Opel Frontera officially returns as Crossland’s reinvented successor

Its return, then still a rumour, uncovered towards the end of last year, Opel parent company, Stellantis, has officially debut the revived Frontera as the replacement for the Crossland markets on the Old Continent will be receiving from the third quarter of this year.

No longer a go-anywhere off-roader

An unsurprising difference from the original that spanned two generations from 1991 to 2004 as a rebadged version of the three-and-five-door Isuzu MU, – the latter sold locally as the Isuzu Frontier – the Frontera not only loses the body-on-frame platform and low range transfer case, but also any option of a turbodiesel engine as propulsion originates from either a mild-hybrid petrol or full electric powertrain.

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Reportedly riding on a stretched version of the “Smart Car” platform that underpins the Citroën ë-C3, the Frontera’s dimensions remains a mystery as full details are only expected once sales commence.

Compared to Crossland

However, according to Britain’s Autocar, the Frontera, which will again be sold in said market as the Vauxhall Frontera, will have an overall length of 4 400 mm and more than likely, gains on the wheelbase, width and height fronts compared to the Crossland.

As a comparison, the latter, which replaced the Meriva in 2017 as one of the first Opel models under the brand’s ownership of the PSA Group – which amalgamated with Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to create Stellantis in 2021 – measures 4 212 mm long, 1 765 mm wide and 1 635 mm tall while making do with a wheelbase of 2 604 mm.

More spacious and techier

Reflecting the dimensional changes, is the Frontera’s practicality consisting of a 460-litre boot that expands to 1 600-litres with the rear seats folded. Comparatively, boot space in the Crossland ranges from 410-litres to 1 255-litres.

Incorporating Opel’s Bold and Pure styling language complete with the Opel Vizor and Compass grille first shown on the Mokka, and subsequently passed down to the Grandland, the new Astra and the facelift Corsa, the Frontera also boasts the Opel Pure Panel comprising a pair of 10-inch displays.

Choice of EV or mild-hybrid

Set to remain a five-seater, the choice of powertrains, which also remains under wraps, will comprise the 48-volt assisted 1.2-litre turbocharged PureTech petrol powering the Corsa, and, as per its ë-C3 relations, the 44-kWh lithium phosphate battery pack Autocar reports will come with a power hike from 85 kW to 100 kW.

As it stands, the inclusion of a plug-in hybrid powertrain, consisting of an electric motor paired with the 1.6-litre PureTech turbo-petrol as used in the Astra, remains outstanding, although a certain omittance is a diesel engine as mentioned.

More details later

Speculatively projected to start around the £30 000 (R702 676) mark in the United Kingdom, more details of the Frontera are expected later, with the same applying to the possibility of it being offered in South Africa, most likely by year-end or in 2025 if given approval.

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