- Price (base/test car): NIS 145,000 / NIS 157,000
- Competitors: Dacia Jogger Hybrid, Chery Tiggo 8 (gasoline), Mitsubishi Outlander
- We liked: Seven seats, spacious, practical, good performance, handling and fuel economy, long warranty
- We didn’t like: Third row only for kids, no trunk space when all seats are in use, overall a rather simple car
- Score: 9/10
Children are joy – also for your bank manager. Especially when it’s a family with 4–5 kids, which drives up all expenses, including the cost of a car.
In the new car market, the cheapest 7-seater until now has been the Dacia Jogger, priced at 175,000 NIS, while the next group of models starts around NIS 190,000: The Chery Tiggo 8 Plug-In, Mitsubishi Outlander, and the 7-seat versions of the Citroën Berlingo, Toyota City, and Fiat Doblo – all identical models.
Since the beginning of the month, for the first time in years, it has been possible to buy a 7-seater in Israel for less than NIS 160,000, after Opel launched the new Frontera with a three-row seating option.
The Frontera is a mainstream crossover developed by the Stellantis Group, also sold as Citroën and Fiat versions that are expected to arrive here as well. It was deliberately designed to be relatively simple in order to offer a competitive price – very much in the spirit of Dacia. Initially, it was sold in India, a market that loves budget-friendly products, and after a run-in there and upgraded safety standards for Europe, it was launched in a version relevant to us.
Officially it’s a small crossover, a B-segment model, but in practice it’s one of the larger ones in the category, and with the optional third row it competes with bigger vehicles too. At 4.385 meters long, 1.84 meters wide, 1.655 meters high, and with a 2.67-meter wheelbase, the Frontera is 30 cm shorter than a popular family sedan like the Hyundai Elantra – making parking much easier in crowded lots.
The first to spot the bargain was the Defense Ministry, which ordered 500 units on lease for majors and senior NCOs with large families. Should you also consider it?
Design: The designers checked all the boxes here. While the Frontera meets the dimensions to be considered a crossover, it doesn’t really look SUV-like – instead, it also appeals to Europe’s large mini-van audience. It looks square and functional, part of a genuine engineering effort to use every centimeter for passengers rather than show. A two-tone option improves the appearance: All versions come with a black roof, while any color other than white costs an extra NIS 1,900 (though this surcharge will be waived in the coming weeks). The decision to import it with alloy wheels rather than steel rims, as seen at its debut, also helps the look.
Cabin: There’s a 10-inch multimedia screen and a matching digital instrument panel, both with fairly basic displays. Most importantly, there are physical buttons for climate control and the audio system – hallelujah. The atmosphere is simple; this is not the plush German feel you might expect today, but more of an efficient, durable 1980s vibe – right down to a key ignition with a switch. I can’t remember the last time I had to pull a test car’s key from my pocket to start it. These days, even cars without automatic door unlocking usually have a start button. At least there’s wireless phone charging and two front USB-C ports.
So, not much – but what’s there works well. The seating position is high, the front seats are comfortable and supportive. The rear bench is very spacious for both legs and head, but lacks air vents – an issue for a car meant to cool a third row.
The sixth and seventh seats are optional for an additional NIS 12,000 over the base price, and can be folded flat when not in use. With limited legroom, they’re intended only for children.
Trunk: In the 5-seat version, capacity is 466 liters, a kind of budget alternative to the Berlingo. But in the 7-seat version, expected to sell better, trunk space is a laughable 40 liters with all seats in use, and 330 liters when the third row is folded. Don’t expect a power tailgate either. You can fold just one seat to still have six passengers and a usable trunk.
The importer will offer a roof rack and external storage box at the showroom for an extra NIS 3,000 as an alternative. At least there’s a spare wheel, accessible from beneath the car.
Features: 10-inch multimedia screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, digital instrument cluster, wireless charging pad, rearview camera, 4 USB-C ports in the 5-door model and 5 in the 7-seat version, 6-speaker sound system.
Safety: Autonomous emergency braking, lane departure correction, blind-spot warning. No adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and other systems increasingly becoming standard. The Frontera has not yet been publicly crash-tested.
Engine & Performance: The powertrain is a 1.2-liter turbo gasoline mild hybrid with 145 hp, paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is Stellantis’ updated unit without the notorious disintegrating timing belt.
With a curb weight of nearly 1,400 kg – not much for a 7-seater – performance is good, thanks to an efficient automatic gearbox. With seven passengers, it will be less lively, but still fine for family pace. Oddly, when you open the hood, there’s no logo on the engine: Since the unit also powers twin models, they simply didn’t bother adding the brand badge.
Fuel economy during the test was 13 km/liter – reasonable, though far from hybrid territory. Expect around 14 km/l with calm, frugal driving.
Comfort & Handling: The suspension is very German in tuning, ensuring good body control in corners and generally comfortable ride quality, less so on rough city streets. The drive is quiet.
Bottom line: Above all, the Frontera is practical. It doesn’t show off, and it’s not especially indulgent. The 5-seat version is roomier and taller than other crossovers at this price, but simple.
The 7-seat version won’t really suit those who regularly carry seven people with luggage – unless you divide the baggage into separate bags for each kid. But it will allow large families to travel together in one car, and smaller families to easily take the kids’ friends to activities, without spending nearly NIS 200,000 on a proper crossover. Not to mention easier parking with a car no longer than an average family crossover.
It’s not perfect, but the compromises in equipment are justified by the Frontera’s price tag, which makes it excellent value for money. Opel (and soon Citroën and Fiat) managed to bring something genuinely new to the family car market. Instead of another flashy model, they built a practical, smart, and efficient family car – one that’s really needed. May there be more like it.
Opel Frontera GS 7-Seater: Technical Specs
- Engine: 1.2L mild hybrid, 145 hp, 23.4 kgm torque
- Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch automatic, FWD
Performance (manufacturer):
- 0–100 km/h (sec): 9
- Top speed (km/h): 198
- Combined fuel consumption (manufacturer, km/l): 18.9
- Combined fuel consumption (test, km/l): 13
Dimensions:
- Length (m): 4.385
- Width (m): 1.795
- Height (m): 1.655
- Wheelbase (m): 2.67
- Trunk capacity (with 7/5 passengers): 40 / 330 liters
- Weight (kg): 1,375
Safety:
- Euro NCAP crash test score: Not tested
- Active safety: Autonomous emergency braking, lane departure correction, blind-spot warning
Warranty:
- 4 years or 120,000 km