The Opel Antara was Opel’s compact crossover SUV from 2006 to 2015. It shared its platform and engines with the Chevrolet Captiva but had five seats instead of seven and a body and interior of its own, and it replaced the Isuzu-based Frontera in the Opel range.
Opel Antara at a glance
| Maker | Opel, a General Motors brand |
|---|---|
| Production | November 2006 – March 2015 |
| Platform | GM Theta |
| Shared with | Chevrolet Captiva |
| Seats | five |
| Body | five-door crossover SUV |
| Preview | Antara GTC concept, Frankfurt 2005 |
| Facelift | November 2010, for 2011 |
| New from facelift | 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesel, updated 2.4 petrol |
| Successor | Grandland X, September 2017 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Opel Antara, which also describes the Saturn Vue and other versions of the same car.
History of the Opel Antara
From concept to showroom
The Antara was previewed by the three-door Opel Antara GTC concept car at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, a design based on the three-door Chevrolet T2X SUV; a similar three-door study appeared at the 2006 New York show as the Saturn PreVue. The production Antara, however, was a longer five-door SUV, closely related to the Chevrolet S3X and the Chevrolet Captiva. Sales began in November 2006, and the car replaced the Isuzu-based Opel Frontera.
On the Theta platform the Antara shared its underpinnings and powertrains with the Captiva but was offered only with five seats rather than seven, and it had a different exterior and interior.
Many badges
Like several GM models of the period, the Antara was sold around the world under different names. In Britain it was the Vauxhall Antara; in Australasia the Holden Captiva 5 and Captiva MaXX; in the United States and Canada the Saturn Vue; in the Middle East the GMC Terrain; in South Korea the Daewoo Winstorm MaXX; and in the Americas, except Chile, the Chevrolet Captiva Sport. In Chile it was sold as an Opel, imported from Germany.
The 2010 facelift
In November 2010 Opel announced a facelift for the 2011 model year. The front end was revised and both headlights and tail lights were refreshed, with the new Opel badge appearing on the car. Inside there was a revised centre console with more storage, better instrument graphics and new interior lighting. An electric parking brake, a hill assistance system and a shift-up indicator for manual cars became standard. The facelift also brought a new Euro 5 compliant 2.2-litre diesel in place of the previous 2.0, and an updated 2.4-litre petrol. Production ended in March 2015, and the Grandland X, launched in September 2017, took its place in the range.
Design and features
- Five seats, not seven: the Antara was shorter in concept than the Captiva with which it shared its platform.
- Theta platform: the same underpinnings and powertrains as the Chevrolet Captiva.
- 2011 facelift: new front and lights, a revised cabin, an electric parking brake and hill assist as standard.
- Euro 5 diesel: a 2.2-litre diesel replaced the earlier 2.0 after the facelift.
Opel Antara versions
- Antara (2006–2010): the original five-door with the 2.0 diesel and 2.4 petrol.
- Antara (2011–2015): facelifted car with the 2.2 Euro 5 diesel and updated 2.4 petrol.
- Vauxhall Antara: the British version.
- Holden Captiva 5 / MaXX: the Australasian versions.
- Saturn Vue: the North American version, built in Mexico.
The Antara succeeded the Frontera in the Opel range and sat below the Insignia in size. More cars are in the Opel collection.
Video: Einzeltest Opel Antara
Video by auto motor und sport on YouTube.
Sources
- Opel Antara, English Wikipedia: platform, production, facelift, badge-engineered versions
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