Vauxhall Frontera Electric gets same sub-£24k list price as petrol model

Vauxhall has revealed that its new Frontera will be the first electric car in the UK to offer list price parity with its petrol equivalent.

Both electric and petrol hybrid models will cost from £23,495 when they go on sale this autumn, addressing the usual concerns about electric models costing more than petrol equivalents.

Vauxhall estimates that the current average price difference between a petrol and electric car is 31%, and says it wants to redress this with the Frontera.

Vauxhall already offers PCP price parity on several models but these rely on longer finance contracts to align monthly prices. The Frontera is the first model where the cash list price is the same for EV and ICE versions. In fact, the electric version is cheaper than the more powerful of the two hybrid options.

Vauxhall managing director James Taylor, said: “Vauxhall is leading the way in democratising access to electric vehicles, whether through our Electric Streets campaign, our latest PCP offers, or our affordable new special editions.

“With the launch of the New Frontera, Vauxhall has eliminated the list price premium that often applies to electric vehicles, with both electric and petrol hybrid versions offered for an identical list price. At just £23,495, New Frontera Electric is a significant milestone in our mission to make electric mobility accessible for everyone across the UK.”

The Frontera is based on Stellantis’s Smart Car platform that’s shared with the Citroen e-C3 Aircross, and is intended as Vauxhall’s entry-level crossover, although it is actually larger than the Mokka.

Electric versions use a 111bhp motor powering the front wheels, for a leisurely 0-62mph time of 12 seconds. Under the floor, a 44kWh battery offers a range of up to 186 miles and can be recharged from 20-80% in just 26 minutes thanks to 100kW charging. A long range model is coming next year with 248 miles of range from what we’d guess is a 52kWh battery.

At launch buyers will have a choice of Design or GS trim, which will cost from £23,4965 or £25,985 respectively. All versions get twin 10-inch digital displays, sat nav, wireless smartphone mirroring and charging, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, cruise control, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition and driver attention alert.

GS models add more advanced comfort-focused seats, automatic climate control, front parking sensors and an electro-chromatic rear view mirror. Externally, the GS gets 17-inch alloy wheels in place of the Design’s 16-inch steel ones, tinted rear glass, a black roof, LED tail lights and power folding door mirrors.

One key difference between EV and ICE models is that the electric version is not available in the optional seven-seat configuration.

However, EV buyers do get the option of a free Ohme home charger, a year’s free charging credit at Tesco or a £675 roaming charging credit though the Octopus Electroverse network.