First drive: Opel Mokka

The future of stylish motoring is here.

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‍There is a new car on the block and, no surprise here, it’s an SUV – albeit a compact one. Why should you care? It’s sharp and stylish with a futuristic kind of charm and a driver-centric cabin design. 

If you hadn’t picked up any of the subtle clues like the title or pictures, I'm sure you’d expect a Mercedes-Benz or BMW but no, it's an Opel. Brought to you from the Stellantis powerhouse is a new and eye-catching small SUV that, if I’m honest, has me sold on looks alone.

Overview

The Opel Mokka is a pretty car, and I must say that I am impressed with how it looks. With its flat, gloss black and aggressively-moulded front bumper, paired with the musingly styled highlights. The car looks good in the rear-view mirror. 

Personally, I have never been a fan of black plastic trim along the base of cars, yet somehow Opel has made it work. They have taken a bold step and I think it is in the right direction as there isn’t a car that looks quite like it. Sure, a lot of crossovers could be considered hatchbacks with more ground clearance, and I suppose it’s true for the Mokka as well.

It’s small, light and resembles a hatchback driving experience with a higher seating position. It displays a trendy persona in traffic and provides a sense of interest amongst bystanders caused by its unique and outstanding presence.  

Driving

Opel’s newest crossover comes with two trim options; the Elegance line is the entry-level option while the GS line is Opel's high-end choice. Fortunately, the choice is purely aesthetic since it only has one power unit available.

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A 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine produces 93 kW and 230 Nm of torque. As you can see, the power figures are not spectacular. I can assure you that you won't be winning any races. However, it is responsive with a light steering feel which is perfect for everyday city driving. When it comes to fuel consumption, this little SUV sips around 6.1l/100 km which is not too shabby in the small-SUV bracket.

As far as the ride quality is concerned, it is pleasantly comfortable, especially on the highway, while still exhibiting nimble characteristics in the city. It provides a smooth ride on the highway and a comfortable journey to and from your destination.

Inside

It is clear that the focus behind the design of this new head-turner was style and comfort. On this front, I’m convinced that Opel met the mark. The driver-orientated interior is a big step in the right direction for this little SUV, redefining trendy in the motoring world. The Mokka comes standard with a 7” infotainment system with the Elegance line, whereas the GS line comes standard with a 10” screen that is slightly tilted towards the driver.

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As you can probably guess, creature comforts and niceties such as air-conditioning, Bluetooth, central-locking, rear-folding seats and automatic headlights come standard in Elegance trim. The GS, on the other hand, comes with full leather seats as opposed to cloth, LED headlight and taillights, adaptive cruise control, a bigger touch-screen radio control unit and instrument cluster compared to the base model and keyless entry and start. This little SUV boasts measurable family-orientated comfort. It must be said, however, that the back seat doesn’t provide quite enough legroom for passengers of the six-foot-tall variety.  

Conclusion

The Opel Mokka has taken a big step in the right direction as far as style and road presence is concerned. It’s a nimble little SUV which could use a touch more power.

With a starting price of R469,900 for the base Elegance model and R519,900 for the GS, the new Mokka toes the pricey side when compared to its rivals like the Mazda CX-3 and Hyundai Kona that come with a marginally more powerful engine and all-wheel-drive. Opel does provide you with a three-year/120,000 km warranty and roadside assistance as well as a four-year/60,000 km service plan.

The Opel Mokka is possibly priced a little high relative to its CX-3 and Kona rivals which start at R394,700 and around R449,900 respectively.  

However, the styling of the Mokka has most cars beat. It is a stylish modernistic looking small SUV, designed for the family to be shipped around in style. Yes, it is a good choice for the more modern road users out there and despite the somewhat cramped space in the rear, it should make for many happy motoring kilos for young families. I must say though, driving your kids to school never looked so good.

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