Mokka’s now the smart choice
RESTYLED CROSSOVER IS THE BEST VAUXHALL FOR YEARS
The Vauxhall Mokka has been a great success with more than a million sold in Europe and 200,000 here – although I’m not sure why. When it was launched in 2012, I thought it was a decidedly mediocre car. Practical yes, but with nondescript styling and unremarkable to drive.
But what a transformation this latest Mokka is. If I was in the market for a compact crossover this is where my money would go – and that decision is based largely on its styling.
The most prominent feature is what Vauxhall calls the Vizor, the flush black plastic strip which links the headlamps and on which the Griffin badge sits.
Its practical function is to guide airflow around to the sides and to reduce drag, which test statistics say it does effectively.
That should benefit fuel economy in petrol-powered Mokkas as well as range in the electric Mokka-E which is the version we’re testing.
I think the Vizor also looks good and it will appear on future models such as the next Astra.
Our test car is bright green combined with a black roof. The petrol Mokka, which you’ll read about at a later date, was white with a black
roof and also looked superb. The Mokka is based on the same platform used for the Peugeot 2008, DS3 Crossback and Citroen C4, plus the Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall’s Corsa. The Mokka is 124mm shorter than before but 10mm wider and has 2mm extra on the wheelbase.
Before we have a look at the electric powertrain, here’s a quick note of what is available if you’re not ready for an EV.
There are two petrol engines, both 1.2-litre three-cylinder units; one with 99bhp and the other 128bhp.
There’s also a 1.5-litre diesel that produces 108bhp. You get an eightspeed automatic gearbox with the more powerful petrol engine, but the lower powered one and the diesel come with a six-speed manual.
The electric powertrain is the same as in the Corsa-e which means a 134bhp electric motor and a 50kWh battery and a range of 201 miles. Also 100kW rapid charging is supported, which can deliver 0-80% in 30 minutes. You have the choice between Normal, Eco and Sport driving modes. You only get the full 134bhp in Sport but that’s to be avoided if you’re trying to conserve range. And since the Mokka is not particularly exciting to drive with rather vague steering there’s no point wasting energy.
It’s not exciting, but comfortable even over rough surfaces – and, thanks to the electric motor, very quiet at motorway speeds. Our test car is a left-hand drive Opel but it’s very similar in specification to what we’ll know here as a SRi Nav Premium.
Vauxhall hasn’t offered its faux sporty SRi trim in the Mokka before and in the EV version it’s the poshest one you get. Every Mokka gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard as well as cruise control and speed limit recognition. Entry level models come with twin 7.0in screens and higher versions like ours get a 12in instrument unit and 10in touchscreen. The infotainment is straightforward, with proper buttons for heating and ventilation. Going electric costs 40 litres of boot space as the Mokka-e can carry 310 litres of luggage compared to the petrol or diesel Mokka’s 350 litres. There’s room for six footers in the back.
The latest Mokka is the most impressive new Vauxhall we’ve driven in years. Our test Mokka-e costs £35,735 but the petrol version kitted out in the same trim is almost £8,000 cheaper.
I predict this new Vauxhall will soon become a very regular sight on our roads. Petrol or electric, it’s an excellent choice.
‘‘ The Vizor looks good and guides airflow round sides to cut drag