Skip advert
Advertisement

Vauxhall Mokka

We drive a prototype version of the new Vauxhall Mokka crossover ahead of its launch in October

Find your next car here
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Mokka is breaking new ground for Vauxhall, and it could prove to be a big hit. It offers practicality, chunky looks, off-road ability and impressive on-road dynamics, too. It doesn’t have the bold styling of the Nissan Juke, but feels more grown-up to drive and offers a level of practicality that should appeal to family buyers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Small crossovers are big business, and Vauxhall is keen to make an impact in this booming sector with its newest model, the Mokka. It doesn’t arrive until October, but we got a chance to be the first outside Vauxhall to get behind the wheel of the new model and drive an early camouflaged prototype.

Vauxhall allowed us to try three Opel-badged pre-production cars: a 1.4 turbo, a naturally aspirated 1.6 and a 1.8-litre petrol model that isn’t coming to UK dealers. They weren’t quite the finished article, but we were promised that the driving dynamics were 95 per cent accurate.

Based on what we experienced, that’s a good thing. Most of the day was spent in the four-wheel-drive 1.4-litre turbo, and it had the best of the engines we tried, with 138bhp and plenty of pull, plus 45mpg economy.

The 1.6-litre petrol struggled to deal with the Mokka’s weight, and we were left changing down regularly to make it up hills.Unfortunately, the 1.7-litre diesel – certain to be a big seller in the UK – was unavailable for us to try.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Golf

2024 Volkswagen

Golf

17,553 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £19,870
View Golf
C3 Aircross

2020 Citroen

C3 Aircross

40,061 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £8,490
View C3 Aircross
C4

2023 Citroen

C4

33,471 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £12,899
View C4
i20

2023 Hyundai

i20

4,448 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,499
View i20

One of the challenges for the development team was striking the right balance between ride comfort and handling. While some of the earlier prototypes tended to bounce up and down excessively, the most recent development car we tried was more settled over rough roads.

Bumps could still be felt, but the well judged suspension just took the edge off them. And Vauxhall has avoided opting for an overly soft set-up, so the Mokka still has bite in corners.

There’s not too much body roll and the newcomer feels agile. It’s definitely not as nimble as a Nissan Juke, but the Mokka feels more grown-up. With its larger boot and more spacious rear seats, it will undoubtedly prove a more popular family choice, too.

One of our few criticisms is of the steering, which felt a little inconsistent in its weighting on each of the prototypes. Vauxhall’s vehicle dynamics manager, Gerry Baker, told us that this problem will be addressed for UK cars.

The cabin has a pleasingly upmarket feel, with soft-touch plastics on the dash and plenty of smart and logically laid-out switchgear. Luxurious options such as heated seats, a heated steering wheel and full leather upholstery will also be offered.

When the Mokka arrives in dealers, it should cost from £14,500 – which positions it in between the Juke and the Qashqai. Based on our drive, this car will steal sales from both of Nissan’s crossover kings.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £10,295
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,912 off RRP*Used from £8,450
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,879 off RRP*Used from £13,997
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,055 off RRP*Used from £15,500
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Skoda sneaks long-range Enyaq under EV grant barrier
Skoda Enyaq SE L 85 - front 3/4

Skoda sneaks long-range Enyaq under EV grant barrier

Skoda's latest Enyaq SE L 85 delivers a 359-mile range and qualifies for the £1,500 government electric car discount.
News
30 Sep 2025
BYD, Skoda and Renault are giving premium car brands a run for their money
Opinion - premium car brands, header image

BYD, Skoda and Renault are giving premium car brands a run for their money

Mike Rutherford thinks traditional premium car brands are beyond the reach of most car buyers, and the competition is now closing the gap
Opinion
28 Sep 2025
Audi Q3 review
Audi Q3 - front

Audi Q3 review

The Audi Q3 doesn’t rewrite the rulebook, but it does significantly improve on most key metrics; the PHEV is particularly compelling
In-depth reviews
29 Sep 2025