New Opel Mokka oozes charm
ROAD TEST/ It isn’t cheap, but Opel’s new crossover turns heads and has a fun-to-drive nature,
SVan triking Reenen truck’ s drivers Pass that recently blocked forced us into an impromptu detour on a rocky gravel road in the new Opel Mokka, and it ticked off one conclusion: crossovers, otherwise known as softroaders, can be more capable in the rough stuff than you’d say.
With its slightly elevated 160mm ride height the frontwheel drive Opel is hardly a candidate for an off-road expedition, but its high-profile tyres happily cruised over the craters and small rocks we were forced onto by the protesters.
The Mokka breezed through it, and it was amusing to zip past all the 4x4 bakkies and high-riding SUVs that were crawling much more gingerly along the same gravel road, their drivers clearly not used to such turf. This cheeky manoeuvre typified the playful, free-spirited vibe of Opel’s new car, and was amplified by the “Mokka chocolata ya-ya” line from the Lady Marmalade song getting stuck in my head whenever I drove it.
The previous-generation Mokka was essentially a Corsa on stilts and its styling largely blended into the scenery, but the new car has morphed into a sassy little crossover with an exciting design.
The striking “visor” grille and geometric sculpting give it a distinctive flair, making the vehicle a fresh new breeze in a market segment chock-a-block with rivals. The test car, no doubt partly due to its bright green colour, drew admiring comments wherever it went.
The Mokka is available in a 1.2T Elegance model for R469,900 and the 1.2T GS Line for R519,900 — the latter being the subject of this test.
It’s expensive, but well specced for a compact crossover. The gizmos in the range-topping GS Line include items usually found in higherend premium cars and included a massaging seat for the driver (though the seat adjustments are still done manually), wireless smartphone charger, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitor, active cruise control and a fully digital instrument panel.
Matrix headlights are also part of the deal in the GS Line, providing directional lighting through corners and automatically dipping to prevent blinding other road users.
The leather seats are supportive and comfortable, and the cabin has a classy look with a mix of interesting textures and colours. The simplified dashboard isn’t overloaded with controls. In what Opel describes as a digital detox, the infotainment system is easy to use, with quick-access buttons for the main menus. The GS Line offers a large 10-inch high-definition colour touchscreen with built-in navigation.
On the road this crossover drives like a regular hatchback, and with its neat agility through corners there’s little to reveal this car rides a little high. The same goes for the car’s light feel and sharp steering, and there’s nothing SUV-like about its driving character.
The 1.2 turbo engine steals the show, however, making the Mokka an entertaining drive when you crank up the adrenaline a little. It’s a spirited little thing and the charisma is heightened by the three-cylinder engine’s rorty note when you raise the revs. That said, it’s not unrefined, and there’s little engine noise to be heard when cruising. It’s a frugal car too, averaging around 6.5l/100km.
The Mokka’s compact 4,150mm length makes it one of the smallest cars in the segment, and while there isn’t oodles of space, it offers a respectable amount of leg and head room for four adults.
The 310l boot is not quite family sized. It is one of the smallest in class, and contains a space-saver spare tyre which made us quite nervous about punctures when negotiating the above-mentioned gravel detour.
On paper this R519,900 Mokka doesn’t come across as a particular bargain, and for similar money there are rivals with more power (the 146kW Hyundai Kona 1.6T being top of the list), while this Opel is smaller and has less loading space than many of its competitors.
But it does have that charmyour-pants-off design, which is a big drawcard. It is frugal and fun to drive too and, if you can afford the range-topping version, comes fully loaded with kit. As a bonus it can take dusty detours with no problem.