[Auto] Vauxhall Mokka-e 2021 UK review

[Agent47]

 

 

What is it?
Vauxhall isn’t hanging around when it comes to electrification. By the end of the year, the British brand will have nine plug-in hybrid or fully electric models, a list that already includes the Corsa-e supermini, Grandland X plug-in hybrid and Vivaro-e electric van. 

The new Mokka-e is gunning to be the most important of the lot. The compact crossover EV arrives as demand for electric cars is at its highest to date, and the small SUV class in general has never been more po[CENSORED]r. 
It also introduces a major departure from Vauxhall’s design norms, showcasing elements that premiered on the outlandish GTX concept car. These include a minimal Vizor front grille that merges the griffin badge and headlights into a single unit that also helps lower the car’s drag coefficient to 0.32, down from 0.35 in the old, petrol-powered Mokka X. Short front and rear overhangs help give it an altogether more purposeful look, one that I’d argue rubs shoulders with the Ford Puma for visual appeal.

The Mokka-e uses the same 134bhp motor and 50kWh battery as the Peugeot e-2008, with which it shares its CMP platform. The combination sends power to the front axle only through a single-speed transmission, promises 201 miles of WLTP-certified range, and supports 100kW DC rapid charging for an 80% recharge in 30 minutes. A Mode 3 cable comes as standard, but not a three-pin for home charging sans wallbox. 
What's it like?
The electric motor is good for 0-62mph in 9.2sec, as long as you switch drive modes before burying the throttle: Eco mode restricts the output to around 80bhp for greater power efficiency, while the full 134bhp is only available in Sport, which uses a more aggressive throttle map and sharpens up the steering. 

Acceleration is brisk, rather than startling, and only marginally faster than the 1.2-litre petrol, though the torque advantage means making a quick getaway at junctions or traffic lights can still induce some wheelspin. The dashboard instantly updates its range estimate when swapping drive modes, too, reminding you what effect your hooning can have on the battery. There is a button to increase the amount of brake regeneration, but it’s a take-it-or-leave-it toggle rather than the fine-grain control seen in the Hyundai Kona Electric.

The Mokka’s light steering doesn’t give the driver too much sense of what the front wheels are doing, but manages not to feel as over-assisted as the Peugeot e-2008. With 300kg of extra weight over the equivalent petrol model, body control isn’t quite as tight, so the Mazda MX-30 remains the more engaging EV to hustle through corners - even if the Vauxhall does hold on surprisingly well at speed. Slow things down and the ride is more than respectable, refusing to be unsettled by rougher surfaces and minor imperfections. Larger ruts still make their presence felt, but no more so here than in any close rival.
Cabin space is only marginally compromised by choosing electric over combustion, with the Mokka-e getting a reduced 310 litres of above-floor boot space, versus the petrol's 350. A pair of 6ft adults can sit in the back in relative comfort, though anyone taller is going to feel the pinch. Vauxhall has worked hard to reduce wind and road noise, which the absence of a combustion engine can be quick to highlight, but even at motorway speeds the Mokka is impressively quiet.

Every new Mokka gets Vauxhall’s new ‘pure panel’ digital dashboard, but only SRi trim and above get the full-fat version, complete with 12in instrument cluster and 10in touchscreen. It’s built into the dash, rather than free-floating, and gives the cockpit more of a driver-focused feel. The UI is fairly responsive, and while the graphics aren’t especially detailed, the handful of different dials and displays to choose from at least allow for some customisation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both on-board, too.

Touchscreen aside, the centre console is very minimal, albeit still with physical climate controls. The transmission tunnel is mostly comprised of glossy black plastic, which doesn’t look especially premium, but materials quality is easily up to the class average.