1998 OPEL Frontera Sport 2.2L DTi 5MT (115 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Opel introduced the second generation of the Frontera SUV in 1998, and even if it didn’t look that much different than its predecessor, it was actually a new vehicle.

The German automaker was new in the SUV segment, but its parent company, GM, was not. So, the American company decided to join forces with Honda and Isuzu and introduced the first generation of the Frontera. It was a mild success, but it was good enough to convince them to create a second generation, where they fixed most of the problems seen on the Frontera I.

At first glance, it was the same vehicle as before. Yet, the automaker’s designers reshaped the bodywork and gave it a smoother look, with rounded corners. At the front, the rectangular headlights were continued on the sides by the corner-mounted blinkers. In addition, the plastic bumper was redesigned to look more aerodynamic and incorporate a wide center air intake. The three-door version, named Frontera Sport, featured a small triangular window between the doors and the tilted-forward C-pillar.

Inside, the automaker struggled harder to create a friendlier, better-equipped cabin. Gone were the straight angles and corners from its predecessor. On the 1998 Frontera, the curved lines looked like they were drawn for a sedan. Yet, between the front seats, the two sticks for the gearbox and the transfer case reminded customers that this was an actual SUV, built to tackle more than a curb and a sidewalk during a parking maneuver.

Under the smoothed bodywork, Opel installed a chassis with front independent suspension and a live axle in the back. In addition, the carmaker offered the Frontera with a choice of three engines: one turbo-diesel and two with gasoline. Besides the five-speed manual, Opel offered a four-speed automatic as an option for selected versions.