The Vauxhall Mokka is arguably one of the nicest looking small size SUVs on the market today, surpassing the complicated design of the Nissan Juke and dominating the rather bland Skoda Yeti. Looking like a crossbreed between the large Antara and the Corsa supermini, the Mokka is a niche segment automobile, designed to snatch up some customers from the competition.
Due to its design, it gives the impression of being larger than it is, despite being only 280mm longer than the Corsa. Moreover, it is also taller than most crossovers and SUVs, all while keeping a less wide profile. Contrary to belief, this does not take away from interior space, as the car is quite roomy.
From a visual standpoint, the front of the vehicle is dominated by the large grille, with the griffin badge in the centre of the chrome ornament surrounding the grille. The sculpted headlamps include a subtle air intake underneath, while their actual profile resembles that of both the Corsa and the Antara. The front bumper includes a pair of fog lamps and a large air intake, with a silver shield in lieu of a lip, acting mostly as an ornament. A slight bulge in the slanted bonnet is a nice addition and makes the car look even more dynamic.
Passing on to the sides of the vehicle, the contour of the glass becomes narrower as it progresses towards the back; the rear window wraps around the side, being visible from the profile. This is also the case with the rear lamps, which extend onto the shoulder line, their design being mostly borrowed from the small Corsa, with the exception of being taller and narrower.
Round the back, a large roof spoiler with an integrated stop light is in place, while a pair of roof rails is mounted on the ceiling. The bumper includes two reflectors, a silver shield in the centre and a small exhaust, located on the right side. As with the majority of small size SUVs and crossovers on the market, the Vauxhall Mokka has black plastic cladding on the front and rear bumper, wheel arches and side skirts.
Vauxhall Mokka – 5 Point Review
Design
The cabin space is logically laid out, with all the controls within the reach of the driver. The centre console follows the design trend imposed by other models of the manufacture, as the steering wheel, which is also reminiscent of numerous Chevrolet models, but Opel, Chevrolet and Vauxhall share platforms, going as far as selling the same exact models fit with a different badge, depending on the target market. One of the main complaints regarding the interior is not the ergonomics, but the quality of the materials, which seems too cheap for this price level. Hard plastics are used in the dashboard and door faces, as well as in the centre console, which tends to lower the level of enthusiasm once onboard the vehicle.
Driving
The driving position in the Vauxhall Mokka is very high and allows you to tower over smaller cars, providing decent visibility, although the seats aren’t particularly soft and should you select the sport seats, you will suffer even more, as they are firmer than the standard ones.
If you are planning to drive through rough roads, then the 4 wheel drive may be a necessity, but if trotting through mud is not on your agenda, the front wheel drive version will provide plenty of grip for the tarmac. The suspension provides a balance between sporty behaviour and soft riding, but it will absorb any bumps in the road before they get in the cabin, as it was, according to Vauxhall, adjusted for British roads.
Reliability
If you happen to be the first owner of a Mokka, Vauxhall will provide a 10 year or 100,000 miles manufacturer warranty, which should provide you with an extra level of confidence when making this purchase. Furthermore, a new car has new components and new technology incorporated, which drastically reduces the risks of encountering a malfunctioning unit. An advice that we put emphasis on is not to skip the scheduled maintenance intervals set by the manufacturer, because in this way you minimize any wear and tear and the mechanics are able to detect or to fix any eventual flaws with the vehicle.
Running costs
Prices for the Vauxhall Mokka start from £16,199 for the base version and can go as high as £23,124 for better equipped variants. Engine choices range from a 1.6 litre petrol, a 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol or a 1.7 litre diesel. The 1.4 turbocharged is the fastest in the line-up, as it is capable of developing 140bhp, but our recommendation would be to choose the 1.7 litre diesel power plant mated to the 6 speed manual, as it returns the best mpg, at 62.8 mixed cycle and is not sluggish either, as it has a power rating of 130bhp.
Practicality
The wide opening doors provide easy access in the cabin and due to its height, it is able to comfortably sit even tall adults. The backseat is large and comfortable and will accommodate three adults. Moreover, headroom and legroom is more than sufficient and even the person siting on the middle seat, with the feet on the transmission tunnel will not have many reasons to complain, as the space is intelligently designed.
Moving over to the rear, the large boot is close to being class leader and provides 356 litres of storage and can increase up to 1,372 litres, if the rear seats are folded. Over 19 small storage spaces are scattered all across the vehicle, making for a very practical experience.
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