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The Mokka has been on sale since 2012, and morphed into the Mokka X in 2016, which
was Vauxhall’s attempt to keep its smallest SUV competitive, against some pretty
talented new rivals. So, the little Vauxhall got chunkier styling on the outside,
and an improved infotainment system on the inside, but is that enough for it to
outshine the likes of the SEAT Ateca, our favourite family sized SUV for under £20,000?
Value for money is a strong point for the Mokka, and if you're thinking of buying
one head to whatcar.com and go to our New Car Deals section where we can help
save you thousands on your next new car! There's plenty of options to choose from
with the Mokka, you can get front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, petrol, diesel,
manual, automatic; this one here that we're testing today is our preferred
choice. A 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine fitted with a manual gearbox.
Let's see what it's like to drive.
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The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol delivers a pretty big punch, it makes the Mokka
feel comparably swifter than a Nissan Qashqai or SEAT Ateca, and the power
is delivered sufficiently across a wide rev range,
unlike the 1.6-litre which seems to have a sudden surge at 2,000rpm which doesn't
last long. The manual gearbox generally has a
positive action, although watch out from 2nd to 3rd because it can feel a bit
notchy. The brakes and clutch can feel snatchy, which means that driving around
town isn't quite as smooth and easy as you'll find a SEAT Ateca is to drive.
And, the Mokka isn't as good to drive as rivals elsewhere either, the steering is
numb, it rolls too much in the corners, and it just doesn't grip the road very well.
There's more bad news when it comes to ride quality which isn't up there
with the best of the competition, the Mokka feels unsettled over low-speed
undulations, while large potholes send a jolt through the interior.
The 1.4 petrol engine is quieter than both the 1.6 diesel and
petrol, so if you are going to buy a Mokka,
that's the one to go for!
Drivers of all shapes and sizes should be
able to find a comfortable driving position because there's plenty of adjustment in the seat,
and steering wheel - for reach and rake. You do have to go for the more expensive
trim levels of ‘Elite’ or ‘Ultimate’ if you would like adjustable lumbar support on
the driver's seat. In terms of visibility, it is excellent, because you sit quite
high up, and the front pillars are thin. Out the back though, the window is a little
on the small side, and the rear pillars are quite thick. However you do get
parking sensors as standard, and if you would like to spec a reversing camera,
you can do so. There's a touchscreen infotainment system which is easy to
navigate, and pretty responsive. The icons are quite small, but, it does come with
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Up front, the Mokka
easily accommodates two adults, and there's plenty of storage compartments.
There's one here - which I can put the key in because I'm not driving at the moment - and
banana can go either in the door bin, or in the glovebox.
Large bottle fits here in the cupholders, or in the door bin.
There's another storage compartment here for my healthy snacks, sunglasses.
[rummaging]
And phone, in the glovebox!
In the rear, it's big enough to sit two adults, or three children, but if you try
and put three adults side-by-side it is a bit of a squeeze. You'll find that
there's more space in the SEAT Ateca, or Nissan Qashqai.
The rear seats fold
flat - but you have to lift the seat base up before folding them - and if you have
the front seats a long way back they won't lie flat. So it's not the most
practical car for carrying larger items.
Although the boot will swallow a couple of large suitcases, or a pushchair,
it's shallower than rivals such as the Renault Captur.
However if you don't spec a full-size spare wheel you can take advantage of
the storage underneath the boot floor, this one however, does have a
full-size spare wheel, so the boot is quite small.
As we've already mentioned,
the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol is our pick of the Mokka’s engine lineup, and
we think the cheapest Design Nav has enough kit to keep most people happy. It
comes with climate control, automatic lights and wipers, and an 8-inch
infotainment system with sat-nav and a DAB radio. Not everything we recommend is
included though, it is not possible to add automatic emergency braking to any
Mokka and we think this is a vital piece of safety kit, it's also worth
considering casting your net further if driving enjoyment is a stronger priority.
The larger SEAT Ateca and smaller Arona are both far more rewarding from
behind the steering wheel. For plenty more on the Vauxhall Mokka, including our
full online review, head over to whatcar.com, remember to hit subscribe and never
miss another video. And if you're thinking of buying one, we can help save
you money on your next new car head to whatcar.com and go to our New Car Deals
section.
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