With the second generation, Opel wants to distinguish the Mokka more clearly from the more or less equally large Crossland. The Mokka is hip, the Crossland is especially practical. In addition, there is a fully electric Mokka-e.
In its bright green colour, the new Mokka is reminiscent of the famous Opel Manta from the New Kids series.
Well, that Manta was too new for what Opel now calls the ‘Vizor’ front. Yet the link between that car and the poisonous green Mokka-e, which according to Opel derives its front from the first Manta, is easily made. In a shade of gray and with small wheels, the Mokka suddenly looks a lot less hip, but because of that special front, a striking model remains. ‘En profile’ that car is somewhat like the DS 3 Crossback, especially because of the straight nose, relatively long hood and upright windscreen. That is of course no coincidence, because this is the first Mokka that is completely based on French technology and the Mokka shares a lot of specifications with its brother that gets the addition ‘E-Tense’ in electrical form. As with that car and the equally technically equal Corsa-e, the electric Mokka is simply carried next to petrol and diesel versions, with the optical differences being limited to the stylized ‘E’ on the tailgate and B-pillars.
B instead of D
The Mokka has a traditional layout, so with the (electric) motor and the drive at the front, the engine delivers 136 hp and 260 Nm. The car accelerates easily and smoothly, without being really fast. The correct word is rather ‘smooth’, where the direct response to the right pedal is of course a major advantage over comparable fuel cars. Regenerative braking hardly does the Mokka in standard mode, but something can be done by simply putting the car in ‘B’ instead of ‘D’. There is also no question of ‘one-pedal-driving’, because for the last part you have to use the brake pedal.
Useful
With a battery pack of 50 kWh, the Mokka can travel 324 kilometers on paper. If the battery is empty, the fast charger will also help it quickly catch its breath. Does that make the Opel a perfect or progressive EV? Not that, but despite its fairly mediocre grades, it is quite usable. Driving is not super comfortable, the chassis is sometimes a bit lumpy and on bad roads there is quite a lot of movement in the carriage. The control is a bit light, but fortunately the end result is not unpleasant. The seating position in the front is very good. The steering wheel is extensively adjustable in depth, the seat can be lowered if you want and taller people also have enough space. Handy that the dashboard at the height of the knees gives way to longer legs. Nice! The Mokka has a design first on the inside: the ‘Pure Panel’, or two screens visually fused together with piano lacquer plastic. Not entirely new, but it delivers a sleeker and more modern look compared to previous Opel interiors. That is highly dependent on the chosen version, because simpler versions have smaller screens with large, ugly edges.
The screens themselves are recognizable PSA, albeit topped with an Opel sauce and stripped of the climate control. It’s just in a separate cluster, as it should be. As a result, it is a little less disturbing that the response speed of the central touchscreen is below par: the screen is simply needed less often.
Good for each other
The use of materials, build quality and finish are neat and the standard equipment is well organized. An entry-level Mokka-e, for example, already offers a start button, climate control, LED lighting and a heat pump. Nevertheless, an extra investment to achieve a complete looking car is advisable, if only because of the small screens and ditto wheels of the slip-on. If you want to remedy both ‘problems’, you should at least go to a Business Elegance, which costs €34,999. Seat and steering wheel heating will then cost €399. A three-phase charger is a real must-have for €1,000 extra, but you do not pay a cent extra for the color ‘Matcha Green’. To do!
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl