The compact SUV segment is a vastly popular one in the local automotive market, with many, if not all manufacturers offering some sort of compact SUV. Opel recently joined the party earlier in 2022 by introducing to the local market the all-new Mokka.
Exterior Design
The Opel Mokka draws inspiration from the GTX Xperimental Concept car and interestingly, the Mokka also happens to be one of the first Opel models to feature the new Vizor design. The striking front fascia is achieved thanks to the grille, full-LED Matrix headlights and the new logo with the Opel lightning bolt combined in a single element. LED foglamps are present and housed within the honeycomb-like lower bumper.
The rear end of the Mokka is quite smart and boasts LED technology for the taillamps, "Mokka" badging in the centre of the tailgate and two exhaust tailpipes which produce a surprisingly pleasing note. Overall, we were left impressed with the exterior packaging of the Mokka as it offers a different direction in terms of styling over its close competitors.
Interior Design
Inside, the Opel Mokka boasts a well laid out cabin. There has been a use of a decent quality of materials all over the cabin and we appreciated the Mokka for this. Greeting the driver is a leather-wrapped multi-functional steering wheel however taking centre stage is the new Opel Pure Panel which incorporates two large screens to create a minimalistic look and feel.
The driver information display offers some level of customization along with decent quality and clarity of the display. In our range-topping GS Line test unit, the Mokka is fitted with a 10.0-inch high definition IntelliLink infotainment touchscreen which features embedded navigation with traffic alerts local weather and embedded voice control. The infotainment system is fairly responsive to touch inputs and is quite easy to operate too. Media playback is made possible thanks to USB connectivity, Bluetooth and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Where we felt that the cabin of the Mokka was quite a let down was with its offering in terms of space. Front passengers have decent room however we were left with the impression that perhaps rear passengers were totally forgotten about in the design of the vehicle. An average heighted front passenger adjusting their seat to a decently comfortable position results in the direct rear passenger having almost no knee or leg room. Tall passengers would most certainly struggle for comfort in the rear seats.
Safety and Technology
Standout safety and innovative technology features in the Opel Mokka are achieved thanks to forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection & adaptive cruise control with stop and go function.
Engine and Power
Powering the compact Opel Mokka is a turbocharged 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine which delivers 96kW and 230Nm of torque via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Opel describes the award-winning engine as being "lively and economical" and we couldn't find this to be any truer. The compact SUV feels quite peppy under acceleration, which we quite enjoyed. Under normal urban/ highway cruising, the Mokka makes for quite a comfortable drive. The automatic transmission shifts quite smoothly however it also manages to respond fairly quickly to instant throttle inputs.
The Mokka's suspension does a really respectable job at on-road comfort. The compact SUV soaks up road imperfections quite well, with only really harsh road bumps being felt in the cabin. NVH levels are also seemingly low, with wind and tyre noise being kept at a minimum. These all add up to an overall pleasant and relaxing driving experience of the vehicle.
Pricing
The Opel Mokka range kick starts at R489 900 for the Elegance model, with the range-topping GS Line model starting from R539 900. The compact SUV segment and price points are extremely competitive with the vast amount of offerings from other manufacturers and as such, we found it hard to advocate for the Mokka as a top 3 contender for the most recommendable vehicles amongst its competitors.