Vauxhall Mokka Electric Review

How much does it cost?

For all of its changes in recent years, Vauxhall still remains an incredibly well-priced option for anyone considering a new car. A look at the brand’s online configurator shows that prices for the Mokka Electric get underway at just over £31,500 for the entry-level car, with the highest trim level then rising to more than £37,000. Meanwhile, electric versions of the Mokka’s sportier big brother – the Mokka GSE – start around the £36,000 mark. The car also qualifies for a £1,500 discount via the government’s Electric Car Grant, which means there are plenty of bargains to be had on the new market. Excellent value can also be found on the used market, where second-hand EVs continue to offer bargain buys thanks to faster depreciation than their more traditionally-powered equivalents. Prices for the Mokka Electric start at around £10,000, with options then available at pretty much every price point up to around £30,000. While these prices will appear like outstanding value on the face of things, it is worth considering that depreciation when the time comes to sell the car on.

Engine and performance

Overview

When it comes to powertrains, Vauxhall has opted to keep things simple with its electrified Mokka. The standard Mokka Electric is only available with a single electric motor, paired to a 54kWh battery to produce 156 bhp and 260 Nm of torque. This version of the car will do 0-62 mph in 9.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 93 mph. While those figures may sound underwhelming to say the least, they are broadly in line with most of its competitors. For anyone seeking a few more thrills, the electric version of the Mokka GSE comes with a 276 bhp motor, while the same battery as the standard car has been tuned for performance, with a focus on dynamic driving. Plumping for this option brings the top speed up to 124 mph and the 0-62 time to a much brisker 5.9 seconds.

Out on the road

The Mokka Electric has been designed for everyday driving and it meets that demand excellently. As an EV it offers instant torque and acceleration, making it excellent around town, where it feels distinctly nippy for a small SUV. In urban environments, visibility is generally good, and the whole car feels easy to manoeuvre on narrow streets or in tight car parks. Regardless of where you are driving, the Mokka Electric does bring a sense of refinement that you never would have expected from Vauxhalls of old. The near-silent nature of the electric motor contributes to a relaxed driving experience. When you leave town and head for the motorway, the car does manage to keep things quiet, although a little extra power certainly wouldn’t go amiss. Getting up to 70 mph can take some time for an EV, but once you are there the Mokka feels like a comfortable motorway cruiser.

Ride and handling

While the gear changes are very smooth, the rest of the car’s ride is a little on the rough side – especially on higher-spec models with larger wheels. This means that sharp potholes and speed bumps are felt more than you might expect in an SUV – especially one which has certainly not been set up to be particularly sporty. Despite this, the car does feel generally stable and the firmness does result in greater control on twisty roads than you might expect in a car of this size. The GSE model steps things up even further on this front, although overall comfort does take a knock as a result.

Interior and features

Interiors

If Vauxhalls of old looked dull on the outside, it was nothing to how mind-numbingly boring they were inside the cabin. Previous cars – the first generation Mokka among them – were a sea of cheap-feeling plastics and unimaginative design. With this latest car, however, the brand has certainly stepped things up. The cabin design is clean, modern and far more distinctive than anything that came before. The dashboard is dominated by a stylish curved fascia, which has been designed to mirror the visor on the front of the car, with Vauxhall’s new ‘Pure Panel’ layout, combining a digital instrument cluster with a central touchscreen. There are also a number of higher-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces, which add to a far more premium feel than the old car – although a few of the cheaper plastics do creep in lower down to ruin the more high-end vibe somewhat.

Boot space and practicality

If the Mokka has come on leaps and bounds since the old car, then one space where it does still have a few limitations is practicality. For a car which is largely pitched at families, the boot space of 310 litres trails behind most key competitors and a slight load lip can also make loading heavier items tricky. Things continue in a similar vein inside the cabin itself, where legroom is pretty cramped for taller passengers who find themselves seated in the back. Having said that, there is a decent level of storage, with door bins, cupholders and a central storage area for charging cables, and headroom is pretty generous for a car of this size.

Features

As part of its recent glow-up, Vauxhall has attempted to improve the level of tech available in its cars. In the case of the Mokka Electric, all cars have a digital cockpit, a touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen itself is fairly user-friendly and comes in either seven- or ten-inch forms, depending on spec. Standard cars also get rear parking sensors and cruise control, while higher-spec models add more premium touches like a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging and a premium audio system.

Trim and colour options

The Mokka Electric is available in Griffin, GS, and Ultimate trims, each of which adds an extra layer of tech and comfort features. The GSE is also available in a single trim which brings a sportier edge than the standard car. For the majority of drivers, the mid-range GS represents the sweet spot, blending a good level of spec with a very reasonable price tag. Colour options include Carbon Black, at no additional cost, while Colibri Blue, Contrast Grey, Tropical Green, Graphic Grey or Arctic White can be selected for an extra £650.

Safety and reliability

Vauxhall has given all versions of the Mokka a good package of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition and driver attention alerts. It was a decision which paid off when the car was awarded a four-star rating from Euro NCAP, with the panel particularly impressed with its safety for child occupants. When it comes to reliability, Vauxhall has something of a chequered past, but recent years have seen significant improvement on that front. The car benefits from proven electric components that are shared across the Stellantis group and the battery comes covered by an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty, for extra peace of mind.

MPG, emissions and tax

Vauxhall claims that the standard Mokka Electric will do up to 247 miles on a single charge, placing it broadly in line with many of its rivals. While that number may not sound all that impressive, the car has primarily been designed with urban driving in mind, where shorter trips are often the order of the day. Elsewhere, the GSE model has a claimed range of just over 200 miles, but it is worth noting that cars rarely match official figures. As a zero-emissions vehicle, the Mokka Electric produces no CO₂ but is no longer exempt from road tax, following a recent decision by the government to remove the exemption for electric cars. Despite this, the car does come with low Benefit-in-Kind rates, which have made it a popular choice among company car drivers.