Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 15:21
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Orb>>.

Had a short test drive this morning in a LHD Frontera,

Thoughts.

Friendly, not pushy sales "exec".

Adequate room in the front !! Seats felt ok and enough room for me with seat all the way back. Hallelujah!

Dashboard looked OK, but obviously modular, so maybe easier to repair if problems? Maybe a bit low quality look early tech stuff from China 15 years ago before they got their act together, but not bad. As the press say built down to a price. Buttons for temp and ventilation.

Drove OK around Bury st Edmunds with a short bit of dual carriageway.

Boot would be sufficient for me, but would be useless as a 7 seater...

Asked for opinion, said I would happily return when I could have a decent test drive,

Would I ? will check out the Dacia Bigster when available.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 15:44
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - badbusdriver

Why LHD?

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 16:00
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Orb>>.

Why LHD?

They only had German registered cars as RHD deliveries not for about 6 weeks.

As you might remember, having lived in the EU and hired a few times since then, presents no problem to me.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 19:25
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Engineer Andy

Why LHD?

They only had German registered cars as RHD deliveries not for about 6 weeks.

As you might remember, having lived in the EU and hired a few times since then, presents no problem to me.

Does that mean ze Germahns got the RHD ones by mistake? ;-)

Presumably as it's a 1.2 petrol, then it's also a 'belt in oil' PSA engine? Given past problems, this would fill me with confidence over reliability.

Is the Frontera coming back to replace the Grandad, ahem, Grandland? What next, Ford re-releasing the Probe? :-)

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 19:59
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Orb>>.

Why LHD?

They only had German registered cars as RHD deliveries not for about 6 weeks.As you might remember, having lived in the EU and hired a few times since then, presents no problem to me.

Does that mean ze Germahns got the RHD ones by mistake? ;-)

Presumably as it's a 1.2 petrol, then it's also a 'belt in oil' PSA engine? Given past problems, this would fill me with confidence over reliability.

Is the Frontera coming back to replace the Grandad, ahem, Grandland? What next, Ford re-releasing the Probe? :-)

I seem to remember the SAIC MGZS was shown as a LHD at our local dealer when it was "introduced" to the UK

Probably because we are not such an important market any more

The Fronteras were actually badged opels..

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 20:10
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - badbusdriver

Is the Frontera coming back to replace the Grandad, ahem, Grandland?

The Frontera will replace the Crossland, not the Grandland.

The Fronteras were actually badged opels.

Given it was LHD and German registered, that surely wasn't a surprise?

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Fri 21 Feb 2025 06:23
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Brit_in_Germany

Not sure that is a particularly good idea, unless they have HMRC approval. According to the .gov website, the conditions for not paying VAT and duty would not apply, and I would have thought it would then have to be UK registered.

If you bring a vehicle to England, Scotland or Wales

You do not pay VAT or customs duty on a vehicle if you temporarily import it and all of the following apply:

  • it’s for your own private use
  • you’re not a UK resident
  • you do not sell, lend or hire it within the UK
  • you re-export it from the UK within 6 months - or longer if you’re eligible to use foreign number plates for longer
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Fri 21 Feb 2025 08:26
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - paul 1963

Wonder if lhd German cars will have the same spec as a rhd 'british' model?

The Honest John review car looks nice in the sage green with what appear to be white steel wheels.

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Fri 21 Feb 2025 08:44
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Orb>>.

Wonder if lhd German cars will have the same spec as a rhd 'british' model?

The Honest John review car looks nice in the sage green with what appear to be white steel wheels.

It was a higher spec model in Sage green.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 21:14
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - mcb100
There’s a dealer tour of Fronteras at the moment, organised by Vauxhall.
They’re preview events, with the car being there for a day before moving on to the next dealer. I’ve done loads of them, currently finishing up a similar activity with the Renault 5.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 22:44
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - bazza

Pure tech 1.2 now has a chain drive on the latest models.

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Thu 20 Feb 2025 23:13
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - SLO76

Pure tech 1.2 now has a chain drive on the latest models.

Doesn’t fill me with confidence. Remember their last attempt at building a small chain driven motor? The Prince 1.4/1.6 VTi motors were terrible for chain failures. Nope, I’d still say leave well alone.
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Fri 21 Feb 2025 16:37
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - bazza

Agreed, the Prince engines are notoriously bad! But if I remember, the design was joint with BMW, another company with a history of chain failures!

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Fri 21 Feb 2025 08:56
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - John F

Pure tech 1.2 now has a chain drive on the latest models.

I don't suppose Orb>> removed the oil filler cap to see which it had? I think we should be told!

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Fri 21 Feb 2025 17:01
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Orb>>.

Pure tech 1.2 now has a chain drive on the latest models.

I don't suppose Orb>> removed the oil filler cap to see which it had? I think we should be told!

No chance. Was allowed to open the boot though. Could not find the bonnet catch

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Fri 21 Feb 2025 18:53
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - paul 1963

Pure tech 1.2 now has a chain drive on the latest models.

I don't suppose Orb>> removed the oil filler cap to see which it had? I think we should be told!

No chance. Was allowed to open the boot though. Could not find the bonnet catch

Under the dash on the right.....

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Fri 21 Feb 2025 20:08
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Orb>>.

Pure tech 1.2 now has a chain drive on the latest models.

I don't suppose Orb>> removed the oil filler cap to see which it had? I think we should be told!

No chance. Was allowed to open the boot though. Could not find the bonnet catch

Under the dash on the right.....

Silly me. I was sitting in the drivers seat... DOH.

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Fri 21 Feb 2025 18:06
Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - Maxime.

  • Opel Frontera
    • 1.2 Hybrid 136 : EB2LTEDH2 chain driven.

    www.italpassion.fr/en/guides/stellantis-1-2-purete.../

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    Sat 22 Feb 2025 08:45
    Vauxhall Frontera 1,2 hybrid auto - First Impressions - John F

    Interesting. Looks as though it's the hybrids which get the chain engine, while the purely ICE models continue with the belt. For the long term low mileage user (circa 6000 miles a year), will the risks of battery pack plus chain failure outweigh the single risk of a well maintained modern (not the crumbly old DAYCO) BIO failure? Tell you in 20yrs time!

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