2026 Opel Frontera Start
By Lorenzo Bianchi August 22, 2026
The new Opel Frontera Start is the brand's most affordable current model, priced from €21,990 (RRP incl. VAT, Germany) in Effekt Blue — €2,750 less than the previous entry point.
A new 74kW (100hp) 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine with a six-speed manual gearbox joins the Frontera's existing hybrid (81kW/110hp and 107kW/145hp) and electric (44kWh and 54kWh battery) powertrains.
Frontera Start offers 460 litres of boot space, rising to around 1,600 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded, alongside a six-way adjustable Intelli-seat and standard driver assistance systems.
A New Entry Point Into the Opel Range
Opel has added a fourth trim to the Frontera lineup, and the 2026 Opel Frontera Start is built specifically to undercut everything else the brand sells. Alongside it comes a new 74kW (100hp) 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, giving the range four distinct trim levels — Start, Edition, GS and Ultimate — and a wider spread of powertrains than before. Pricing in Germany starts at €21,990 including VAT, in the launch colour Effekt Blue, which Opel says is €2,750 less than the Frontera's previous entry point.
Exterior Design and Stance
The Start trim keeps the Frontera's boxier, rugged-looking cues rather than dressing them down: black wing mirror housings, bumpers finished with a black underrun protection look, and 16-inch steel wheels wearing new black wheel covers. Opel points to the SUV's steeply sloping side panels and rear window as part of what it calls the model's "pure design" language, a look shared across the trim range rather than something unique to Start.
Interior Space and Technology
Rather than a built-in infotainment screen, the Start relies on a smartphone station mounted on the centre console for entertainment, paired with a 10-inch driver information display for vehicle data. The driver's seat is a six-way adjustable Intelli-seat with a recess built into the middle cushion, and air conditioning is standard. Safety and visibility come from a rear parking pilot and lane departure warning. Buyers who want more can add the Start Comfort Pack, which brings a dual-level boot floor and integrated make-up mirrors in both sun visors.
Powertrain and Options
The headline addition is that new 1.2-litre turbo petrol unit, making 74kW (100hp) through a six-speed manual gearbox — it's also offered across Edition, GS and Ultimate, not exclusive to Start. Buyers can instead step up to a hybrid with 81kW (110hp) of system power, paired with an electric six-speed dual-clutch gearbox; a second hybrid tune producing 107kW (145hp) also appears in Opel's efficiency figures, though the release doesn't detail its gearbox specifics [Unverified]. For an all-electric option on the Start trim, the Frontera Electric Start pairs an 83kW (113hp) motor with a 44kWh battery (43kWh usable). A larger 54kWh "Extended Range" battery also features in Opel's WLTP figures for the wider Frontera range, though the release doesn't confirm whether that pack is offered specifically on Start.
Practical Usability
Boot capacity sits at 460 litres with the rear seats upright, growing to roughly 1,600 litres when the 60:40 split-folding rear bench is folded flat — figures Opel presents as standard across the Frontera range rather than Start-specific. The brand also highlights generous second-row travel comfort as one of the model's consistent strengths.
Market Position
Opel Germany head Patrick Dinger frames the Start trim plainly: "no other Opel car is currently available at a lower price." That positions the Frontera Start as a value play within Opel and Vauxhall's broader affordable-mobility strategy under Stellantis, aimed at family SUV buyers watching their budget rather than at a specific named rival [Speculation].