VM test drive report Opel Frontera: Electric sensibility vehicle for family and leisure
Reduced to the essentials, that's what the new Frontera is supposed to be - and it's not too far removed from its rugged and minimalistic namesake. But that's about it. Because the compact SUV has nothing to do with off-road climbing. Rather, it's a city and long-distance vehicle with high family qualities. The Frontera offers plenty of space, based on the so-called Smart Car Platform, which is an economical advancement of the CMP. Technically, it is related to the Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross or the Fiat New Panda. Only in the hybrid version does it offer up to seven seats, which the all-electric version lacks due to the taller battery.
Hybrid: Good for now, expensive in the future
Granted, the requirement for seven seats may target a rather niche audience. More important is the emission-free driving provided by the purely electric propulsion, while the 48-volt mild hybrid (100 & 136 hp) is not bad per se, but somewhat sluggish to drive. It is supposed to drive up to 50 percent electrically in the city and can still glide electrically at 135 km/h. But this averages out to 5.2 liters per 100 km of fossil fuel or 118 g/km of CO2. Too much for the year 2025, which must be a critical leap year if Germany does not want to fall behind in electromobility.
Not a speedster, but adequate
Spot on for the BEV: It comes with the Vitesco synchronous motor called M2 under the angular hood with 83 kW of power, getting off the ground adequately swiftly, though it's not a speedster or a fun machine. There are no traction problems considering the 125 Nm, with 100 km/h achieved in the 12 seconds that were once considered brisk in the combustion engine era. That's entirely sufficient for everyday use; the Frontera is not one of those numerous electric powerhouses that can hardly move because there are speed limits everywhere. A rational electric vehicle, then, which scales down pleasingly in this sense, moving forward quietly and calmly. And it recuperates rather gently, a bit more firmly in the standard "D" setting than in DC.
Grown-up Chassis
This also suits the chassis, which is more comfort-oriented but feels tighter and more agile than Citroën's and handles bumps very agreeable. The Frontera, which is relatively light at 1.5 tons, won't become a cornering king, even with its fairly precise yet easy steering. Nor does it need to be. More important is that the body, with its somewhat rattling doors, and the multitude of budget-conscious but attractive, also 85 percent recyclable plastic in the "vegan interior," are rigid and creak-free.
In addition, rolling and wind noises are effectively suppressed, allowing for stable and smooth cruising on the highway. This feels very mature. You shouldn't be in too much of a rush in the BEV: sensibly, it's maxed out at 140 km/h. The hybrid, on the other hand, can up to 190 km/h, though this is more of an academic exercise, likely with a long build-up.
Advantage of a small battery: Quickly recharged
You shouldn't necessarily push it to 140 km/h if you don't want to overly strain the small 44-kWh lithium-ion battery: Opel officially states an energy consumption of 18.2 kWh/100 km. Those who are a bit cautious with the accelerator pedal easily fall below this value. And then the indicated 300 kilometers with a 100 percent battery charge are quite achievable. For daily use, that's okay, but for traveling, it's definitely a bit short. However, relief is on the way, in the form of a Frontera Electric announced for 2025 with a 400-kilometer range. Then the package will be truly complete and consistent.
At least the small battery is brought back from 20 to 80 percent in just 26 minutes, even with the now rather "mild" 100-kW DC charger, something that the BEV giants with double-sized batteries can't do faster. And with 44 kWh, the sluggish 7.4-kW AC charger might also fit reasonably well (11 kW costs an extra 400 euros). Downsizing does have its appeal.
Small Truck Qualities
And when the powerhouse drivers see at the charging station what the Frontera can pack away with its 4.38 meters length, 1.63 meters height, and 1.80 meters width, they will inevitably be envious: 460 liters of standard trunk space, which is also easy to load over a low edge and, with the seats folded down, transforms into an easily accessible 1,600-liter loading cave with a slightly rising surface. This turns the lightning BEV into a small truck. Equally practical is the rest of the interior with numerous storage compartments, comfortable seats, and a robust build quality.
It fits well into the "reduced to the essentials" and practical-for-life image that, unusually, you still have to insert and turn a key to start the vehicle—a bit anachronistic, but due to cost pressures. Likewise, the onboard computer does not display consumption, and the infotainment offers basic functions at best. Therefore, one might prefer to take the option to do without it and use one's own phone as the infotainment. Conveniently, this also works via an app with integration into the steering wheel controls.
Driver Assistance with the Essentials
Standard on board is LED lighting with automatic high beams. The driver assistance also meets the basic requirements, including cruise control, lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, blind spot warning, and an automatic emergency brake with pedestrian and cyclist detection. However, you will search in vain for an automatic distance control and Level 2 automated driving, well, the costs...
Speaking of which: At just under 29,000 euros, the Opel is indeed from Rüsselsheim, but not a bargain. The hybrid costs 3,000 to 5,000 euros less, and the surcharge for the BEV is well and future-proof money invested here, assuming that fuel prices will soar from 2026 onwards. The Frontera clearly ranks above Fiat and Citroen, which of course aim much more compact and smaller. Nevertheless, those in Hesse are confident that they are striking a chord with families. And as mentioned: A 400-kilometer version will follow shortly. Then the Frontera will truly become the complete vehicle for all situations. Even now, it is quite a good sensible e-car, even though it's an SUV. If you want to build even higher, by the way, you can order a roof tent. Then it's a bit of "Original Frontera" in the Frontera again.
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