Vauxhall Frontera revealed as electric replacement for Crossland SUV
Vauxhall has revived the Frontera name for the next model in its EV range.
The British firm has released the first images of its new value-focused C-segment SUV ahead of the car’s launch later in 2024
The Frontera will be an EV model from launch, with a 48V mild hybrid joining the range at a later date. Vauxhall has committed to being an all-electric brand by 2027.
The Frontera will replaced the ageing Crossland in Vauxhall’s line-up, sitting between the Mokka and Grandland models in size but expected to cost less than either.
Like those cars, the Frontera features Vauxhall’s signature Vizor grille and ‘wing’ lighting design in an upright front end. It also features an overall boxier design than its stablemates, with a squared-off rear end and pronounced wheel arches.
Interior pictures show a simple sharp-edged design and Vauxhall says the new Frontera offers space, fun and practicality. The Frontera comes with twin 10-inch displays as part of the Pure Panel dashboard layout and horizontal elements to make the cabin feel wider. A cooled wireless phone charger is among the tech highlights and there are a wealth of USB ports, phone pockets in the seat backs, plus a flexible storage strap in the centre console to keep larger devices secure.
The Frontera also introduces an ‘Intelli-Seat’ feature in the front seats – a slot that relieves the pressure on the tailbone on long journeys.
Only slightly smaller than the Grandland, the Frontera offers more than 460 litres of luggage space in the boot, which increases to 1,600 litres with the 60:40-split seats folded down. Drivers can also strap another 200kg of luggage to the optional roof rails.
Vauxhall hasn’t revealed any technical specifications for the Frontera but it is understood to be based on the same ‘Smart Car’ platform as the soon-to-arrive Citroen e-C3, so we can expect similar drivetrain configurations. That is likely to mean a 44kWh battery and a range of around 200 miles.
The Smart Car platform is intended to allow the creation of low-cost EVs, and Vauxhall promised earlier this year that the Frontera will be “affordable”. We’ll find out exactly what that means later in the year when pricing and specification are announced but if it’s anywhere near the Citroen e-C3’s starting price of £23,000, the Frontera could instantly become one of the UK’s cheapest EVs.
