2021 (71) Vauxhall Mokka 1.2 Turbo Elite Nav Premium 5dr

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

Back in 2020, Vauxhall needed more of a competitive presence in the industry's fastest growing segment, that for small trendy SUVs. And, courtesy of shared Stellantis Group engineering, this second generation Mokka model provided it. There was nothing that changed the class norm here, but the looks were striking. Here, we examine pre-facelift versions of this Mokka B design for the used customer.

History

Back in 2020, the fresh new face of Vauxhall was showcased by the trendy so-called 'Vauxhall Visor' look of this second generation Mokka SUV. You might remember the Mokka, one of the earlier small crossovers, first introduced in MK1 'Mokka A' form in 2012, then updated and relaunched as the Mokka X in 2016. That early Korean-built design was, to be frank, a pretty mediocre confection but it was an important model for Vauxhall dealers to have in their showrooms and actually sold pretty well. Over 200,000 examples had found UK customers by the time sales petered out in 2019, as the Mokka's place in the range became squeezed between the (smaller) Crossland X and the (larger) Grandland X. Like those two cars - but unlike the original Mokka - the completely different MK2 'Mokka B' design was based on engineering and a platform structure borrowed from fellow Stellantis Group brands, specifically the French ones. A more advanced CMP platform in this case, which meant it was basically the same underneath as a MK2 Peugeot 2008 or a DS 3 Crossback. And that in turn meant that there was also a full-electric version, the Mokka-e (in 2022 re-christened the 'Mokka Electric'). That chassis structure was a good deal more modern than the old PF1 underpinnings that back in 2020 were still sported by Vauxhall's other small SUV from this period in this segment, the fractionally larger, fractionally cheaper but quite a lot less fashionable Crossland model. The MK2 Mokka sold in its original form until mid-2024, when it was significantly facelifted. It's the pre-facelift version though, that we look at here.

What You Get

With this second generation Mokka B design, though the name was the same, not much else was shared with the previous model. Not least the way this Vauxhall looked. Out went the anonymous proportions and bland curves of the previous model: in came a confident stance with square-jawed face, sharp lines and interesting details. At the front, the appearance is dominated by the 'Vizor' grille that rings the headlamps, badge and front panel running between the lights. Move in profile and this Mokka is the archetypal modern small crossover, all sweeping creases, colour-coded finishing and big wheels. The rear plays a similar styling trick to the front, making the car look wider than it actually is. The slender, sculpted LED tail lights play a key role, as does the well spaced-out 'Mokka' name that sits above the crease running through the tailgate. If you're switching from the original Mokka, you might think you've skipped a couple of model generations, so different is this cabin. The first thing you'll probably note is what Vauxhall calls the 'Pure Panel', a fascia design that sees the high-mounted central touchscreen and the driver instrument display to the right of it almost bonded together, respectively 10 and 12-inches in size on plusher models (or both 7-inches on cheaper ones), angled towards you and styled to give the impression of one large monitor. Everything else is far more sophisticated than the MK1 design too, particularly in terms of switchgear and trimming - the shiny piano black lower centre console finishing for instance and the smart white double stitching on the doors. Plus despite the sporty exterior looks, there a proper, slightly raised SUV seating position, giving the more commanding feel that crossover customers like. Plus there's reasonable cabin storage space and most of the connectivity features you'll want. In the rear seat, unlike in some key rivals or in most mainstream versions of Vauxhall's other small SUV from this period, the Crossland, there's no useful sliding bench mechanism to improve things. Leg room for adults would be OK on a short to medium-length journey, but you wouldn't really want to be in the back for much longer than that. It'll probably be fine for children though, unless they object to the upwardly sloping window line which, particularly on models with tinted rear windows, might leave some kids feeling a touch claustrophobic. And the boot? Well with everything open, there's a usefully big aperture, but quite a high lip and a 350-litre capacity figure that's 60-litres less than you'd get in a Crossland. To give you some segment perspective, a rival MK2 Nissan Juke offers 422-litres, while a Ford Puma has 456-litres. Unlike with a MK2 Peugeot 2008, you lose out on space if you opt for the all-electric variant - the Mokka EV can offer just 310-litres. There is, however, an adjustable-height boot floor on some models, which provides storage that's perfect for charging cables; there's not much further room below that though. You get bag hooks on either side and an LED light on the left but only two tie-down points. And you can't stash the parcel shelf against the back of the rear bench when not in use, as you can with some rivals. That bench has a conventional 60:40-split but at least if you position the cargo floor at its higher level, there's no step up to it when the rear seat is folded, which releases up to 1,105-litres of room in a combustion Mokka model - or up to 1,060-litres in an electric Mokka.

What to Look For

Most Mokka buyers we came across seemed satisfied. But inevitably there were a few issues. You'll need to thoroughly check the infotainment system, which has been known to develop issues, freezing or crashing without warning. This can be caused by software glitches, which require the set-up to be updated or reset. You might also find the central screen has slow response times, which can be due to an overloaded processor or insufficient memory. Thoroughly check that the air conditioning system cools properly during hot weather conditions. If it doesn't, this can be due to a faulty compressor, a refrigerant leak or a blocked condenser. Some owners have also reported problems with the central locking system malfunctioning. Otherwise, it's just the usual things; check the interior for child scrapes - and the wheels and rear bumpers for parking scratches. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history. Obviously, on a Mokka-e or Mokka Electric, you'll need to check the charging system. If the car won't charge, it could be a problem with your home electrics (or those at the public charge point you're using). Check the charge light to make sure that electricity really is going through the charge port. And make sure there really is charge in the socket you're using to power from - plug something else into it to see - say, your 'phone. If that charges OK, it could be that your charging cable is demanding too much power, so try another power source. Another problem could be that the circuit may have tripped due to a circuit overload. Or perhaps there could be a problem with the charge cable: this needs to be cared for properly. Repeatedly driving over it (as previous owners may conceivably have done) will damage it eventually. Make sure you do a charge-up before signing for the car you're looking at. When you do this, make sure that when you plug in to start the charge cycle you hear the charge port and the cable locking and engaging as they should; that's all part of the charger basically confirming with the car's onboard computer that everything's good to go before releasing power. But if the charging cable fails to lock as it should, then that won't happen. If there is a failure to lock, the issue could be actuator failure, caused by a blown fuse.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2023 Mokka Electric excl. VAT) Front brake pads vary in price between £16-£31 for a set; rear pads are around £46. For front brake discs, think around £33-£100 for a pair. A door mirror glass is about £18; a door mirror indicator about £22.

On the Road

The styling of this MK2 Mokka suggests that it might have set out to meet the higher standards recently set for small SUVs when it comes to ride and handling. Back in 2020, this was a bar set by class entrants like the second generation Nissan Juke and, most notably, Ford's Puma. But underneath the jaunty panel work, everything here was pretty much the same as with two segment rivals not especially known for their dynamic drive, Peugeot's 2008 and the DS 3 Crossback. That Vauxhall's engineers wanted to create a slightly sportier confection here is evidenced by the slightly firmer ride you notice in the first half mile of driving this car. But it seems there wasn't really either the time, the money or the inclination to finish the job because the close body control, the poise at speed and the responsive steering that this Mokka would need to fully rival a Puma - or even a Juke - are all missing here. Still, the fashionista target market for this car probably won't care very much about that and what we do have is of course a massive improvement on the first generation Mokka model - and perhaps more relevantly, on this car's small SUV Vauxhall showroom stablemate from this period, the Crossland. There are no surprises beneath the bonnet. Not if, mindful of this car's Stellantis Group-sourced engineering, you're expecting a carry-over from the Peugeot 2008 anyway. If you're looking for a combustion engine in this pre-facelift Mokka B model, there are three main choices - two petrol and a single diesel. The least powerful unit is a 1.2-litre turbo petrol powerplant with 100PS which is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The same PureTech-sourced three cylinder unit can also be had with 130PS, in which guise you can optionally specify an 8-speed auto gearbox. If you're one of the few customers in this segment that still want a diesel, there's a 1.5-litre black pump-fuelled unit with 110PS that uses a 6-speed manual gearbox. An auto-only petrol 1.2-litre 48V mild hybrid powertrain was added in late 2023 just before the facelift Like the Peugeot 2008 and the DS 3 Crossback, this Mokka sits on the Stellantis Group's CMP platform - which means that as with those models, you can have a full-electric variant, initially called the Mokka-e, then in 2022 re-christened the Mokka Electric. As with the e-2008 and the DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE, the powertrain in question features a 50kWh battery pack and a front-mounted electric motor which puts out 135PS and 260Nm of torque. Vauxhall claimed the electric Mokka would be able to cover a WLTP-rated range of 209 miles on a single charge and could replenish itself from a 7kW home wallbox in seven and a half hours - or in just 30 minutes to 80% with a 100kW DC Rapid public charger.

Overall

This second generation Mokka represented a new kind of assertive identity for Vauxhall as it sought to carve out a more distinctive volume brand niche within the Stellantis Group portfolio of brands. It certainly made more of a driveway statement than its predecessor. And the engineering was at a different level to anything previously seen in a Vauxhall SUV, a massive step forward from the previous generation model. And in summary? Well no, this MK2 Mokka didn't really bring anything very new to its segment, but customers of small crossovers aren't really looking for engineering ingenuity. Usually, they want to make a pavement statement and if you think that's what this car does, then you might find yourself liking it very much indeed. Superficial? Maybe. But this is one of the more eye-catching Vauxhalls we can remember. And that has to be a Good Thing.