Test Drive Opel Mokka: Strong Statement!

There it stands, crisp and bold – high-legged, broad-shouldered, with a wheel at each corner, further emphasized by optional 18-inch rims – the new Opel Mokka. Skillfully referencing, but not kitschy, with the “Vizor-Grill” and black hood, it mainly pays homage to the Manta A and is finally as “Opel” as the brand was in its heyday in the early 1970s. And that’s impressive, considering that beneath its exterior lies the same CMP platform as in the very different DS3 Crossback, with which the Mokka is – well, very closely related. This means it replaces its predecessor, which was based on GM's Gamma-II platform, and thus also does away with all-wheel drive.

Finally, a new model that's more compact than its predecessor

Major advantage: Compared to its predecessor, it has shrunk by 125 millimeters in length, 124 millimeters in height, but gained ten millimeters in width and two in wheelbase. And despite a 15 percent stiffer body, it has shed 120 kilograms. And you can feel that up front: You get in and look over a hood so large and with a central crease that you’d think Opel had reused the old stamping tool for the Admiral or Diplomat hood – black and huge. And since initially no electric version was available, we started with the 130-hp three-cylinder, which instantly detracts from the refined Opel feeling. It does go grumpily when needed, and the Aisin eight-speed automatic always delivers the right gear quickly, but from 120 km/h, the wind roars around the cabin and with the big wheels, the otherwise well-tuned chassis feels somewhat stilted. And it’s not really economical either: On brisk highway stretches, it can easily consume ten liters per 100 km, and on our roughly 70-kilometer loop, it averaged 7.9 liters per 100 km. Sure, if you take it easy, you can achieve a figure starting with a six, but overall, that’s not a benchmark.

The electric version drives much more confidently – but weighs about 300 kilos more

Switching to the E-version and: Pure Opel feeling! The Mokka-e rolls onto the test route quietly and solidly, covering two highway sections, some country roads, and passing through Mainz – about 40 kilometers in total. Here too, we hit the pedal firmly in Sport mode several times, but of course, more prudently than in the combustion version and managed to average 20 kWh per 100 km. Admittedly, the PSA-CMP platform is not the newest or most efficient, but you can live with that, especially considering you can realistically achieve nearly 300 kilometers of range in winter if you’re careful. The chassis: Completely different. The weight ensures a much calmer, more solid, and therefore more confident driving experience, and old-fashioned petrolheads will be pleased to push such a huge creased hood in their 4.15-meter compact high-seater. The rear is indeed very compact, but it still offers a usable 350 to 1105 liters of trunk space. And since the B-pillar is not as thick as in the DS 3 Crossback, the rear feels somewhat “airier.” But honestly, the larger predecessor offered much more here, and it gets quite “cozy” for people over 1.8 meters.

Thanks for that! Thoughtful controls

Opel has made a big step forward in terms of controls too: Thankfully, studies showed that climate control is more ergonomic and safer when adjusted via rotary knobs; above it sits the seven or ten-inch touchscreen, which has been further improved over the latest PSA versions, as has the voice control, which now also allows temperature adjustments. Opel has completely rearranged all of this, and it’s appealing: Instead of soft waves, Rüsselsheim now shows clear edges and remains easy and intuitive to operate. The feel is class-appropriate and uses the same (hard plastic) texture in non-visible areas as other PSA models; the huge glove compartment is also PSA-typical.

Fast charging with up to 100 kW

In the end, we return satisfied and plug back in: DC fast charging is possible up to 100 kW, then 80 percent battery charge is achieved within half an hour, or 100 kilometers in twelve minutes. Or nine kilometers in one minute. At 50 kW, you can get 100 kilometers in 19 minutes, and at 11 kW AC, it takes 90 minutes to charge 100 percent. A full charge takes five hours and 15 minutes. At a 2.3 kW household socket, the gross 50 kWh battery, which consists of 18 modules or 216 cells, takes a full 24-hour day.

The prices start at 19,990 euros gross for the cheapest 100-HP base petrol engine, which is 16,800 euros net. The diesel starts from 23,595 euros gross (19,830 euros net) and the electric vehicle at a hefty 34,110 euros (28,670 euros net), though an environmental bonus of 9,570 euros still needs to be deducted. It should also be noted that it drives a whole class more "robustly" than the three-cylinder petrol engines, which go up to 31,005 euros gross (26,055 euros net).

And: The cool Matcha Green Metallic is available for free! Otherwise, only in white... Metallic costs an extra 495 euros gross (416 euros net), the black hood – which is gas-damped to open and painted on the inside – costs 300 euros, which is a good 250 euros net extra. But as mentioned: It is almost as large as the former "Oberopel" models of the KAD series and is only truly "Opel-like" in black.

What does that mean?

With the Mokka, Opel is launching in the Stellantis group more independently than before. The new design is impressive, and the Mokka-e as an electric car is too, provided one can do without all-wheel drive and rear seat space – and the very last bit of efficiency. But as a good-looking compact SUV, it is likely to steal some customers from its sibling, the Corsa.