Vauxhall Frontera Electric

alternatives

Citroën ë-C3 Aircross
If you're after a comfy, spacious electric SUV, the new Aircross is a decent option.
★★★★☆

Hyundai Inster
A great little electric car that offers a comfortable ride with a good range.
★★★★★

Driving

There are two battery options that back up the 111bhp electric motor driving the front wheels. First is the 44kWh version, with an official range of 189 miles, or there's a 54kWh battery option with a more practical 246 miles official range. Neither version is particularly sprightly, with the 44kWh version accelerating from 0-62mph in 12.1sec and the 54kWh variant taking 13.0sec. There's enough grip through cornering and the Frontera is reasonably composed as you make turns, but the steering lacks feeling and the brake pedal is quite sharp. However, for such a tall car, the Frontera's ride feels pretty settled. It's worth noting that the steering is also light - good for those with strength limitations.

Interior

Sharing interior components with the Citroën ë-C3 Aircross, the Vauxhall Frontera opts for a sharper, classier, more conventional design over French verve, such as metal-effect pieces of trim on the dashboard and doors. But the interior quality feels a step below other vehicles in this class. A wide range of adjustments are available for the driver's seat, but the steering wheel doesn't come very far out towards you, a problem if you have long legs. SUV proportions mean you sit reasonably high up, and that helps give you a grand view of the road ahead. On the flipside, rearward visibility has some issues: the shallow rear screen and tiny quarterlight windows don't offer the best view.

That said, parking is made easier by standard-fit rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. One big bonus is that air conditioning and climate control is configurable via physical buttons, rather than through the 10.0in touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. The touchscreen in question is clear and easy to read and the software responds quickly to your inputs. You also get a fair few features, including sat-nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and wireless phone-charging.

Space and practicality

There's plenty of head and leg room for taller adults, but there's no seat-height adjustment for the front passenger. Seat design is unusual but comfortable. The front seat cushions feature an unusual trench-like depression running front to rear, which allegedly reduces pressure on your tailbone. All you really need to know is that, yes, the seats are indeed comfortable. There's oodles of leg and head room in the rear, even if the rear seat cushions aren't quite as plump. A slim transmission tunnel runs down the middle of the car, but it's not big enough to be a stumbling block for those sitting in the centre back seat. The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split and behind them is a generous 460 litres of boot space, more than the Hyundai Inster. If you do need to carry larger loads, you can fold the rear seats down flat to create 1,600 litres of storage. There's also an adjustable floorboard, which can be used to create a completely flat floor and eliminate any load lip. Alternatively, it can be lowered into the spare wheel well (there is no spare wheel) to prevent items from rolling out of the tailgate when parked on an uphill gradient. With the adjustable floorboard lowered and the parcel shelf removed, we could fit all the components of our TGA Whill R mobility scooter in the boot without folding down the rear bench.

Equipment

Scheme customers can choose from the two higher trim levels: GS includes climate control, tinted rear windows and electrically folding door mirrors, while the Ultimate trim brings a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.

*All measurements are approximate. Please note, cars can be taken off the Scheme at any time.

Photos: Vauxhall; Matt Vosper/Hyundai; Matt Howell/Citroën