Vauxhall Mokka X
THE Mokka has proven a hit for Vauxhall, so it has tried not to mess with a winning formula for this revised X model. There’s a slimmed down model line-up, fresh looks and an upgraded interior, but underneath, it gets the same choice of turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines. There’s also the option of four-wheel drive on selected versions. Prices start at £17,640, but here we test the mid-range Design Nav model, fitted with the lower-powered 108bhp 1.6 CDTI, which will set you back £19,565.
Styling 3.8/5
IN an effort to boost the Mokka’s showroom appeal, Vauxhall has treated it to a bit of a nip and tuck. However, the main changes are concentrated on the nose, which has been given the same family look as the latest Astra hatchback.
That means there’s a simpler grille with less chrome, plus a slimmer headlamp design that includes distinctive ‘tick’ running lights. Spend an extra £1,160 and you can upgrade these units to the brand’s Intellilux LED set-up. It’s not a cheap option, but the adaptive units are brilliantly effective at night.
However, look around the Mokka and you’ll soon realise that from the windscreen back, it appears exactly the same as before. Still, at least that means the high-riding Vauxhall benefits from the same tough and purposeful stance.
The biggest change has been reserved for the interior, which has an all-new dashboard design. Once again, it’s the Astra that provides inspiration, with the Mokka getting the same clean look and flowing lines. Ahead of the driver is a new set of dials that’s complemented by a more modern-looking trip computer layout, while lower down, the existing ventilation controls are housed more tidily in a revised centre-console stack.
Dominating the dashboard is the brand’s eight-inch Intellilink touchscreen, which controls all the infotainment and sat-nav functions. It’s a real highlight as it’s easy to use with clear graphics, and responds promptly to commands, which is certainly a step up over the Peugeot’s similar unit.
The rest of the interior is carried over more or less unchanged, although that’s no bad thing, as it’s tightly bolted together and made from decent-quality materials. However, the reused steering wheel design and stalk controls suggest that this facelift has been done on a tight budget.
Still, some of the savings made have clearly been spent on standard kit, because this Design Nav version gets all the essentials. As well as sat-nav, there’s climate and cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, and a leather steering wheel. Crucially, you also get Vauxhall’s Onstar concierge service, which provides everything from route plotting to 4G Internet.
Driving 3.7/5
UNDER the skin, the Mokka is largely unchanged, so our test car benefits from the same 1.6-litre CDTI ‘Whisper’ diesel that made its debut a couple of years ago.
With 108bhp, it’s 10bhp down on its rivals here, but the impressive 300Nm torque output is identical, and delivered at the same low 1,750rpm. As a result, the Vauxhall trailed its rivals in the 0-60mph sprint with a time of 11.3 seconds, yet was much more closely matched during our
“The Astra provides inspiration, so the Mokka gets the same clean looks”
in-gear assessments. This was reflected in the real world, where the Mokka felt every bit as quick as the other cars. Here the Vauxhall’s smooth and muscular power delivery combined with the slick-shifting six-speed gearbox to deliver effortless progress.
The engine is impressively refined, too. There’s far less diesel clatter at idle than in the Honda, plus it sounds less gruff when extended. And while there’s some wind noise from around the thick windscreen pillars, the Mokka is as relaxed at a cruise as the Peugeot. Better still, the stiff low-speed ride smooths out on the motorway, with only large potholes or expansion joints sending a noisy thud through the car’s structure.
Less impressive is the Vauxhall’s performance through a series of corners. The light steering delivers very little feedback, while the Mokka’s front end washes wide much sooner than the Peugeot’s or Honda’s. It’s unlikely to be a problem in day-to-day driving, but enter a corner or roundabout too quickly, and the Vauxhall’s tendency to drift is a little disconcerting. Still, the electronic stability systems intervene smoothly to check any wayward behaviour.
At lower speeds, the Vauxhall is easy to drive. The light controls and high-set seating position mean it’s fairly easy to place on the road, while the standard parking sensors make up for the poor visibility out of the small rear window.
Ownership 3.9/5
ONE highlight of this Design Nav model is the standard Onstar system. This set-up connects you to a call-centre operative if you need to get directions downloaded to your sat-nav, plus it will automatically contact the emergency services after an accident. In combination with the six airbags, stability control and tyre-pressure monitoring, it adds some worthwhile peace of mind.
However, the Vauxhall’s ownership credentials aren’t quite as impressive. The brand finished in a lowly 25th place in our Driver Power 2016 manufacturers’ survey, while its dealer network’s ranking of 22nd was only fractionally better.
On the plus side, this light facelift for the Mokka means that many of the mechanical components are tried and tested, while the new parts, such as the Intellilink system, have already been used in other Vauxhalls.
Running costs 3.9/5
ON paper, the £19,565 Vauxhall looks to be great value. Not only is it the cheapest car here, it also comes with a decent haul of standard kit. It proved to be impressively frugal, returning a best-on-test 56.8mpg at the pumps.
However, it’s not all wallet-friendly good news. In fact, for company car drivers, the Mokka is actually a more expensive proposition, even in the efficiency-enhanced ECOFLEX guise tested here. Its CO2 emissions of 103g/km are only a single g/km ahead of the Honda, and 7g/km behind the Peugeot.
Practicality 4.2/5
LIKE its predecessor, the Mokka X is slightly taller than most of its immediate rivals, which means all occupants get a generous amount of headroom. There’s less to separate our trio for rear legroom, but all are surprisingly spacious. However, the fractionally wider Vauxhall can more easily accommodate three adults across its rear bench – although it’s still a bit of a squeeze.
Lift open the tailgate and you’ll discover a 356-litre load bay, which is the smallest of the three cars in this test. However, it’s well shaped, with a wide opening, and like the HR-V, there’s a vast underfloor storage area. As with its rivals, the rear bench folds completely flat, but the two-stage operation requires you to lift the seat squabs before lowering the backs, which can be fiddly. Still, when the seats are folded down, there’s a healthy 1,305 litres to play with.
Elsewhere in the cabin, there’s an abundance of useful storage options, including handy doorbins, a cubby ahead of the gearlever and a number of cup-holders. However, the new dashboard does without the old car’s handy double-glovebox arrangement.