- Doors and Seats
3 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
2.2i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
96kW, 195Nm
- Fuel
NA
- Manufacturer
4X4
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Frontera is compact and appealing
For: Strong V6 performance, high equipment levels, reasonable off-road ability.
Against: Soft suspension, grim interior, narrow body.
How it rates: 3 stars (out of 5).
If, like tens of thousands of other people, your thoughts are turning to buying a mid-sized four-wheel-drive, a Holden dealership is a logical place to stop.
The Jackaroo wagon is a reasonably popular choice; not quite as big a seller as the Mitsubishi Pajero or Toyota Prado, but popular despite getting quite long in the tooth.
The vehicle that might not make many shopping lists also carries the Holden badge. Like the Jackaroo, the Frontera is made by Isuzu in Japan but it is smaller, a little cheaper and not as well known.
Holden is determined to rectify that situation, and after a few years of faltering sales has gradually massaged the Frontera to make it more appealing.
The latest upgrade includes a new look to the front-end, and a few other tweaks to equipment and comfort levels, as well as an anti-lock braking (ABS) system tuned to Australian off-road conditions.
For those familiar with the Frontera launched at the beginning of last year, the biggest change is the new grille, headlamp and front bumper assembly, which makes a more recognisable link to Holdens mid-size four-wheeler. Otherwise, it retains the same mechanical package and model line-up with just a few tweaks inside.
As before, the range starts with the three-door Sport model, which has a shorter wheelbase, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine and a $29,307 price tag. The other three models get a longer, four-door body, a 3.2-litre V6 and prices ranging from $35,168 to $42,016.
If youre looking for an automatic transmission, the most expensive SE model is the only option; the otherwise well-equipped S tested here comes only with a five-speed manual. At $38,109 the Frontera S also includes a long list of standard equipment including air-conditioning, ABS and dual airbags, cruise control, a single-disc CD player, power windows and remote central locking.
The first thing you notice about the Frontera is its compact size: its roof is low, theres no big step-up into the drivers seat, and once youre inside the body seems a little on the narrow side. That might be a bonus for those potential owners who dont like the bulk of a typical 4WD, but it also means its a squeeze to fit more than two people in the back seat.
The combination of a relatively small size, a powerful V6 engine and manual transmission means the Frontera holds its own in the performance stakes. The 24-valve V6 produces a hefty 151 kilowatts of power and the manual gearbox allows it all to be accessed freely. Despite a somewhat soggy and long-travel clutch pedal, getaways from the traffic lights are rapid and overtaking manoeuvres a breeze.
The engine revs quite cleanly and without too much noise, so the Frontera can be driven like a sports car or, as is more likely, will also pull strongly from low revs. Its peak torque figure of 290Nm arrives at 3000rpm, so it is never too hard to keep the engine on the boil, and that also makes it a good contender for low-speed work off the road.
Speaking of which, the Frontera has a separate ladder-type chassis and a full set of low gear ratios that make it more than a pretender when it comes to the rough stuff.
It normally operates in rear-wheel drive; the driver switches to 4WD easily by pushing a button on the dashboard; the button works at speeds up to 100kmh. Theres a separate lever to switch between high and low ratios once the vehicle is at a standstill.
The Fronteras suspension is quite soft, so the ride is nominally comfortable, although on rough roads and through corners theres quite a bit of wallowing about that speaks of ordinary damper choice and does nothing for straight-line stability over bumps. The steering is also quite vague, and with nearly four turns lock to lock, it requires plenty of wheel-twirling either on the road or in parking situations.
Work done by local Holden engineers on the Japanese-built Fronteras ABS brakes seems to have come off a treat. Where the previous model would skate across the top of loose gravel in emergency braking situations, this one avoids early application of the ABS, digs into a harder surface and pulls up strongly like a good conventional brake set-up. Its good to see a manufacturer not only paying lip service to proper road manners away from the sealed stuff, but making it work also.
Back out on the highway, the Frontera reveals admirably low noise levels, whether from transmitted tyre roar or wind rushing past the A-pillars. The engine emits a gruff roar when pushed hard, but all around the Fronteras quietness, engine power and soft ride make it a pretty good option for relaxed, long-distance driving.
Less impressive is the interior, which looks and feels cheap and devoid of style. Everything is grey: dashboard plastics, door trims, even the seats, although the latter have been reshaped to make them wider and better sprung. The driving position is unusual in an off-roader in that it is quite low, but at least theres enough head room for hat-wearers.
The rear seat has just adequate leg room and nothing more, and the split-fold seat disappointingly has no three-point centre seatbelt. The luggage compartment is accessible via a split tailgate, which has a lifting glass section and swinging door, an arrangement made necessary by the spare wheel mounted on the back. Its not a perfect set-up, and limits rearward vision for the driver, but at least there seems to be a decent amount of luggage space once you get at it.
It is an unusual vehicle, this Frontera. Those looking for impressive size and that high-up rugged look in an off-roader will be disappointed by its more car-like dimensions.
But its strong performance means the Frontera outpaces most similar trucks on the road while giving away little in off-road ability.
It has plenty of rivals in the sub-$40,000 mid-sized market and in its latest guise is well worth remembering if youre looking for a mid-size off-roader.
All the details
Price: $38,109 (manual).
Engine: 3.2-litre, DOHC, 24-valve V6. 151kW at 5400rpm and 290Nm at 3000rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed automatic. Rear- and four-wheel-drive.
Steering: Rack and pinion, 3.7 turns lock-to-lock. Turning circle 11.7m.
Brakes: Ventilated discs front, discs rear. ABS standard.
Suspension: Front - Independent with torsion bar springs and stabiliser bar. Rear - Live axle with coil springs and stabiliser bar.
Wheels/tyres: 15 x 6.5-inch alloy wheels, tyres 235/75.
How big? Length 4670mm, width 1815mm, height 1690mm, wheelbase 2700mm.
How heavy? 1700kg.
How thirsty? 15.2L/100km. Fuel tank 80L.
Rivals
Mitsubishi Challenger, $36,150
Daewoo Musso, $37,878
Jeep Cherokee Classic, $38,075
Ford Explorer XL, $38,980
Nissan Pathfinder ST, $38,500 (auto)