- 2 days ago
REV tests the new Opel Frontera, an economical SUV; checks out Kenya’s colorful matatu shared taxis; and asks why cities have such a hard time convincing people to use public transport.
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00:00Jump, jump, jump, jump!
00:02Jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump!
00:08Jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump!
00:29In 1991, Opel brought a car onto the market that should become rather successful.
00:35The name Frontera, a rather bulky off-road car that found a lot of friends around the globe.
00:42In 2004, the era ended and now, 20 years later, Opel brings back the name, the new Frontera.
00:50Welcome to REF.
00:51As with most Opels today, the Frontera is available as both a hybrid and a purely electric car, which is what we're testing.
00:59Prices start at under 24,000 euros.
01:03The general driving impression in the new Frontera is quite good.
01:07The amount of noise that gets into the interior is absolutely okay for that price segment.
01:14The suspension is good.
01:16It keeps most bumps away from the driver without being too soft and without the car leaning or rolling too much in curves.
01:31What's quite interesting and very different from most other electric cars, the Frontera electric will have high recuperation as standard.
01:39And then, instead of having a B mode, the car will have a C mode, which stands for comfort and that lowers the recuperation, thus making the car glide farther without decelerating too much.
01:53The Frontera electric is driven by an 83 kilowatt 113 horsepower electric engine and that is as powerful as it sounds.
02:14You have a top speed of 140 kilometers an hour and acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers an hour in more than 12 seconds.
02:26This car is definitely made for relaxed driving.
02:31Of course, in the city between 30 and 50 kilometers an hour, it's quite nimble.
02:39The battery has a capacity of 44 kilowatt hours usable energy and that gives you a WLTP range of 305 kilometers.
02:54That is absolutely okay if you consider that the average daily usage of a car to go to work or anything is around 37 kilometers in Germany.
03:07So, in theory, you could use the car the whole week and then charge it at the weekend if you're not going to plan to use it then or charge it in between.
03:18That is always possible and you should not have anything to worry about.
03:26Talking about charging, the maximum charging speed is 100 kilowatts.
03:31That is not exactly that fast.
03:34It is faster than some competitors but you will still need around 26 minutes, 28, depending on what the temperature is, to go from 20 to 80 percent.
03:50In the future, Opel plans to offer a long-range version of the electric Frontera, which would take you around 400 kilometers on a single charge.
04:01As you can tell, Opel managed to give the new Frontera a similarly bulky look as the predecessor, so you can somewhat recognize it.
04:14But, of course, they also made it modern two-tone colors, somewhat softer edges and, of course, the Opel visor at the front.
04:22What is quite interesting with the new Opel Frontera is the way you turn it on.
04:32Opel kept it old school.
04:34So, key into the ignition and then turn it to turn on the car.
04:42And, to be honest, at first I was kind of skeptical about that, but the moment you turn the key in the lock, it gives you that nostalgia feeling and I really like it.
04:59Apart from that, the interior has a lot of plastic, of course, that is also cost-related, but looking at it, I find it absolutely okay.
05:13Especially those matte parts here and down there are absolutely nice to the touch and will not attract as much dust or fingerprints as high-gloss black would do.
05:28The thing that is good, Opel kept physical buttons for climate control, so no need to look at it.
05:39You will find it without having to take your eyes from the road.
05:48Behind the steering wheel you will have the instrument cluster, which is fully digital and looks absolutely okay to me.
05:57You cannot adjust it. Same goes for the infotainment system, but that is okay.
06:04Most of the time, at least what I do, I will use my smartphone.
06:09So, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is what you need and the new Frontera has that.
06:15The entry-level version, however, will not have an infotainment system in the middle, but instead a holder for your smartphone.
06:27And then you can couple your smartphone to the car and listen to your music, use the navigation and everything from your smartphone.
06:35And since a lot of people do that, and I am one of them, I think that is a quite clever solution from Opel to keep the price low for people that don't even need that infotainment system.
06:48There is a lot of space in the back of the new Frontera.
06:57You can tell there is a lot of legroom, a lot of headroom.
07:01Of course, the bulky form that doesn't go down towards the rear will give you that possibility of huge headroom.
07:09And what's even better, you will also have a lot of luggage space, up to 1,600 liters if you fold down the rear seat.
07:22The trunk has a height of more than 73 centimeters, so you can, for example, buy a washing machine, load it into your Frontera and drive home.
07:31No need to have it delivered to you.
07:33For those feeling a little more adventurous, an optional roof tent is available for the Frontera, giving you the freedom to camp wherever you like.
07:44For those who don't want a purely electric car, the Frontera is also available as a hybrid version.
07:51And then you will also save some money because the entry-level price is just under 24,000 euros in Germany compared to the almost 29,000 euros you need to pay if you want the electric version.
08:08Considering the size of the car, the price is quite good.
08:13There are, of course, way cheaper electric cars out there, for example, the Dutchia Spring, but that is a very small car.
08:22And this one can be had with up to seven seats, and with its length of 4,30 meters, it is rather big.
08:31A car that is similar in size and in form is Jeep's Avenger, but that one is almost 10,000 euros more than the Opel Frontera.
08:49One thing that I found quite strange, though, is that you cannot see your average consumption.
09:01So you will see your battery state and how much range you have left.
09:06Summing up my Frontera experience, the car is absolutely decent.
09:18It has no major flaws, only minor weaknesses.
09:22And the fact that it is available as a seven-seater makes it very interesting for large families.
09:29You do, of course, have to take into account if you drive longer distances on a regular basis,
09:34then this is not the car for you.
09:37To sum up, the Opel Frontera comes at a very reasonable price for both the electric and hybrid version.
09:43Its plentiful cargo space and big trunk opening make it perfect for transporting large objects.
09:50On the downside, the range and charging speed of the purely electric version are a little low.
09:56And the fact that the navigation system does not support automatic planning of charging stops en route
10:02is also a drawback.
10:04Imagine experiencing your living room on wheels racing through the streets,
10:21dimming lights, music playing in the background with bright eye-catching graffiti decorating the walls around you.
10:27The main reason why I prefer the pimp buses and the dope matatus is because the feeling is so thrilling,
10:34as compared to other types of matatus.
10:37When you board a matatu which has a lot of graffiti, and the crew is fun, and the music is loud,
10:43and considering I'm a young person, that's what we young people like.
10:47Through showcasing the matatus, I feel like it's a really good way of being an ambassador of Kenya,
11:02because first of all we get to showcase the art, we get to showcase even the lifestyle behind it,
11:09and this brings fulfillment to me.
11:12Award-winning Brian Wanyama, also known as Graf, grew up in Nairobi's Buruburu estate,
11:18an area surrounded by garages, so it is no surprise that his love for buses runs deep.
11:24But how did he overcome the challenges to transform this passion for street art and public transport
11:30into an iconic cultural drive from 2010?
11:34My love for matatus has really been inspired by where I grew up.
11:38It had a lot of influences, especially from the matatu industry, music, art,
11:45so it's somewhere that really had a vibrant culture.
11:48From a young age, the matatus used to, you know, they pass you when you are maybe walking back to school or going to school.
11:55Even just the music from the matatus, it was something that really caught my attention.
11:59Some of the challenges that we faced when we were trying to document the matatu culture,
12:04there was this negative talk about matatus, so they used to call it matatu madness.
12:10So whenever we'd go to take photos or videos, the drivers or conductors would be very skeptical of how you'd use that content.
12:19Through civic education, we got to really make them understand our intentions and also the goals that we wanted to achieve.
12:28Matatu culture in Kenya has a rich and colorful history, rooted in the country's public transport system, which began in the 1960s.
12:37The term matatu comes from the kikuyu word for three, referring to the original fare of three cents.
12:44But what does it take to create the ultimate matatu experience, from the bold graffiti to the high energy vibes?
12:53The reason why I started Matuanga Art of Culture was to learn how people perceive the matatus and also to build value.
13:02In terms of collaborations, we usually work with the graffiti artists and also graphic designers in terms of developing concepts within the creative arts industry.
13:12Graffiti really plays a big role because it's the first thing you'll get to see when a matatu approaches you or when you see a video or even a picture of a matatu.
13:21One of the most iconic moments I've had was to work on vans that were provided by the British High Commission.
13:30That was for King Charles' visit to Kenya.
13:34Beyond the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife that draw millions to Kenya, matatu culture is also an attraction rolling through the streets.
13:42So why did Brian leave his work as a chef to transform Kenya's matatu culture to a new level?
13:49So career-wise, I started out as a chef. I worked for a while, but I needed something that would bring more fulfillment.
13:58That's why I decided to venture into the matatu industry. And from there, the rest is history.
14:06The matatu industry solidifies Kenya's identity by the art that we showcase. It's something that is unique, not just in Africa, but throughout the world.
14:18And it also provides a very huge market for youth employment.
14:24So for the future of matatu industry, we're looking forward to many partnerships, collaborations, not just in Kenya, but also Africa and the world.
14:38In Kenya, riding in matatus feels like an adventure and the journey is as thrilling as the destination.
14:48In 2012, something remarkable happened in the Estonian capital Tallinn.
14:55Cars were congesting the city's streets, so the local government asked residents, do you want free public transport?
15:03They said, ja. So Tallinn made it free.
15:07Since 2013, every resident can just hop on and off trams and buses without having to buy a ticket.
15:13Did this unclock the city? Well, buses were fuller than before.
15:18But at the same time, the share of public transit compared to other means of transport dropped.
15:23The ridership has fallen dramatically from 42% to now 30%.
15:31And in the same time, car use has risen about 5%.
15:38Despite free public transport, people use their cars more.
15:42If not money, what does it take to convince people to switch from cars to public transportation?
15:48Try to imagine what this country would be like without automobiles.
15:56This General Electric film is from 1948, but our sentiment towards cars hasn't changed much since.
16:03There's nothing like a car.
16:05When people look at the psychological aspects of car ownership, they typically look at areas of status and of pride.
16:13Pete Dyson is a behavioral scientist. He researches why people travel the way they do.
16:20The nature of the tool that it plays in our life provides some freedom to go places and to do things that have some unique aspects.
16:30Cars are about way more than just getting from A to B. They fulfill a lot of what we desire.
16:36Take a look at this pyramid of needs.
16:39It's a concept from the world of psychology that ranks what we need from basic things like food and safety,
16:45to belonging and self-esteem up to self-actualization, so becoming the best version of yourself.
16:52A car covers a whole lot of those needs.
16:55Not only does it take you wherever you want to go, whenever you want to go,
16:59it's also relatively safe and comfortable and friends and colleagues who see your car as a sign of success may admire you.
17:07Sure, a bus gets you from A to B as well, but forget about glamour or comfort once you get off a subway covered in sweat and super late for your business lunch.
17:18The thing is just, while driving might be great for those inside the car, it's actually pretty bad for everyone else.
17:25Cars, vans and motorbikes kill around 2 million people each year through air pollution or road accidents.
17:32Plus, they emit around 10% of global carbon emissions into the air because most of them still run on fossil fuels.
17:41Yes, public transport also emits carbon, but per person it's much less.
17:47Having many people share a vehicle makes the trip more efficient in this respect.
17:52That's why governments want people to switch.
17:55After Tallinn, other cities and countries have also tried to bait them with the simplest thing, money, and made public transport free.
18:02Like Luxembourg, the island of Malta, Kansas City and Albuquerque.
18:07Their experience was largely the same as in Tallinn.
18:10People who were using public transport anyways are now using it more often, taking more rides.
18:17Merlin Rehema is a sustainable city researcher based in Tallinn.
18:22To some extent also like short walks and bicycle trips that were taken before became then bus trips.
18:29But just very few give up their car.
18:33The cost is 40 euros per resident per year to make public transport free in Tallinn.
18:38But if buses are packed and not well connected, residents are reluctant to switch.
18:43You also need to make the public transport system better.
18:46There are ways in which you can make journeys smoother, more punctual, more reliable.
18:51By improving say signalling, giving bus priority to public transport.
18:59A safer environment, a more comfortable environment.
19:03The access to a seat or a table or the ability to do useful or meaningful things whilst travelling.
19:10Some cities have understood this and are working hard to improve their public transport system.
19:16Like Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
19:20There are almost 11 million people there, almost 4 million cars, 17 million motorbikes.
19:27People spend hours in traffic.
19:29Air pollution has gotten really unhealthy.
19:32But the city has also invested a lot in public transport.
19:35Here's what a trip can look like.
19:37Within 500 meters of your home, you find a stop for a free minibus that's part of the Microtrans network.
19:44This takes you to a bus station.
19:46From there you catch a bus that drives on a separate lane past all the cars stuck in traffic.
19:52The whole trip costs 3,500 rupees, as much as a small bottle of water.
19:57That's affordable.
19:59The bus is air-conditioned, which is a nice relief.
20:03It has service staff on board and a separate, supposedly safe area for women.
20:08These pink buses are women only.
20:12BRT, short for Bus Rapid Transit, has become popular in big cities in Latin America and Asia.
20:19Jakarta has the largest network with 14 of these corridors spanning over more than 250 kilometers.
20:26They call it Trans Jakarta.
20:29The concept of BRT is to give more space to public buses.
20:33This way they are supposed to travel quickly and reliably without building much new infrastructure.
20:38It is attractive because it is integrated with the Microtrans.
20:43It is integrated with the minibuses or medium buses.
20:47So we call it first-mile and last-mile connectivity.
20:50Gongam Tuas Dangang is the Southeast Asia Director of a non-profit transport institute.
20:55He lives in Jakarta and advises the transit operators.
20:59The first and last-mile connectivity he just spoke about is important to let people access public transport in the first place.
21:06That can work with bikes or e-scooters.
21:09In Jakarta, it's these minibuses.
21:12They used to be informal and privately operated, but then got integrated into the public system.
21:1820 years after the first bus corridor was built, Jakarta's bus network now covers most of the city and is connected to the local train network.
21:29Overall, about 10% of trips are made by public transport.
21:33That might not sound like a lot yet, but the government is thinking big.
21:37It wants to increase that number six-fold by 2030.
21:42Seems like Jakarta is taking user needs seriously.
21:45But they also haven't found the secret formula yet.
21:49Because as public transit has been growing, so has car and motorcycle traffic.
21:54It seems that nudging people into public transport is one thing.
21:58But the major challenge here or the major homework here is that to push people to use public transport.
22:07For decades, the solution to too much traffic has been to build more lanes, more roads, more flyovers, more free parking.
22:16And Jakarta has done just that.
22:19The thing is, that's not how you unclog your streets.
22:23Today we know, more space for cars only attracts more cars.
22:28And after a few years, roads are congested again, with more vehicles than before.
22:33This is called induced traffic.
22:36If you want fewer cars, you're better off doing the opposite.
22:40Make it harder and more inconvenient to drive a car.
22:44Again, the most obvious tool is money.
22:48From 2025, car owners in Estonia will have to pay two kinds of taxes.
22:54One when they buy a car and one when they use it.
22:57They aren't big fans of that new tax, of course.
23:01London has established a congestion charge zone.
23:05Everyone driving into it during the day has to pay 15 pounds.
23:10Car traffic dropped significantly while bus and metro use went up.
23:15But simply making it expensive to drive might hit poorer people particularly hard.
23:20There are other options too.
23:22There can also be non-monetary measures like really redesigning your cities
23:30in order to favour public transport use and active modes.
23:35Paris, for example, has been removing tens of thousands of parking lots, closing entire roads to cars,
23:41and tripling parking fees for big and polluting SUVs.
23:45Jakarta is starting to redesign as well in an area with tens of thousands of parking spaces.
23:51Gongam Tour's Tangang is advising the pilot project.
23:56We start by improving the connectivity, the whole pedestrian facilities and also cycling facilities.
24:04And then we also develop a strategy of how to reduce the parking space within the area.
24:12What is important here is that the neighbourhood sits at the major public transport hub with bus and rail connections.
24:18You can only put pressure on car drivers if you have good public transport alternatives ready.
24:25Just like with cars, people have very different needs and expectations when it comes to good public transport.
24:31It must be easy and enjoyable.
24:35In between affordable and accessible.
24:38Reliable and comfortable.
24:41And just like that, each city starts from a different point in terms of traffic, infrastructure, budget, mobility behaviour and so on.
24:50There is no single formula for public transport that applies to everyone.
24:54Whether you are nudging or pushing residents into transit, it still looks different in each place.
25:00But the goal is the same.
25:02To reduce traffic, carbon emissions and air pollution.
25:06The challenge is that new public transit has to be built within existing cities.
25:11In between houses, cars and people.
25:14Unless you want chaos and frustrated citizens, room for private vehicles can only be reduced step by step as well.
25:21And we haven't even talked about rural areas yet where routes are longer and buses scarcer.
25:27But a few quick fixes could make public transport more convenient almost immediately.
25:32Like an app that shows in real time where the bus is and when it'll arrive.
25:37Or a uniform, maybe cheap fare system that works for different types of transit.
25:43Little things that reduce stress and give a sense of control.
25:56And more automotive tales next time on REV.
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