Vauxhall Frontera Review 2025: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Vauxhall Frontera?

Vauxhall is following in the footsteps of cars like the Renault 5 E-Tech with a retro name revival. Well, sort of – it’s difficult to argue that the Frontera name is as iconic and celebrated as the 5.

Remember the original Vauxhall Frontera? We’d forgive you if you didn’t. The brand’s rugged off-road workhorse didn’t exactly fly out of showrooms, and nor does it have the hardcore enthusiast following of cars like the Suzuki Jimny and Land Rover Defender.

Still, Vauxhall’s decided the name is fitting for its latest small SUV. We say small – it’s bigger than you might expect, while the all-terrain focus has gone. This new Frontera (closely related to the Citroen C3 Aircross) is a much more road-focused, family-friendly model with two-wheel drive and fully electric or hybrid power.

But where does it fit? Well, the Frontera replaces the old Vauxhall Crossland, offering a more budget-focused and space-maximising alternative to the supposedly more high-end Vauxhall Mokka.

But should the new Frontera be on your small family car shopping list? We find out in this in-depth review.

Verdict: is the Vauxhall Frontera a good car?

The Frontera isn’t a car to make your neighbours jealous. But as a sensible and very affordable small SUV it ticks all the right boxes: there’s loads of space, plenty of standard kit, a comfortable driving experience and low running costs. We reckon the electric model makes more financial sense, but the main thorn in the Frontera’s side is the slightly funkier Citroen C3 Aircross.

Pricing, specs & rivals

When the Frontera was originally revealed Vauxhall boasted of ‘price parity’ – where both the electric and petrol hybrid models were expected to be the same price across the range.

Fast forward to October 2025 at the car’s UK launch and, mostly due to the Frontera’s eligibility for the UK’S Electric Car Grant, it’s the EV that’s quite a bit cheaper.

Prices kick off from £22,495 for the Frontera Electric in Design trim, including the £1,500 grant discount – making it one of the cheapest electric cars on sale. The equivalent 110hp petrol hybrid model is a full £2,360 more expensive. Both petrols are automatic only.

The Citroen C3 Aircross has a lower starting price, but only because the base variant is a low-powered, non-hybrid petrol with a manual gearbox. A Jeep Avenger is thousands more, as are rivals like the Ford Puma, but the Renault Captur is similar money in petrol form.

The Frontera Electric Extended Range with a larger battery commands a £3,500 premium, while the 145hp petrol hybrid version is £370 more than that. Mid-spec GS variants start at £24,895 for the EV and £27,255 for petrol, while top spec Ultimate starts from £25,695 and £28,055 respectively.

Entry-level Design is a lot less basic than the price might lead you to believe. It gets LED headlights, cruise control, the full suite of infotainment with navigation, a wireless phone charging pad, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. You do have to make do with 16-inch steel wheels, however.

GS trim adds 17in alloy wheels along with LED tail lights, climate control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, upgraded seats, front parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and some styling additions to improve the exterior look. Electric models get cabin preconditioning, too.

Finally, Ultimate trim brings LED front fog lamps, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and windscreen along with gloss black roof rails.

Rivals

A key competitor for the Vauxhall Frontera is fellow Stellantis brand Citroen’s new C3 Aircross, which is closely related underneath. You might also consider the less practical Jeep Avenger and Peugeot 2008, too.

Other options include the Dacia Duster, Ford Puma, Skoda Kamiq and Renault Captur, while on the electric side there’s the Puma Gen-E, Renault 4, MG ZS EV and BYD Atto 2, along with more expensive options such as the MINI Aceman, Kia EV3 and Smart #1.

Vauxhall Frontera: Interior comfort, quality & technology

For a budget car, the Frontera’s interior doesn’t look or feel too sparse and low-rent. It’s not a particularly exciting place to sit either, but that’s to be expected.

Vauxhall has got the basics mostly right, though. Finding a comfortable driving position isn’t tricky thanks to plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat, and although the very tall may wish for a bit more steering column reach adjustment at least there is some, unlike in the MG ZS.

Forward visibility is very good thanks to slim windscreen pillars and the raised-up driving position. However the rear view isn’t as good, with a shallow windscreen.

Entry-level Fronteras look quite utilitarian inside, although there is some silver painted dash trim to lighten things up. Mid-spec GS and above add nicer and brighter seat fabrics along with contrasting fabric on the doors, which look much better and feel nicer to the touch.

Quality is mostly good, though don’t expect Peugeot 2008 levels of finish and soft-touch materials. The dash and doors are mostly hard plastic, but everything feels well screwed together and durable enough for family life.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

Every Frontera features a 10in central touchscreen angled towards the driver, with build-in sat-nav along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

There’s little to get excited about in terms of features, with basic yet easy to navigate menus and a display that’s bright and easy to read. Response times are decent, too, but it’s a long way short of the slick and feature packed system in the Renault 4.

Still, it’s simple to operate, and it’s great to see wireless phone charging even in the base model. There’s a similarly functional digital driver’s display as standard, too, which shows you everything you need and nothing you don’t.

All Fronteras feature a six-speaker sound system delivering decent audio, along with a couple of USB-C ports in the front and a further two in the rear.

How practical is the Vauxhall Frontera?

Vauxhall is most vocal about the sheer quantity of space on offer in the Frontera, claiming that it’s closer in size to SUVs from the class above. And with exterior dimensions of 4,385mm in length, 1,795mm in width and 1,627mm in height, that rings true.

Those figures make it slightly larger than a Dacia Duster and only 40mm shorter than a Nissan Qashqai. The Renault Captur is quite a lot shorter and lower, and the Renault 4 is even smaller than that.

That pays dividends inside. There’s a huge amount of headroom up front and plenty of legroom, too, even for the very tall and long-legged. Only the cabin’s width gives away its small car origins, with a narrow centre armrest meaning you might clash elbows with the front seat passenger.

In the rear things are even more impressive. A pair of six-footers can sit behind front passengers of similar height with ease, while again there’s headroom in abundance – it’s in a different league to a Ford Puma back there, and approaches a Qashqai for overall space.

 Again, width is the only letdown, as three adults will find shoulder space tight. As for the seven-seat option? Well, we haven’t tried it yet, but given the car’s length expect those rear chairs to be tight and only suitable for younger children.

Storage and boot space

Don’t expect fancy storage solutions in the Frontera, but the basics are there including good-size door bins, a large glovebox, a cubby under the centre armrest and a smaller wallet-sized space behind the parking brake.

Vauxhall has added some quirkiness with centre cupholders surrounded by a big, flexible elastic strap. The idea is that you stretch them to turn the cupholders into, say, a tablet storage area. In practice, the cupholders are too big for smaller bottles and cans, which could fall out in a corner.

In the rear things are more basic. The door bins are much smaller and there’s no centre armrest with cupholders – at least you get some pockets in the front seatbacks.

When it comes to boot space, both petrol and electric Fronteras have the same 460-litre capacity. That’s slightly bigger than the Duster’s boot, but the Vauxhall’s height gives it an advantage when it comes to loading items up to the roof.

There is a bit of wheelarch intrusion, but an adjustable boot floor removes any load lip while leaving useful underfloor storage space. The rear seats fold in a typical-for-the-price 60/40 split, with handy quick release tabs on top of the seats.

Performance & drive: What is the Vauxhall Frontera like on the road?

Those expecting the electric Frontera to deliver truly electrifying performance may be disappointed. Progress is quite a bit more leisurely than that.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing: the Frontera is easy to drive smoothly thanks to a well-judged throttle and gentle power delivery avoiding any wheelspin. But there’s no getting away from the stats: 113hp and a 0-62mph time of 12.8 seconds are both a long way short of rivals like the Renault 4.

And that’s for the smaller battery variant. Opt for the Extended Range model and, while you get a bigger and heavier battery pack, you don’t get any more power, so the 0-62mph time drops to a yawning 13 seconds.

Neither EV feels quite as slow as the figures suggest, though, particularly once above 30mph or so where full power kicks in and it builds speed quickly enough to not feel underpowered. But below 30mph it can feel a little ponderous, especially if you’re trying to pull out of a busy junction.

The petrol hybrid models are quicker off the line. These use a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system that shuts the engine off when coming to a stop – and can even briefly propel the car on its own at very low speeds.

The base 110hp version is sufficient for most needs, with enough urgency to get up to speed without feeling strained. The gruff engine note is either endearing or slightly intrusive depending on your view.

The higher-powered version has 145hp and offers more effortless performance. Both petrols are mated exclusively to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, which changes smoothly enough but isn’t that quick to react if you ask it to kick down.

Both cars have a slightly spongy brake pedal that takes getting used to, while there’s only a single mode to increase the already noticeable level of regenerative braking.

Power/0-62mph times

• Frontera Hybrid 110: 110hp/11.0 secs
• Frontera Hybrid 145: 145hp/ 9.0 secs
• Frontera Electric 44kWh: 113hp/ 12.8 secs
• Frontera Electric 54kWh: 113hp/ 13.0 secs

Ride and handling

The Frontera’s driving experience fits in with its outright performance – it’s relaxing and easy to drive rather than a car you’ll relish taking on your favourite B-road.

And that’s fine given the target market. When compared to the Citroen C3 Aircross it trades a little softness in favour of agility, but the ride is mostly comfortable, particularly around town or on poor tarmac where it absorbs the worst lumps and bumps.

It can feel a little more unsettled than the Citroen (or a Renault 4) on faster and more demanding country roads. Interestingly the electric version is better in this respect. But overall, and particularly for the price, both are inoffensive in this respect.

Body control is good, meaning it doesn’t lean over too much if you push it into bends, while grip is okay. The steering is light but, like the Citroen, requires a lot of input to change direction, so it’s not a car for keen drivers.

Noise and refinement

It’s clear that the Frontera is a budget SUV when you hit the motorway. That’s not to say road or wind noise are all that intrusive, just that you notice both a bit more than in pricier alternatives.

It’s not an issue below 70mph, however, where the Vauxhall’s soft ride keeps suspension noise to a minimum. The electric version is very quiet with only a slight motor whine, while the petrol version is quiet at a cruise but a bit grumbly when getting up to speed.

Euro NCAP: is the Vauxhall Frontera a safe car?

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to make a reliable assessment of crash safety for the Vauxhall Frontera, because Euro NCAP is yet to test it nor either of the related Citroen models.

That’s a pity. All we can say is that the Frontera features a level of standard safety aids that should help it score well, with every model featuring automatic emergency braking, lane departure assist, driver attention monitoring and traffic sign recognition.

You will need to upgrade to the GS model to get blind spot monitoring, but all models featuring rear parking sensors and a reversing camera will help avoid low-speed prangs.

Fuel economy and running costs

Not everyone wants or can live with an electric car, so it’s good to know that if you pay more for the petrol-powered Frontera then it should still be cheap to run.

Both petrol options are branded as hybrids, although unlike cars like the Nissan Juke Hybrid they’re technically mild hybrids. This means the car can deliver a small amount of electrical assistance while accelerating and harvest energy when braking.

The Frontera’s system goes a little further than older mild hybrids – it’s able to cut power when you’re cruising at very low speeds and use battery power alone to gently accelerate. We say gently, because anything about light throttle kicks the engine back in quickly.

That helps the petrol Frontera manage up to 54.3mpg combined according to WLTP testing. Regardless of whether you go for the 110hp or 145hp model the same figure is quoted, which beats the Ford Puma mild-hybrid but can’t match full hybrids from Nissan and Renault.

Vauxhall Frontera Electric range and charging

Vauxhall expects to sell or lease more electric than petrol versions of the Frontera – and that’s not a surprise given that it’ll be cheaper to buy and should be cheaper to run for most, too.

That said, the Frontera Electric with the eye-catchingly low starting price is the standard range model, which features a small 44kWh usable battery pack. Officially it’ll manage 189 miles of range on a charge.

That’ll be fine for urban use or as a second car, but perhaps less appealing to those hoping the Frontera could be their sole family car. It’s about the same range as a MINI Aceman E, but a Puma Gen-E or Renault 4 manages considerably more.

That’s where the 54kWh Frontera Electric Extended Range comes in. That’ll manage up to 253 miles on a charge – more than the Puma, Renault 4 or Aceman SE. It’ll also be a more usable prospect for most.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures)

• Vauxhall Frontera 44kWh: 189 miles
• Vauxhall Frontera 54kWh: 253 miles

Both versions of the Frontera Electric manage the same quoted 100kW peak charging speed. However, EV Database figures give an average charge speed between 10-80% of 60kW for the smaller battery model and 70kW for the bigger version.

As a result, it should only take about two minutes longer to charge the bigger battery Frontera from 10-80% (about 34 minutes). That’s by no means fast, but it’s about in line with rivals.

Happily, all Frontera Electrics come with an 11kW on-board AC charger, allowing you to make the most of the faster AC destination chargers. And the small battery sizes mean that you won’t need to wait around too long to charge on a home wallbox, either.

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 7hrs (44kWh) / 8hrs 30 mins
• 11kW charging: 4hrs 45 mins / 5hrs 45 mins
• 50kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 48 mins / 59 mins
• 150kW+ rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 32 mins / 34 mins

How much does the Vauxhall Frontera cost to insure?

The Frontera looks to be an affordable car to insure by SUV standards. The range kicks off at insurance group 16 for the Hybrid 110, rising to group 20 for the higher-powered models in Design form. Ultimate trim raises that to group 17-21, while the seven-seat version is the most expensive to insure in group 23.

Meanwhile the electric versions looks to be cheaper to insure, starting from group 14 for the bigger 54kWh battery and, oddly, group 15 for the smaller 44kWh one.