OPEL Frontera Sport 1995-1998 Photos, engines & full specs

Born as a joint project between General Motors, Isuzu, and Honda, the Opel Frontera was the European version of the family, and it was a bold statement.

When Opel introduced the car in 1989, it was the beginning of the SUV era, and there were just a few carmakers that offered something similar on the market, and most of them were expensive. Take, for instance, Nissan's Pathfinder or Toyota's 4Runner. They were great and well-known. But in Europe, Opel was a newcomer, despite having a solid background with common ties with GM and Isuzu.

In 1995, the carmaker decided to introduce a facelifted version, which came with a wide range of improvements in all areas. The three-door vehicle sported the same rectangular headlights with rounded edges as its American cousins. Yet, there were a few differences, such as the front fascia that received softer lines. After all, it wasn't a truly capable off-road vehicle. In addition, the C-pillar was racked-forward on the sides and formed a triangular-shaped small window behind the B-pillar. In the back, the car featured a removable hard-top or a canvas.

Inside, Frontera Sport featured a narrow dashboard with a curved fascia to look a little bit more stylish. The carmaker installed the HVAC controls up on the center stack. In contrast, the center console was occupied by the handbrake, the gear stick, and the transfer box selector. It offered a decent room in the front but with limited legroom in the rear.

On the European market, the Frontera took its main engines from Isuzu (2.3 turbodiesel version) and Honda (3.2-liter V6). However, it was also available with GM's 2.0-liter inline-four already sold on the Old Continent for other Opel vehicles.