© JAMES TAYLOR
Editor: Land Rover Enthusiast Magazine

Background

The Vauxhall Frontera has never been quite what it seems. Despite its British badging (or German Opel badging in continental Europe), and even though it is assembled in Britain, it is actually Japanese in origin.

In fact, the Frontera is based on two separate models designed by Isuzu; Vauxhall's owners, the American giant General Motors, have a large share in the Japanese company and arranged the badge-engineering deal as a quick way of getting into the booming European four-wheel drive market in the early Nineties. The Frontera's arrival was quickly followed by the introduction of the Vauxhall Monterey, which again wears Opel badges on the European continent and is again actually a Japanese Isuzu design.

The short-wheelbase Frontera Sport started life as an Isuzu MU (Mysterious Utility), which is known in some markets as an Isuzu Amigo and was announced in January 1989. The long-wheelbase Frontera Estate is an MU derivative which started life as the Isuzu Rodeo and was first seen in January 1991. The Frontera editions of both models were announced in March 1991.

For their first four years as Vauxhall/Opel models, the Fronteras had European engines which generally lacked sparkle. However, revisions in 1995 brought vastly better power units (including an Isuzu turbodiesel) as well as a whole series of revisions which answered criticisms of the earlier models.

Based on an Isuzu design, the Vauxhall Frontera has achieved a considerable presence in the UK 4x4 market, this long-wheelbase model with a choice of petrol and turbodiesel engines being aimed firmly at the family market.

The overall layout of the Fronteras is typically Japanese, with steel bodies bolted to a ladder-frame chassis which has independent front suspension by torsion bars and wishbones. The original leaf-sprung live rear axle was replaced by a more sophisticated coil-spring set-up in 1995. Curiously, there has been no automatic transmission on any Frontera.

Character summary

The SWB three-door Sport versions are, of course, the weekend recreational off-roaders aimed at younger buyers; the LWB five-door Estate models are by contrast the family models. Both are roomy vehicles, although space in the rear of the SWB types is not as good as it looks.

The dashboard has a rather old-fashioned and unattractive appearance, although black plastic instead of the original grey improved it on post-1995 models. Equipment levels are generally quite good in both SWB and LWB models. Pre-1995 LWB Estates had an awkward swing-away spare-wheel carrier at the rear, which earned them few friends and was modified to a more convenient design for later models.

The Frontera aims to be as car-like as possible, while retaining the chunky and solid, appeal of a 4x4. Its driving position is very car-like, although it seems strangely unsuited to a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Performance summary

The post-1995 models are very much superior to the earlier types as driver's vehicles: even the 2-litre petrol engine in the later Sport has better pulling power. The 2.4-litre petrol engine in early Estates is frustratingly lacking in urge and the 2.3-litre turbodiesel a plodder; the 2-litre engine in the early SWB models is only adequate.

Anyone seeking a rare 4x4 will find one in the soft-top version of the Frontera Sport, which was introduced in 1994 but withdrawn within a year because of limited demand.

Handling is quite car-like on all Fronteras, but the steering on pre-1995 models is rather vague; later types are much better. Ride comfort is good on the early Estates, but the pre-1995 SWB models suffer from pitch and bounce; the coil-spring suspension introduced in 1995 both improved the ride of the Estates and smoothed out the SWB models' irritatingly lively ride.

Off-road, the SWB Frontera is inevitably a better performer than the LWB model, and the later 2.8-litre turbodiesel model gives the best account of itself. However, the wide tyres fitted as standard (mainly for the sake of appearances) can cause a lack of directional control on hard, rutted ground. The Frontera's independent front suspension is perhaps its most serious drawback, however, and the transmission protection plate fitted as standard makes clear that its makers are well aware of the risk of grounding.

Reliability, weaknesses, spares

All models of Frontera have shown themselves to be reliable vehicles. No consistent weaknesses have become apparent, although there are irritating design faults on the pre-1995 models - in particular, the LWB versions' swingaway spare-wheel carrier.
Spares are readily obtainable through Vauxhall dealers, and are reasonably priced.

Resale values

Fronteras are strong sellers and are much in demand on the used-car market. Residuals are strong, but values of the early models are likely to be weakened when examples of the much-improved 1995-specification types come onto the secondhand market in quantity. High specifications are particularly prized, but the unloved (and rare) soft-top Sport may not be a good long-term bet.