The Vauxhall Antara was introduced to the public with the goal of capturing the attention of the crossover SUV market. For this segment of the car market, the appeal lies in having a car that can take them seamlessly from the rugged roads to the urban jungle. The concept car was first introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2005 and has been on sale in the UK since 2007.

Towards the end of 2010, the Antara’s manufacturer announced a facelift. The design on the front was revised, as well as the front and rear lights. There were also changes made on the diesel engine, chassis, interiors, and storage spaces, as well as making the electric parking brake and hill assistance system standard features.

In the UK market, there are currently three models available – the Exclusiv FWD, Exclusiv AWD, and the SE NAV. A main feature of the current Vauxhall Antara models is the All-wheel drive (AWD) wherein optimal traction is provided when driving in difficult conditions such as slippery non-paved roads. Another neat feature is the Descent Control System (DCS) which gives the care the ability to maintain a constant speed when descending.

Other lifestyle oriented SUVs that the Antara is up against are the Qashqai from Nissan, Kuga from Ford, Tiguan from VW, and the Sportage from Kia.