Opel Frontera Electric: What Does the Brand’s Most Affordable Electric SUV Offer? Opel brings back the Frontera name, but this time it's not an off-roader—it's an urban electric SUV with limited power and equipment. We've looked into what this budget electric crossover can do and what compromises owners should expect.
Opel has unveiled the Frontera Electric Extended Range — an electric SUV designed to be one of the most affordable in the market. The model features a 54 kWh battery and a 113 hp electric motor on the front axle, but in practice, the driver can only count on 72 hp in continuous mode. Such power reserves require patience: acceleration to 100 km/h takes 14.2 seconds, and the top speed is limited to 143 km/h. For Spain, where the highway speed limit is 120 km/h, this won't be an issue, but the dynamics are clearly not for fast-driving enthusiasts.
Despite its modest specs, the Frontera Electric feels light for its class — weighing just under 1.6 tons. In the city, the crossover performs confidently: a turning radius of 11.5 meters and a length of 4.39 meters allow for maneuvering even in tight spaces. The suspension handles bumps well, although it becomes stiff and transmits vibrations to the cabin over short impacts. The ESP operates smoothly without interfering with handling.
Comfort and space
Inside, the Frontera Electric surprises with its spaciousness: the front seats are comfortable even for long journeys, but tall passengers in the back may find the knee angle less than ideal — the underfloor battery raises the floor level. The trunk holds from 460 to 1600 liters, but the shelf folding mechanism takes getting used to. With the backrests folded down (60:40), there’s an almost flat loading area, though the metal lashing hooks stick out noticeably into the cargo space.
Charging and real-world range
Opel claims a maximum fast-charging power of 100 kW, but under winter conditions the test Frontera delivered only 30–50 kW, dropping to 14 kW after reaching 80% charge. A full charge takes over 40 minutes, and charging speed can only be checked on the charging station itself — this information is not available in the cabin. Virtual settings and display informativeness are minimal, and driver assistance systems cannot be accessed from the screen.
A separate issue is the lack of a built-in navigator. There are physical buttons provided for disabling the speed limit sound alert and the lane-keeping assist, but one of them did not work on the test vehicle. A navigator is especially important for planning routes with charging stations — without it, the risk of being stranded with a dead battery outside the city increases.
Opel promises up to 400 km of WLTP range, but at -5°C with the heater, seat and windshield defrosters on, and using Apple CarPlay, consumption during the test was 26.1 kWh per 100 km. This resulted in a real range of just 207 km. In milder weather the outcome may be better, but in winter owners will have to look for charging stations more frequently.
Practice and competitors
The multimedia system works reliably, the smartphone connects without issues, but the lack of built-in navigation and limited settings spoil the overall impression. The Frontera Electric is suitable for those willing to accept modest performance and long charging times in exchange for savings and simplicity. By comparison, other manufacturers already offer electric crossovers with greater range and more advanced electronics—for example, the recently unveiled Volvo EX60, which, according to russpain.com, can travel up to 810 km on a single charge and adds up to 340 km of range in 10 minutes of charging.
The Opel Frontera Electric Extended Range retains the brand's recognizable style and offers a straightforward set of basic features, but requires the owner to be prepared for compromises. It may be a sensible choice for city driving and short trips, but its capabilities are still insufficient for long journeys and intensive use.
