Vauxhall Mokka Review 2024

Vauxhall Mokka At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The latest Vauxhall Mokka is a surprisingly desirable choice in the competitive small SUV market. It's not without its flaws as competitors are better to drive, but the Mokka does offer good value for money.

+Trendy design. High seating position. Cheap to run. Infinitely better than its predecessor.

-Not as practical as rivals. Not the best handling small SUV. Four-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating.

New prices start from £31,995
On average it achieves 0% of the official MPG figure

The dreary old Vauxhall Mokka has been replaced by a stylish new contender in the small SUV category. Priced upwards of £22,000, the desirable new Mokka is tempting buyers away from the Renault Captur, Ford Puma and Skoda Kamiq. You can also have it as an electric car. Check out our Vauxhall Mokka review to see why it's such a big improvement.  

The old Vauxhall Mokka (or Mokka X as it was also known) used to be tough to recommend unless you were on a strict budget. It was cheap, sure, but not cheerful, with a drab design, dated interior and disappointingly old-fashioned driving experience.

Today there's an all-new Vauxhall Mokka, and it's off to a much better start. It's based on a new platform, shared with the Citroen C4 and Peugeot 2008. Each have their own distinct style, though, and the Mokka's edgy 'Vizor' design language means there's no chance of it blending in. Not something that could be said about the old model.

The new Mokka looks pretty stylish inside, too, although it's a little bit dependent on which trim level you opt for. SRi models, for example, come with a flat-bottomed, leather-covered steering wheel and alloy pedals, while the high-spec Ultimate Nav features a flash 10-inch navigation system. Launch Edition cars come with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, too.

Like its peers, the Mokka is offered with petrol, diesel or electric power (the latter badged the Mokka-e). Don't bother with the diesel, unless you're planning to cover mega miles (or perhaps need to tow a small caravan).

The 1.2-litre petrol's expected to be the big seller, and it's available with 100PS or 130PS. It's a typical three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit, more than sprightly enough around town and capable of holding its own on the motorway. The Mokka-e is the punchiest, but you're looking at a good £4,000 more than a mid-spec petrol automatic model. 

While competitors like the Ford Puma and SEAT Arona are surprisingly agile, the Mokka takes a more laid back, comfortable approach. As such, there's not a great deal of enjoyment to be had in driving it quickly, but its suspension does a commendable job of smoothing over bumpy road surfaces (particularly around town). That could be more important for many. 

The Vauxhall Mokka is also easy to drive, particularly if you go for the automatic gearbox option. There's also plenty of safety tech on hand to prevent you from being involved in a crash. Not enough for a five-star Euro NCAP rating, mind – a lack of a centre airbag and the autonomous emergency braking system's inability to spot a cyclist were its downfall. But it's a safe car all things considered. 

It'll be cheap to run, too, with the 1.2-litre petrol engine capable of up to 51.4mpg (47.9mpg with the auto gearbox), while the 1.5-litre diesel officially returns up to 65.7mpg. Insurance and tax costs aren't high, either. If you're prepared to stump up for the Vauxhall Mokka e you'll save a lot of money in fuel, while you won't pay any tax.

Looking for a second opinion? Read heycar's Vauxhall Mokka-e review.

Ask Honest John

Can my daughter reject her faulty car?

"My daughter bought a Mokka X Elite on the 7th August, after six days the engines management light came on. She contacted the garage who after a discussion agreed to pick up the car. After seven days she called to be informed they could not find any issue and the car had lost its data. Since the this has occurred three times. Yesterday she called the garage to be told take the car to them. Sorry no courtesy car until January. I don't trust the garage but she love the car. Can she return the car and demand her money to be returned minus say £500 for millage covered? "
Given that the car has suffered repeated failures and the dealer has been unable to rectify the problem, we think she has good grounds to reject the vehicle as it is of insufficient quality. You can read more about how to do this in our guide here: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-reject-a-car-your-consumer-rights/
Answered by David Ross

Most fuel efficient petrol small SUV?

"What's the best petrol small SUV for mpg?"
The best small SUV for real-world MPG is the Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid, which will easily return upwards of 60mpg. If you want a pure petrol model though, check out the 1.0-litre TSI engine in the Skoda Kamiq or the 1.2-litre Puretech 130 in the Peugeot 2008/Vauxhall Mokka. These are all capable of up to 50mpg, or more if you're gentle on a long run.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

What's the best small hybrid car for performance?

"I am considering buying a mild-hybrid car with low fuel costs. I want a small hatchback and I like the Toyota Yaris Cross, but am put off by its slow 0-62mph time (10 seconds). Can you recommend a faster mild-hybrid for around £25k to £30k? "
The Toyota Yaris Cross is a conventional ('self-charging') hybrid rather than a mild-hybrid. That means it can set off under electric power alone and will be more refined (and more efficient) during stop-start driving. If you're happy with a mild-hybrid (which uses a small electrical motor to assist the petrol engine), the Ford Puma 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV 155 is moderately quicker, covering 0-62mph in 9.0 seconds. Alternatively, consider electric SUVs like the Vauxhall Mokka-e and Peugeot e-2008 - with instant acceleration, they feel a lot quicker than mild-hybrid alternatives.
Answered by Andrew Brady

How can I find a car with equivalent spec to my current car?

"I'm looking to buy a new car but I want equivalent spec to my 2014 Vauxhall Meriva Tech Line 1.2-litre petrol manual, with heated front seats, heated steering wheel and front and rear parking sensors. I am open to buying from Vauxhall or a different manufacturer, although it's only ever been Vauxhalls that I've owned. Do you have any suggestions for an equivalent make and model that would be a suitable replacement, especially anything that is at a cheaper purchase price?"
The best way to find out is to download cars' price lists – Googling "Make Model price list PDF" should come up with the goods – and then compare them side-by-side. I'd suggest looking at cars like the Citroen C3 Aircross, Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka. I would expect the Vauxhall to be the cheapest option with your desired specification, but it's unlikely to be cheaper than your old car given the current sky-high prices.
Answered by Russell Campbell
More Questions