The Opel Frontera is en route to South Africa. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about the automaker’s upcoming compact SUV, including when it will launch in our market.
Unveiled in May 2024, with the Frontera, Opel aims to offer customers a comfortable, spacious compact-SUV package. Said Opel CEO Florian Huettl, “The all-new Opel Frontera makes a particularly strong statement in this regard: highly flexible, spacious […] our new SUV will win over new customer groups.”
When will the Opel Frontera launch in South Africa?
At Stellantis Week 2025, the company confirmed the Opel Frontera will launch in South Africa in early 2026.
The Frontera will be available with the choice of two powertrains: battery-electric and a 1.2-litre turbo-triple, which can be had in either 74 kW or 100 kW state of tune, that incorporates 48 V mild-hybrid tech and operates in combination with a 21 kW electric motor and “electrified” six-speed dual-clutch transmission. We expect the latter, MHEV (mild-hybrid electric vehicle) powertrain will likely be employed by the local lineup.
Measuring 4 385 mm in length, 1 849 mm in width, and 1 635 mm in height, the Frontera is around the same size as the Toyota Corolla Cross.
A duo of trim levels will be on offer: (base-spec) Frontera and GS, which features such items as 10-inch touchscreen infotainment, replete with sat-nav, and a rear-view camera. However, according to the Rüsselsheim brand, “Even the entry-level version is extensively equipped.”
Noteworthy, while it will initially be available with a five-seater layout, a seven-seater will join the range at a later stage. Opel claims a boot capacity of 450 litres, which expands to 1 600 litres when folding down the 60:40-split rear backrest, for the former model.
“With its combination of rugged design, spaciousness, clever solutions and efficient drivetrains, our new Opel Frontera will appeal to a wide range of customers who want to stand out from the crowd. It is ideally suited to the urban and sub-urban environment, while simultaneously offering a recharging experience to our customers,” said Huettl.
As a reminder, on 22 July 2025, Stellantis South Africa also announced the new launch date of the Citroën C3 Basalt, which will be positioned above the C3 Aircross (tested in the October 2024 issue of CAR magazine) once it arrives in our market.
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