Vauxhall Frontera Electric SUV will use cheaper Citroen e-C3 tech to slash prices

The Vauxhall Frontera has been announced as a replacement for the ageing Crossland small SUV. Due to be fully revealed later in the spring, the new electric SUV revives the ‘Frontera’ nameplate after a 20-year hiatus and, when it arrives, will sit above the Vauxhall Mokka Electric in the brand’s line-up.

Like other fully-electric models in the Vauxhall range, such as the top-selling Corsa Electric supermini, the Frontera will be available with both petrol and electric powertrains at launch. Zero-emissions versions will most likely be badged the ‘Vauxhall Frontera Electric’ and will go on to rival other electric family SUVs like the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, as well as the smaller Jeep Avenger.

Unlike the Jeep Avenger, which shares its parts with the Peugeot E-2008, Fiat 600e and aforementioned Vauxhall Mokka Electric, the Frontera is instead expected to adopt the same ‘Smart Car’ underpinnings as the smaller, forthcoming Citroen e-C3 supermini.

Developed by Vauxhall’s owner Stellantis, this platform will be key in facilitating the Frontera’s ‘attractive’ price point. The e-C3 utilises a lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) battery which, while not quite as efficient in cold climates, is much cheaper to produce than traditional lithium-ion packs. The Frontera will also get this technology, but with a much larger battery unit that’ll most likely offer a range of around 250 miles.

Although it may not be the most fondly-remembered model in the brand’s history, the new Vauxhall Frontera Electric will pay homage to Frontera models of old with an upright, boxy silhouette. It’ll be slightly larger than the Crossland of which it replaces, too, and, if you squint hard enough at the pictures, you’ll also see that test mules we’ve spotted are already sporting Vauxhall’s signature ‘Vizor’ grille beneath all their heavy camouflage.

As alluded to earlier, Vauhxall has hinted that the new Frontera will have a firm focus on value-for-money, stating that it’ll be offered ‘at a competitive price’. With this in mind, given the Mokka Electric already starts from a rather lofty £37,000, we could potentially see the Frontera kick off from as little as £30,000 when it goes on sale towards the end of 2024 – undercutting both the Mokka and even the Corsa.