Opel clearly hopes a familiar old name will sell its latest EV and so the Frontera moniker has been dusted off to badge a value-for-money compact SUV which is also available with a hybrid petrol motor.
At 4.39 metres long the Frontera is about as large as the Astra hatchback and it comes with an attractive price tag of €23,900 for the entry model. This may tempt potential customers away from the Dacia Duster, Ford Puma or VW T-Roc.
The Frontera was a 1990s creation at a time when a rugged look was enough to suggest the genuine off-road capability it did not possess.
Both Opel and Vauxhall versions were marketed in their respective markets and the new car can carry both badges too.
The newcomer retains its rustic, no-nonsense visuals with some nice styling touches. It is nippy without being very fast and drives well without being particularly engaging.
While the larger Grandland has an almost avant-garde appearance, the Frontera has a conventional angular design with upright sides for maximum space utilisation and hinted-at protective plates at the front and rear.
On request, it can even be fitted with roof rails with a static load capacity of 240 kilograms, allowing you to pitch a tent on the roof.
The down-to-earth vibe continues inside. Opel has installed its new "intelligent seat" which it claims can relieve the lower back with a special channel in the seat cushion and promises more long-distance comfort. And of course there are digital instruments.
Meanwhile the choice of materials is simple and cost-conscious and the use of screens restrained, which Opel markets as a "digital detox".
Instead of a touchscreen, the entry model only has a mobile phone holder, which is, however, quite clever. To minimise distraction, the smartphone can also be controlled using the steering wheel buttons for the first time in an Opel. There are also straps on the centre console that look smart and can hold mobile phones or tablets just as securely.
Above all, however, there is plenty of space - or at least seats. Opel actually offers the Frontera with a third row of seats for an extra 800 euros. While the first two rows are quite comfortable, the third row is only suitable for children at best. The enhanced luggage boot space is welcome. After all, as a five-seater, the Frontera offers a load volume of 460 to 1,600 litres.
The engine selection is also part of the cost-conscious image. Opel doesn't stress horsepower but rather the price. This applies to the mildly hybridised petrol engines, which with their powerful starter generator and 1 kWh battery, can at least creep around electrically and deliver either 74 kW/100 hp or 100 kW/136 hp.
The cost argument applies especially to the electric version, which costs a good €5,000 more, but is still cheaper than any other electric car from Rüsselsheim. It is also currently the lowest-priced electric car from a German manufacturer.
The electric Frontera drives with 83 kW/113 hp on the front axle and a 44 kWh battery. This means that 305 standard kilometres are possible before the car has to visit charging station. Juicing up is slower than with many other electric cars with 11 kW on alternating current or at best 100 kW on direct current.
As long as the battery is full, the Opel cuts a fine figure. The petrol cars can manage 190 km/h flat out whereas the EV runs out of urge at 140 km/h yet like other decent electric car, the Frontera boasts brisk acceleration and confident road-holding thanks to the heavy battery in located in the floor.
Thanks to the precise steering, winding country road are more fun to drive on than you might expect. And while other manufacturers often skimp on insulation in cheap cars, the EV is soothingly quiet. The bugbear is its limited range.
Opel has already promised to remedy this and will soon be offering a battery with a range of at least 400 kilometres.
The Frontera doesn't really fit in with the lifestyle aspirations which Opel seeks to satisfy with bolder cars like the Grandland or the cheeky Mokka.
And it doesn't even have the nominal four-wheel drive in common with its fun-loving godfather from the 1990s either. Let alone the yuppie airs and graces.
The reborn Frontera is a sensible and affordable family car which attunes better with our times. It also proves that electric cars are not just for high earners.