The new Opel Mokka - First Drive impressions

The third new vehicle launch from Opel this year is also their second vehicle to come as a first foray into its selected market. We first saw Opel break ground into the city car segment with the Adam, and now it is the turn of the Mokka to crack into the sub-compact SUV market.

The third in their line of their “New Germans” marketing approach is aimed squarely in the middle of those considering the likes of the VW Tiguan, Hyundai iX35 and Nissan Qashqai. Up against its competitors, the Mokka falls very much in the centre in terms of price and in term of physical size. The balance is good, but for a new model to sell well, I believe there has to be a certain something that sets it apart from the rest.

Globally, the model is not new, having been released in 2012 overseas as the Vauxhall Mokka in Europe and as the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore elsewhere, enjoying successful sales in those regions as an upmarket compact SUV.

Design

The design is in line with Opels current design ethos but comes across a little more muted than the likes of the Adam and new Corsa that we recently tested. The front end features high set lights with the Blade effect carried by the LED DRLs. The lower section features an aluminium skid plate with bare plastic bumpers, creating a lovely contrast to a light coloured vehicle.

The Blade element is carried further through the design along the flanks, swooping along the sills and rising to meet the rear quarters.

While the rear end is attractive, one can spot current and not so current design themes that are shared with a few vehicles in this segment. There are taillights reminiscent of the Nissan Murano and a rear glass that, combined with the upright taillights, echoes the likes of the Hyundai Tuscon and Santa Fe.

Inside, the dashboard is a departure from the two other ‘New Germans’ launched this year, reflecting the fact that the Mokka is a few years older. While you won’t get the same piano-black inserts and low-mount Intellilink touch screen as you would in the Adam and Corsa, the interior is still fresh enough to be enjoyable and pleasing.

The entry level Enjoy model comes fitted with cloth seats and imitation leather steering wheel while the dashboard has painted inserts that flow from the dashboard and into the doors.

On the higher spec Cosmo model, the painted pieces are traded for brushed aluminium-look insets while the steering wheel is leather as are the seats. The AGR certified seats were a highlight for me and I can (very, very) comfortably say that these are by far the best seats I have ever experienced in a vehicle – ever. Their comfort is unrivalled and the support is generous with more than enough movement. This allowed me to find the perfect driving position in no time at all, something that I often battle with in GM products. Combined with the addition reach adjustment on the steering, the driving position was so that I would be able to travel massive distances without fatigue or discomfort.

The seats are heated, along with the steering wheel, which made travelling in the overcast and rainy conditions of the Eastern Cape quite pleasurable.

Engine

The Mokka is only available with a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol motor but this generates 103kW of power and 200Nm torque. Mated to the manual gearbox, the Mokka is quick to get up and go and midrange torque was more than adequate enough to get things on the boil in anything but sixth gear.

With the automatic gearbox option, the performance was a little stunted and the brake feel suffered as a result to I believe. Initial application of the brakes yielded little feedback and then bit somewhat aggressively as the gearbox and engine were overcome, something that was not experienced in the manual model.

Opel quotes combined consumption of 6.0l/100km in the manual derivatives with the automatics coming in at 6.6l/100km. Our occasional spirited driving and overtaking saw us push that a little higher to around 7.9l/100km.

Drive

I was pleased to note that the wayward behaviour at highway speeds that was experienced in the Corsa and Adam was nowhere to be found with the Mokka; the increased weight (1828kg manual) no doubt aiding in this straight line stability. The steering weight was ample at speeds and still remained light enough in slower situations.

One cannot expect pin-sharp handling from an SUV but the sporty nature of the Mokka allowed me to tackle corners with confidence and the Macpherson struts up front and Torsion Beam rear setup never showed signs of being out of their depth.
The comfort came in the way of the seats rather than the ride as the slightly sporty nature of the Mokka setup meant that undulations and surface of the road were translated back to the driver, but not uncomfortably so. The Mokka errs on the side of sporty rather than long distance opulence.

Verdict

While it may be short on exemplary features and standout innovation, the Opel Mokka is a solid and reliable choice for those in the market for a sub-compact SUV and even for those considering a larger hatchback. Interior space is generous in both passenger and load stakes and the engaging drive is sure to excite those with a youthful streak in them.

All new Opel Mokka derivatives are backed by Opel’s comprehensive 5-year/ 120 000 km warranty and come with a 5-year/ 90 000 km service plan linked to service intervals of 15 000 km.

New Opel Mokka	Retail price incl. VAT
Mokka Enjoy 1.4T 6MT	R 288 500
Mokka Enjoy 1.4T 6AT	R 298 500
Mokka Cosmo 1.4T 6MT	R 325 500
Mokka Cosmo 1.4T 6AT	R 335 500