Vauxhall Frontera EV achieves price parity

Vauxhall has made a significant move in the UK automotive market by announcing that its new Frontera model will offer price parity between its fully electric and petrol hybrid versions. This marks the first time in the UK that an electric vehicle (EV) will be priced the same as its petrol-fuelled counterpart, a major step towards making electric mobility more accessible to a wider audience.

Traditionally, electric vehicles have carried a premium price tag compared to similar petrol models, with the average price difference across the market standing close to 30%. However, with the launch of the new Frontera, Vauxhall has eliminated this disparity. Both the Frontera Petrol Hybrid and Frontera pure electric will start at £23,495, offering consumers the choice between electric and hybrid propulsion without any price difference.

Back in August 2019, VW's Senior Vice President for North America, was at the 2019 CAR Management Seminar in Michigan, where he told people, “We strongly believe that the tipping point is near, and that tipping point will be price equity”. Shortly after that speech, VW's CEO Herbert Diess explained to a major investors meeting that, “If you focus on an electric platform, all in all it accounts for a 40% reduction against the predecessor electric Golf”.

So the possibility has been there for quite a while, we just needed one company to take the leap and begin to promise price parity. That company is Vauxhall.

This move by Vauxhall is part of a broader strategy to democratise access to electric vehicles, making them a more viable option for the average consumer. The company’s Managing Director, James Taylor, highlighted this initiative as a key milestone in their mission to make electric mobility accessible to everyone across the UK.

The Frontera Electric, which is based on the Stellantis ‘Smart Car’ BEV-native platform, offers a provisional range of up to 186 miles, with a longer-range version anticipated next year. Meanwhile, the Frontera Hybrid is powered by a 1.2-litre turbo engine paired with 48-volt hybrid technology. While not exactly world-beating, if the average city driver does 20 miles a day, then 186 miles is enough for a week's driving on a single charge.

The Vauxhall Frontera offers a modern and spacious interior designed for comfort and practicality. The Pure Panel cockpit features a newly designed steering wheel and two 10-inch widescreens, providing an intuitive and driver-friendly experience. The interior also includes physical buttons for key functions, ensuring ease of use. Standard features include satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The Frontera’s clever storage solutions, 60:40 split second-row seats, and a two-level boot floor maximise interior space, offering a larger boot capacity than many similar-sized vehicles.

The new Frontera adopts a rugged and bold design that reflects Vauxhall’s distinctive aesthetic. The front end features the brand’s signature Vizor, seamlessly integrating with LED headlamps, while prominent wheel arches and sills underline the vehicle’s robust character. The Frontera is positioned between the Mokka and All-New Grandland in Vauxhall’s SUV line-up, offering a practical size with a length of 4,380mm. Despite its compact dimensions, the Frontera stands out with its strong visual presence, available in two trim levels with options like aerodynamic alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, and a contrasting roof.

With this groundbreaking move, Vauxhall is setting a new precedent in the automotive industry, where consumers no longer have to pay a premium to opt for a fully electric vehicle over a petrol hybrid, potentially accelerating the shift towards more sustainable forms of transportation.