The name returns, the mission changes
The reborn Frontera shares nothing with its mud-plugging ancestor except pragmatism. Built on Stellantis's Smart Car platform — twinned with the Citroën C3 Aircross — it's a boxy, unpretentious family SUV whose Electric version starts at £22,495 including the £1,500 grant, making it one of Britain's cheapest credible EVs. The Hybrid (48-volt 1.2 turbo, 108 or 143bhp, dual-clutch auto) starts around £24,855 and uniquely offers a seven-seat option.
The EV pairs a 113bhp motor with 44kWh (189 miles) or a larger 54kWh (251 miles) battery. Notably, about seven in ten UK Frontera buyers are choosing the electric version — the grant maths simply works.
The honest assessment
The Frontera placed a startling fifth overall in the 2026 Driver Power survey, with owners praising practicality and interior logic — evidence the simple-honest formula lands where it matters. The press adds the caveats: cabin materials are built to the price, the ride can get unsettled, 113bhp is adequacy rather than urgency, and there's no Euro NCAP rating yet for buyers who want the certificate.
Against the Dacia axis it's the electric answer Dacia doesn't yet cheaply offer; against its own Citroën twin, it's trim and badge preference.
The questions buyers actually ask
EV or Hybrid? With home charging, the EV — the running-cost gap at this price point is decisive. The Hybrid exists for driveway-less buyers and seven-seat needs.
Which battery? The 54kWh if the budget reaches — 251 miles moves it from city car to only-car.
Frontera or C3 Aircross? Twins. Price the deal, pick the face.
- EV from £22,495 with grant (189 or 251 miles); Hybrid from ~£24,855
- Rare budget 7-seat option on the Hybrid
- 5th overall in Driver Power 2026 — owners love the practicality
- Basic materials, unsettled ride, no NCAP rating yet
- Rivals: Dacia Duster/Bigster, Citroën C3 Aircross, Kia EV3
Key takeaways
- EV from £22,495 with grant (189 or 251 miles); Hybrid from ~£24,855
- Rare budget 7-seat option on the Hybrid
- 5th overall in Driver Power 2026 — owners love the practicality
- Basic materials, unsettled ride, no NCAP rating yet
- Rivals: Dacia Duster/Bigster, Citroën C3 Aircross, Kia EV3
Sources & further reading
- Vauxhall UK pricing
- Auto Express Driver Power 2026
- Carwow and Autocar assessments, 2026
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
