and the rims modified for better streamlining. As a result, the range increases from 310 km for the standard Frontera Electric to 404 km for the "long range". Even during the test drive in adverse weather conditions, the range was actually 400 km.

Performance

The Frontera differs from other electric cars in several respects. The response to the power pedal is unusually languid. So don't expect the vicious or lightning-fast acceleration of the competition. Performance is adequate, but no more than that.

There are few ways to recover energy. By default, the Frontera brakes slightly on the engine when releasing the accelerator, but this effect is very small. Pressing the "c" button on the automatic even switches off regeneration altogether; this while in other cars such a button serves to recover more energy. According to Vauxhall, this character was chosen to make the threshold to electric driving as low as possible. According to Autozine, the Frontera driver thus misses out on several additional advantages of electric driving. Now only the low kilometre price, low maintenance costs and low emissions remain.

Driving behaviour

In several areas, it is noticeable that Vauxhall has economised to arrive at a competitive price, but that does not apply to the chassis. The Frontera feels solid and has a refined chassis. Moreover, Vauxhall manages to disguise the high battery weight. The Frontera is therefore easy to drive and gives a confidence-inspiring feel. Like other electric cars, the Frontera is pleasantly quiet.

Conclusion

The Vauxhall Frontera now also comes with a 54 kWh battery, giving this economical electric car an extra long range. How valuable that is depends on usage. For those who charge on the street, and therefore want to charge as little as possible, this is a valuable addition to the existing range. Those who charge at home will start each day with a full battery, and then the consumption will be sufficient for most daily trips anyway.

The main added value is in the improved streamline, making the Frontera "long range" more fuel efficient and quieter. What remains is the down-to-earth concept of a no-frills electric car. That already made the Frontera economical to buy, and thanks to its lower consumption, the 54 kWh is now even more economical to use.