Vauxhall Mokka road test by Steve Rogers
When
my neighbour is round to spy the latest test car before the engine has cooled it
must be something tasty.
In this case it was the new Vauxhall Mokka and it was the front of the car that caught David's eye. No surprise there, whatever you thought of the styling of the old Mokka forget it.
This is not an improvement it's a transformation. The
designers have nailed it with razor sharp styling and a stunning front. It's
called Vizor and you can bet your last quid this will be the new face of
Vauxhall. They would be daft if it is not.
Vauxhall
has been under the Peugeot banner for a couple of years so may be some of that
French flair has rubbed off on the boys and girls in Luton.
What
is certain is that under the Mokka skin is a bit of Peugeot 208 and Citroen C4
and that is no bad thing. If you can blend good design with decent handling
then you are on a winner.
I
was reminded of the 50 metre test coined by the late automotive titan Richard
Parry Jones, who did wonders for Ford. That was all he needed to decide if a
car met his demanding standards. I've always said I can judge a car after two
circuits of a roundabout and it did not take long to like the feeling of Mokka,
even though there were no roundabouts nearby to negotiate.
Let's
not get too carried away. Mokka is not the best handling compact crossover on
the market, that prize would probably go to its Peugeot 2008 cousin or more
likely the Ford Puma but it has a nice blend of comfort and straight down the
middle handling. I drive a short stretch of humpy back road which is a good
suspension test and Mokka passed with honours. You tend to hear the bumps more
than feel them.
It
is not even the most practical either having lost 124mm in length so it is not
going to be winning prizes for the most interior space which begs the question
who is the Mokka aimed at?
Two
groups that come to mind are older folk who like a higher driving position so
they can slide on to the seat and not drop down so far that getting out is a
strain, and families with a couple of young children because leggy teens will
find back seat leg room tight. Boot space is a smidge less than before but drop
the back seats and there is room for a couple of sets of golf clubs and
trolleys so that makes the market even wider!
Inside
has been transformed as well following the digital dashboard trend but shies
away from Peugeot's oddball set up where the driver spends an age adjusting the
seat and tiny steering wheel just to get a clear view of the dashboard.
If
anything Mokka's widescreen layout is more akin to a Volkswagen Golf with a 12
inch digital driver's binnacle flowing into a 10 inch central screen for
navigation and audio etc. Everything is clear and selecting the various options
for the binnacle is easy. There are even physical switches for the heating
controls. Yippee.
Trim
quality has been upgraded and looks particularly impressive at the top end of
the range. Vauxhall has always been generous with kit and that is a strength of
Mokka even at SE entry level where they haven't skimped on safety features
either to help give a stress free drive.
Engine
choice is another strength with a brace of three cylinder turbo 1.2 petrols, a
1.5 diesel and an electric. My guess is the 98bhp petrol will be the favourite
but my 128hp packed a mild punch and would tempt me. You can only tell it is a
three cylinder from outside and is otherwise a smooth performer with the option
of an eight speed auto.
The
delivery driver did well on his trip from the Midlands recording 50mpg; I
wasn't so good ending the week on 39mpg which probably had something to do with
me enjoying the car's performance and the steering wheel paddle shifters.
It
is early days for European Car of the Year candidates but with its excellent
all round package and eye catching styling this new Mokka is definitely in with
a shout.
Fast
facts
Mokka
Elite Nav Premium 8sp auto
£27,100
(starts £20,735)
1.2
litre petrol turbo; 128bhp
0-62mph
9.2secs;124mph
47.9mpg
combined
137g/km.
1st VED £220
Insurance
group 18
Boot
350 litres
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