Inside, the Frontera Hybrid is pleasingly spacious and comfortable, as you’d hope for a family SUV in this class. Despite its relatively low list price, it doesn’t feel particularly cheap and there are few visible signs of cost-cutting. As with the Electric version, the only really glaring aspect is the lack of grab handles above the doors.
The Design trim definitely feels more basic and built to a cost than the GS trim we sampled on the Electric. Instead of being covered in a pleasant fabric, the doors are lined with a plastic finish, and without the neat accents, it’s a little darker and more drab.
That said, you still get plenty of kit, including a 10in infotainment touchscreen and a 10in digital driver display, a wireless phone charger, USB ports and Vauxhall’s plush new front seats, which, it claims, will keep you more comfortable for longer.
The infotainment system and digital display are relatively basic and offer only key functions such as sat-nav, but there is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and, let’s be honest, you’ll probably access all the apps you need through that anyway. We’d also like more ability to adjust the information shown on the digital driver info display, but all the essential details you need are there.
Various packs are available for the two trim levels to add some extra kit, but if you can stretch to it, we definitely think the plusher GS trim is the way to go – although you can’t get the optional white roof and steel wheels with that…
Because it doesn’t have a big underfloor battery taking up space, the Hybrid has one important USP over its Electric sibling: you can get it with seven seats. It’s a £550 option, is available on GS trim only and makes this car a genuine rival for the Dacia Jogger.
It’s a good selling point that will be welcomed by some, although given the extra two seats fold up from the boot, the usability of the third row is likely to be limited. All the Hybrid test cars on the launch event were in Design trim so we’ve yet to squeeze into the back and test them out in person.