[Auto/moto] Vauxhall Mokka 2021 long-term review

[#Hassan.]

Does Vauxhall's funky new SUV have the outstanding attributes to make it truly stand out?

Life with a Vauxhall Mokka: Month 4 If you fancy a small crossover, we must ask: are you Juking? - 1 December 2021 The arrival at my flat last week of a Nissan Juke triple auto for an online review made for an ideal impromptu twin test against our long-term Vauxhall Mokka triple auto (I would love to know what the neighbours suspect I do for a living).

The Juke is one of the Mokka’s main rivals, having followed in the footsteps of the larger Qashqai by establishing a market niche that very quickly became the exact opposite – in this case, the compact crossover. The first thing that struck me was how both look much better than their predecessors – particularly the Juke, which no longer appears as a bloated frog (and will surely make owners less inclined to permanently leave their foglights on). I also noted that both go for a colour-contrasting style line over their glasshouses, which in either case is an enhancer. Much was made at the launch of the Juke about the improvement in quality to its interior, and indeed it looks very snazzy here, what with its padded leather covering, orange ambient lighting and Mercedes-aping jet engine-style air vents. Yet in spite of its materials feeling less ‘premium’, I prefer the cockpit of the Mokka. Its Pure Panel dashboard layout – comprising an infotainment touchscreen and an equal-size digital instrument display – is as clear as it is effective, in contrast to the cluttered clusters of its Japanese equivalent. The Mokka also feels roomier somehow, even though in reality they’re closely matched – I suppose due to the chubbiness of the Juke’s centre console and sports seats. The Juke fights back, though, with its automatic gear selector and its sound system. The first is superior because it’s a manual ’box-style lever that you simply can’t miss (even more so when it’s encircled in orange at night, like the rim of a volcano), in contrast to the Mokka’s piddly little switch that your fingers have to search about for. And the second is better because this Juke has Nissan’s Bose system, which sounds good (if not great) and, unusually, can give a surround effect, thanks to speakers on the sides of the front headrests. LATEST DRIVES 1 BMW iX xDrive40 2021 UK first drive review lead BMW iX xDrive40 M Sport 2021 UK review BMW iX xDrive40 M Sport 2021 UK review 1 Kia ProCeed GDI 2021 UK first drive review hero front Kia Proceed 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line 2021 UK review Kia Proceed 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line 2021 UK review 1 Volkswagen ID 6 x Prime 2021 review lead Volkswagen ID 6 X 2021 review Volkswagen ID 6 X 2021 review 1 Caterham Seven 420R Championship 2021 UK first drive review tracking front Caterham Seven Championship UK Racecar 2021 UK review Caterham Seven Championship UK Racecar 2021 UK review 1 Jeep Compass 4xe 2021 UK first drive review lead Jeep Compass 4xe S 2021 UK review Jeep Compass 4xe S 2021 UK review View all latest drives Read our review CAR REVIEW 1 Vauxhall mokka 2021 RT hero front Vauxhall Mokka Frumpy crossover turns into something of a style icon. Does it have substance, too? Read our review Ar

Juke, but the point is that Vauxhall offers a choice; Nissan doesn’t. The next biggest difference is definitely the steering. Having got used to the light-as-air helm of the Mokka, the meatiness of the Juke surprised me. After all, this Nissan isn’t meant to be a sporty one. Or is it? It also handles a bit more sharply than the Vauxhall and its ride is firmer (but, importantly, not harsh), giving it a more sure-footed feel. Disappointingly, both cars fall short in regards to their automatic gearboxes (a seven-speed dual-clutcher in the Juke, an eight-speed torque converter in the Mokka). It’s not that they’re dim-witted or jarring when you’re on the move; in fact, they’re perfectly capable. The issue is with low-speed manoeuvring. Trying to follow the parking instructions of the marshal on the Eurotunnel train in the Mokka was thoroughly embarrassing, even with the engine stop-start system switched off; but trying to park the Juke in a parallel bay was downright frustrating. Have autos always been inept in this way? If so, I’m not remembering correctly. Perhaps it’s due to WLTP test-friendly programming. Either way, give me a good old manual. Love it: Pure panel I really like the simple look of the touchscreen (even if its menus can often be unintuitive) and the sat-nav map on the dial display. Loathe it: Box park When I try to slowly and carefully creep forward in order to not hit anything, first gear disengages, so I end up with a series of lurches. Mileage: 4852 Back to the top What an improvement - 10 November 2021

Sorry, Vauxhall, but I’m afraid I must be brutally honest here: the original Mokka was one of the least inspiring cars I’ve driven in nearly six years in this job. But I couldn’t be happier to report that the Mk2 is an entirely different kettle of fish, in terms of how it drives, how it feels inside and, most of all, how very attractive its exterior design is. Already we have much to thank Stellantis for. Mileage: 4491 Back to the top Time to see what its sporting and long-haul credentials are like - 27 October 2021 So far, we’ve established that the Mokka is an economical car, both in its standard driving mode and greener Eco. I’ve dabbled with Sport, but not extensively – so where better to do that than the sweeping rural roads of Yorkshire? Switching to the Sport driving setting dowses the digital driver’s display with red and adds sharpness to the throttle response. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is slightly more responsive, too. The Mokka is certainly capable on these winding roads. The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol unit in our car offers 128bhp, which is delivered smoothly enough. The Vauxhall isn’t as much fun to drive as a Ford Puma, though. Downshifts are a little slow and it sometimes changes gear automatically when in manual mode, which is annoying. The lightness of its steering – a real asset in town – impedes engagement at higher speed on a challenging road, too. Still, the engine sound enhancement injects an element of entertainment, even if it does sound a bit silly at times. However, these ‘negatives’ will be relatively insignificant for the Mokka’s target audience – younger families and couples who are unlikely to be looking to blast down the B6255 in the Dales, like I did, to test the driving dynamics of a town-targeted crossover. Instead, they’ll be cruising along taking in the sights of the countryside and the Mokka is excellent at that. The car’s good all-round visibility meant I had no problem getting a clear view of the eye-catching Ribblehead Viaduct, which was spookily towered over by Whernside. Ride comfort was helped by the reasonable condition of the road, but I experienced a fair bit of road noise, probably exacerbated by those larger, 18in wheels.

Link : https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/vauxhall/mokka/long-term-reviews/vauxhall-mokka-2021-long-term-review