Vauxhall Mokka
New from £25,850 / £304 p/m
Is the Vauxhall Mokka SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Catherine Kent
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The Vauxhall Mokka is a smart-looking crossover with its shiny black ‘vizor’ grille and compact proportions. It’s not flashy, but in true Vauxhall style the Mokka wins favour with its no-nonsense approach and familiar interior layout. We like it a lot. It’s plusher than the Fiat 600 and Jeep Avenger, more comfortable than the Peugeot 2008, and in many ways it’s our favourite of the Stellantis cousins. However, the Mokka is tight on space compared to roomier rivals like the Ford Puma or Volkswagen T-Cross and it also can’t offer the same value for money as the Renault Captur or cheaper models like the Fiat Grande Panda.
Find out more about the Mokka Electric here or read our full review of the sporty electric GSE version here!
"Green Rating
Vauxhall is part of the wider Stellantis ecosystem and the Mokka is manufactured in Europe where around 60 per cent of the electricity used comes from renewable sources. By 2030, Stellantis is aiming to use 100 per cent renewable electricity in its plants and it has also invested in Circular Economy practices which take end-of-life vehicles to recycle metals and plastics back into new vehicles and components. The Mokka is a relatively small and light car which helps to reduce its carbon footprint. The electric version qualifies for the lower band of the government electric car grant, and while the combustion models still rely on burning fossil fuels, they do at least have small engines which aren’t too thirsty.
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Running costs for a Vauxhall Mokka
The Renault Captur has the edge on the Mokka when it comes to value for money and alternatives like the Fiat Grande Panda and Citroën C3 are more affordable still. The Mokka Electric will be the most cost-effective to fuel if you can charge at home on a dedicated EV tariff and it currently qualifies for the £1,500 Electric Car Grant helping to reduce the upfront price. Meanwhile, the petrol and mild hybrid alternatives should be pretty frugal, and our mild hybrid test car averaged around 50mpg during our time with it. However, according to Autotrader data, the Mokka is expected depreciate at a much faster rate than other Stellantis alternatives, with the electric version losing the largest percentage of its original value over the first three years. This could work in your favour if you are looking to buy used, but those looking for a new car should note the hybrid Toyota Yaris Cross has much stronger residual values. Alternatively, there are plenty of leasing deals to be had.
Reliability of a Vauxhall Mokka
Vauxhall generally has a decent reliability reputation and it benefits from the shared parts and know-how with other brands including Peugeot, Citroën, Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo under the wider Stellantis umbrella. Vauxhall offers an industry standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty on all its cars which is considerably less than the seven-year warranty offered by Kia. However, the <span>battery in electric models has its own eight-year/100,000-mile cover for extra peace of mind. </span>
Safety for a Vauxhall Mokka
Like all new cars the Mokka comes packed with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including traffic sign recognition, land keeping assistance and various levels of emergency braking depending on which trim you choose. For the most part the combination of aids quietly did their jobs in the background so we could get on with the driving. However, on one occasion our test car slammed on the brakes when it wrongly thought we were about to accelerate straight into a row of parked cars. Luckily, no one was behind us and we were only crawling along slowly anyway, but nonetheless it was disconcerting. We also think Vauxhall could improve its rear-view camera which isn’t as sharp as many Chinese alternatives. On a more positive note, all cars come with blind spot monitoring as standard which is one of our favourite safety features.
How comfortable is the Vauxhall Mokka
The Mokka has an elevated driving position compared to the Corsa on which it’s based, and while you do sit higher in a Renault Captur or Toyota Yaris Cross, the Mokka provides a happy middle ground. The front seats are nicely supportive and gain the seal of approval from a German organisation which promotes spinal health. All except the GS trim models get heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, while range-topping models take things further with electric lumbar adjustment and a massage function. It’s a different story in the back, though, where legroom is limited and trying to fit three passengers will be a very tight squeeze. The boot is on the small side, too, so if you plan on carrying more than the weekly shop, you might want to have a look at the Ford Puma instead. On the road the Mokka has a reasonably soft ride, which is good on the motorway and on rougher surfaces, but can become rather bouncy over larger speed bumps.
Features of the Vauxhall Mokka
Vauxhall sensibly prioritises usability over showy gimmicks. As such, the Mokka combines a relatively modest digital driver display with a central touch-screen with some traditional physical controls. We’re big fans of this approach as it means you can adjust the temperature or fan speed quickly and without taking your eyes off the road. The infotainment system isn’t the slickest, but it’s easy to link your phone so us can use wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead. Entry-level Yes trim offers the best value for money with pretty much everything you’ll need – to the point where we don’t know why you’d pay more for GS trim which misses out on the heated front seats and steering wheel. Range-topping Ultimate models gain nice-to-haves like a wireless phone charger, sat-nav and a plusher upholstery. Meanwhile the souped-up all-electric GSE model is a different kettle of fish altogether with its go-faster extras.
Power for a Vauxhall Mokka
Whether you are ready to go fully electric, you are sticking with petrol for now, or you’d like an electric boost without the need for a plug, there’s a Mokka for you – there’s even a hot-hatch inspired electric GSE version, but we’ll leave that to once side for now. When it comes to the standard Mokka models, performance is moderate, but they should all be perfectly nippy around town with enough in reserve to take motorways in their stride. The pure petrol engine has the choice of a manual or automatic gearbox, while the mild hybrid is an automatic and you won’t need to worry about changing gears in the electric version either. We tested the mild hybrid which uses a small battery and motor to improve efficiency but mainly relies on its petrol engine for power. Our car was generally easy-going, though it would get a little juddery in stop/start traffic as the engine kicked in and out. Once we got underway the Mokka became much smoother, but its tiny engine would get quite vocal if we really put our foot down. The light steering made manoeuvring around the suburbs and getting into parking spaces a breeze, but it was less confidence-inspiring on at higher speeds or on twisty roads. All in all, the mild hybrid Mokka is best driven at a leisurely pace, so if you want an engaging driving experience you’ll need to head straight for the sporty all-electric GSE.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
£399.82
Monthly payment
£2,398.94
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Petrol
- Manual
- 1.2 litres
£424.07
Monthly payment
£2,544.41
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Petrol
- Automatic
- 1.2 litres
£438.91
Monthly payment
£2,633.49
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Petrol
- Manual
- 1.2 litres
£463.16
Monthly payment
£2,778.96
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Petrol
- Automatic
- 1.2 litres
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Vauxhall Mokka SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
- 12-Volt Electrical Accessory Socket in Front
- Front USB Connection
- Multimedia Pure Panel System
- Six Speakers
- Vauxhall Connect
- 17in Alloy Wheels - Black Diamond Cut
- Black Door Mirror Housings
- Black Grained Front and Rear Bumper
- Black Grained Plastic Side Cladding and Bumpers
- Black Upper Window Mouldings
- Body Coloured Roof
- Body-Colour Door Handles
- Body-Colour Front and Rear Bumpers
- Chrome Griffin Logo and Black Vizor Frame
- Electrically Adjustable-Heated Door Mirrors
- Integrated Black Tailgate Spoiler
- Automatic Lighting Control with Tunnel Detection
- High Beam Assist - Automatic
- Intelli-LED Headlights - LED Tail Lights - LED Daytime Running Lights
- Black Facia with Silver Trim Inserts
- Black Headliner
- Digital Instrumentation
- Drivers Seat - Six-Way Adjustable
- ECC - Electronic Climate Control
- Front Passengers Seat - Four-Way Adjustable
- Interior Courtesy Light - Front Map Reading Lights - Luggage Compartment Lighting
- Light Grey Trim Inserts on Front Doors
- Rain Sensitive Windscreen Wipers
- Reach and Rake Adjustable Steering Column
- Steering Wheel - Audio - Phone - Cruise Control
- Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls
- Vegan Leather Steering Wheel
- Child Proof Locks on Rear Doors
- Deactivation Switch For Front Passengers Front and Side Impact Airbags
- Drivers and Front Passengers Airbags - Front Seat Side-Impact Airbags and Full-Size Curtain Airbags
- Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
- Hill Start Assist
- ISOFIX Child Seat Mountings Incorporating Top Tether Anchor Points Located on Outer Rear Seats
- Remote Control Central Locking
- Cruise Control with Intelligent Speed Limiter
- Digital Central Facia Display
- Driver Drowsiness Alert
- Driver Information Display
- Forward Collision Alert - Low Speed
- Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
- Multi-Function Trip Computer
- Rear Parking Distance Sensors
- Speed Sign Recognition
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
Other vehicles in the Mokka family
Mokka Electric SUV
Just as practical as a regular Mokka
Huge fun to drive
Cheaper than the Alfa and Abarth equivalents
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Your questions answered
Monthly rentals ('payments') are not an offer of credit. Payments are based on offers available today which may be withdrawn or varied at any time in the future without notice.
Contract Hire ('Leasing') is subject to status and approval and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Vehicle must be returned with no more than fair wear and tear to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
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