Road tested by Hugh Maguire.
We are living in a time of great change and uncertainty and while that comment could be addressing the current status of our world politically it could also be applied to the status of the motor industry globally.
EU governments have sought to rush motorists into EV’s proclaiming they are truly green. A claim that is not entirely true when you dig beyond the soundbite!
Then they imposed a date on the motor industry for the end of the Internal combustion engine (ICE) namely 2035. But just last year in the midst of sluggish EV sales and a backlash from both motorists and the industry EU legislators rolled back and softened the 2035 deadline on ICE powered cars so that new ICE and hybrid vehicles can still be sold after 2035 under a 90% emissions reduction role.
So petrol power is here for a considerable time to come.
I predict that the “new” regulations may even be adjusted again. Electrically powered vehicles simply don’t suit everyone. Unless you can charge at home frankly they are more expensive to run and just don’t make sense. The idea that they are a one size fits all solution to global emissions is ridiculous. I predict that renewable fuels will become more available at a sensible price ensuring that for those that an EV is not practical they can drive an ICE vehicle powered by renewable fuels. It’s already in progress. I guarantee it will happen. It is only a matter of time.
So it is no surprise then that the ever adaptable motor industry has literally rushed to re invigorate some of their ICE cars but with either hybrid or plug in hybrid power.
Interestingly last year in Ireland petrol engines remained the most popular sellers with some 25% of the market. Petrol hybrid was next at about 23% with EV’s third at 18-19% of the market. Diesel surprisingly still held about 17% of the market though declining while plug in hybrids made up 15%. A telling set of figures. Many people still want /need vehicles that don’t need plugging in. So that brings us neatly to the subject of this road test the all new Opel Frontera self charging hybrid. We want to answer the question does a self charging hybrid offer the best of both worlds?
The new Frontera comes with a choice of two petrol hybrids, with 100PS and 136 PS respectively and two EV powertrains namely with a 44kW battery WLTP range of 300km and also a 54kW battery model with a estimated range of some 400km.
Prices start at €24,606 inclusive of grants for the EV version or €27,995 for the 100PS petrol hybrid version.
Opel will introduce a 7-seat version in GS trim later this year and that will cost around €37,000.
The model on test here is the Frontera hybrid GS. I must point out the really this car though called a hybrid it is a mild hybrid.
First Impressions.
While no head turner the new Frontera manages to look smart enough especially in the test cars Canyon Orange paint scheme. I am glad Opel have kept their new Visor face design and not followed the trend we see in many of the Chinese brands with car wide light bars front and rear. They are all starting to look the same. Opel has a style of their own and all the better for it.
Behind the wheel.
The cabin is typically Opel, in that it is well laid out, well put together and offers sensible functionality. It is the sort of no nonsense interior that I really like. Everything is where you expect it to be and all the switches (yes there are real buttons I am delighted to report) work with a well engineered precision.
The black upholstery is lightened by a a light grey stripe and with judicious use of matt silver trim the whole cabin is a welcoming place. My only dislike in here was the cheap looking strap surrounding the cup holders.
Opel again resisted the current trend for idiotically huge portrait screens and a letterbox sized driver display. The Frontera boasts a good looking single effect layout with a 10 inch central screen and equally large 10 inch driver display.
There is a good suite of standard equipment with some nice items such as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and reversing camera to name but a few. Naturally it also boasts the usual safety kit but thankfully apart from the aural speed limit warning its nicely unobtrusive.
What is under the bonnet?
This Frontera is powered by a 136 bhp 1.2 litre petrol engine with mild hybrid technology mated to a 6-speed auto gearbox driving the front wheels.
What does that really mean? At low speeds under mild load it will run on electric power only while shutting on and off the petrol engine seamlessly. Its almost imperceptible. It self charges the small battery under mild regenerative braking and via the engine. The result is an impressive result for my fuel economy tests consuming just 5.8 litres of petrol per 100km in urban running and on a long motorway journey at higher speeds it returned an equally impressive 6.2l/100km giving the new Frontera hybrid a real world practical range of well over 700km between refuels. Nice! Road tax is €190.00
So how does it drive?
The new Frontera does everything well and nothing badly. Its quiet and pretty refined at all speeds. It rides our roads very well and handles equally well.
Accommodation is good up front and the rear will seat two adults in comfort and three at a squeeze. The boot is a decent size too making for a practical and versatile car.
Hugh’s Verdict.
So let’s answer the question I asked at the start.
Does a self charging hybrid offer the best of both worlds? I do think even in this mild hybrid form that the self charging petrol hybrid offers the best of both worlds.
It seems the Irish car buying public agree as evidenced by the 2025 breakdown of car sales by engine type.
With a hybrid there is no plugging in, great real world range, and they are as the new Frontera demonstrates admirably, economical. In short a hybrid such as the Opel Frontera makes sense right now for drivers who want lower emissions without changing how they live or drive.
The new Frontera comes with a 5-year unlimited mileage (KM) warranty and Opel are also offering 0 % HP on the Frontera or a competitive PCP rate.
Overall then if you are looking for a practical, versatile, compact SUV that boasts decent standard kit, and is miserly on fuel you will not go wrong choosing the new Frontera petrol hybrid. The GS version tested costs €33,095.
Likes:
Very comfortable.
Practical & Versatile
Really economical
Dislikes:
Cheap looking elastic strap around cup holders
Touchscreen glitchy at times
Driver display could be more adventurous in design