In the world of machines where height isn't just a number but a testament to its towering presence, the Opel Frontera has been an intriguing case study. This robust creature of the road debuted with an imposing stance back in 1992, only to become slightly more grounded as the years rolled on. Ah, the Frontera, a name that whispers adventures on untrodden paths and conjures images of scaling unscalable peaks, primarily because it's as tall as a reasonably enthusiastic mountain goat.
Now, let’s talk evolution, or in the case of the Opel Frontera, a height reduction over years. Initially, the Frontera A swung into the automotive scene with a height of 1721 mm. You could almost hear the other cars gasp in envy. Or was that the sound of parking barriers quivering? Nevertheless, this model carried its majestic height until 1998, only for the Frontera B to decide that it was time to literally 'come down to Earth'. It slimmed down to a somewhat less towering 1692 mm. Perhaps it wanted to fit into garages without having to hold its breath.
Size matters, they say, especially when you're part of a lineup that includes names like the Opel Astra and the Mokka. Compared to its siblings, the Frontera is the tall, mysterious figure lurking in the background. The Astra, be it electrified or not, hunches at around 1432 mm, and even the Mokka, with its electric variants, stands only at 1534 mm. Among its familial ranks, only the considerably more commercial Combo and the Zafira dare to stretch closer to the skies, yet they still don't quite match the Frontera's initial height. The Frontera, in its prime, was clearly the one you'd ask to reach the top shelf.
When we dare to gaze beyond the familial ties and into the wild yonder of competitors, the Frontera finds itself in a dance of dimensions with the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Nissan Patrol, both of which treat the 1800 mm mark with the sort of respect a cat gives a high fence. The Toyota Hilux, meanwhile, ducks under the radar at 1595 mm. And then there’s the Mitsubishi L400, stretching to a yoga-master-esque 1960 mm, making our Frontera look rather, dare I say, average. But, when you're considering scrambling over rocks or ploughing through a forest not yet touched by Google Maps, the Frontera strikes a balance between brawn and beauty, proving that when it comes to conquering the great outdoors, size is just one part of the equation.