Opel Mokka 1.4T Cosmo

Opel started off the year with a massive bang, in a good way. They unveiled the all-new Adam and followed that up with the new Corsa. The Mokka soon followed suit and made its South African debut a few months ago. While well received by the press, would the local market accept a car that has been in existence for a few years already.

They shouldn’t let that fact deter them, as the Opel Mokka is a package that is ready to take on the likes of the VW Tiguan and Nissan Qashqai. Consider it tried and tested, rather than old hat.

Much like the Tiguan and Qashqai, the Mokka appears to be a large SUV until you get a little closer. You then realise that it is in fact quite small in its dimensions and doesn’t stand nearly as high as one would be lead to believe. The high roofline and glass suggest that interior space is ample, and you wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that.

The exterior styling may not be as aggressive as the rest of the models launched this year but the DNA is there and present in the headlights and the strong chrome bar running the width of the grille. It’s at the rear where the age starts to show and the rear lid and glass arrangement is quite similar to a number of other offerings in this segment, especially from the Korean stables.

Unpainted black plastics grace the lower sections of both the front and rear bumpers, as well as the flanks, alluding to the fact that the Mokka is geared for those that like to rough it a little bit from time to time.  It’s suitable for the odd little dirt road excursion too, with ample ground clearance and enough meat on the tyres to make things comfortable.

And comfort is high on the list of priorities for the Opel Mokka. After the launch, I commented on how comfortable the ergonomically designed seats were and the test model was similar, albeit a little less surprising this time round. The heated leather seats are joined by a heated steering wheel and climate control. The slightly older nature of the Mokka is evident in the dashboard layout, which sadly doesn’t share the same design as the Adam or Corsa, placing the Intellilink infotainment high up on the dashboard, rather than lower down as found in the smaller two models.

The driving position is fairly high, and will be appreciated by those looking for an SUV-like seating position yet not that high that the hatchback driver would feel perched atop the steering wheel. This, combined with its rather conservative external dimensions means that the Mokka is a comfortable transition for those that have outgrown their hatchback, and are looking for something a little better suited to the school run.

The Mokka is only available with the 103kW / 200Nm 1.4 turbo petrol motor with either a manual or automatic gearbox. Your choice comes in with the trim specification, either the Enjoy with its cloth seats or the Cosmo with its heated leather seats and heated leather steering wheel.Both are fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels and offer the same combined cycle fuel consumption of 6-litres / 100km.

The Opel Mokka 1.4T Cosmo Manual retails for R325 500 and is covered by a 5 year / 120 000km warranty and a 5 year / 90 000km service plan.