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Test Drive Opel Rocks-e: Character Cube

"It is not a car!" This is the most important sentence at the presentation of the Opel Rocks-e in Frankfurt am Main. The Opel Rocks-e is a SUM - a "Sustainable Urban Mobility" - and it drives like one too!

Not as Citroen Ami, but as Opel Rocks-e, the Stellantis cube is now coming to German streets. | Photo: Alexander Bonn
Not as Citroen Ami, but as Opel Rocks-e, the Stellantis cube is now coming to German streets. | Photo: Alexander Bonn
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Thomas Kanzler

The city electric vehicle, which started as the Citroen Ami, is tiny, with a length of 2.41 meters, which is 20 centimeters shorter than a Smart Fortwo, and just 1.39 meters wide with a weight of 471 kilograms including the battery. The electric motor produces 6kW/8 PS, with up to 9 kW (12 PS) briefly available - accelerating the small box to a top speed of 45 km/h in 10 seconds. The 5.5 kWh battery can be charged within 3.5 hours at a regular household socket, the cable is permanently attached to the vehicle and can be taken from a compartment next to the passenger door. For charging at a public station, a separately available adapter is needed. The range is specified as 75 kilometers (WLTP).

The "non-car" is officially classified as a light motor vehicle L6e – with the AM license – formerly the moped license – and thus can be driven by teenagers from the age of 15. This also leads to extremely low insurance rates. With comprehensive coverage, it costs only about 100 euros per year, and you also save on the main inspection. Additionally, the Rocks-e is intended to be an alternative to public transport and e-bikes or e-scooters. Emission-free in city traffic and more weather-protected than an e-scooter - and more reliable than public transport, the small electric vehicle should also be an alternative for commuters.

Bold Design

Opel describes the design as "uncompromising, bold and clear" – and we can agree with that. The identical design of the front and rear as well as the driver's and passenger's sides, the identically designed doors, the Opel is definitely exceptional. The passenger door swings forward and the driver's door swings backward. However, to enter comfortably, they should open a bit wider. Unusual is also the robust and weight-optimized construction of the SUM. Colored plastic body elements are mounted on a steel profile frame, the steel frame is visible inside, and the cabin is not insulated.

Tres francaise: The Horn in the Indicator Returns

The focus on the essentials is clear. There is a small display that shows speed, driving mode, battery charge level, and remaining range. Additionally, there are three buttons on the dashboard for heating and the hazard lights. The switches for the driving modes are located on the left side of the driver's seat – Drive, Neutral, and Reverse. A smartphone holder enables navigation and entertainment with your own phone – there is a cutout in the center console for a Bluetooth speaker from the accessory program. A Parrot hands-free system is also available in the accessory program, which can be attached to the open steel frame inside.

"It's not a car!" Upon entering, there is an immediate sense of relief. You feel comfortable in the bright interior thanks to the generous headroom and the standard glass roof. Despite everything around being made of hard plastic, even the seats are hard plastic shells with plastic padding, it is surprisingly comfortable. Annoying for tall drivers – the test pilot is 1.90 meters tall – is the fact that the back of the head extends beyond the (plastic) cushion of the headrest and you can feel the hard edge of the (hard plastic) seat against the back of your head.

The Rocks-e Beeps – and Then Starts Moving

So, set the button on the left of the seat to “D”, the Rocks-e beeps once and then starts moving. The suspension is rather bumpy, the steering is immediate. It’s a different way to drive. At traffic lights, you always go full throttle, only then can you keep up with traffic. The 45 km/h limit is no problem on side streets, where nobody is going faster than 45 km/h anyway. On main roads, however, you quickly become an obstacle. The Opel Rocks-e still has the "puppy bonus", with other road users being interested in the little electric vehicle and treating it with consideration.

8,000 Euros for a "Non-Car" Quite a Lot - Or Not?

The entry-level electric vehicle starts at 7,990 Euros gross, which is just under 6,720 Euros. For the two variants Rocks-e Klub and Rocks-e TeKno, Opel charges 8,790 Euros gross (just under 7,390 Euros net), putting it in the range of fully weather-protected multi-track pedelecs. Both variants come with wheel covers in x-design and are accented with decorative stripes on the outside. Inside, there are storage nets and inserts in the instrument and center console. The small electric vehicle can be ordered from almost all Opel dealers and online immediately. It will always be delivered and later serviced and maintained through the Opel dealer network.

What does this mean?

Opel's approach with the Rocks-e is undoubtedly interesting. Will the Rocks-e be successful? Just under 8,000 Euros for a "non-car" is still a lot of money, especially since there is (yet) no environmental bonus for it. For teenagers, the Rocks-e could simply be too expensive, while for those over 18 years old, it might be too little of a car. Especially since for a bit over 10,000 Euros, you already get a subsidized electric Dacia Spring. In the end, you are left with mixed feelings and, above all, the question of how large the niche for a "SUM" is, that actually does not want to be a car, but rather...?

Translated automatically from German.
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