This post was originally published on Autocar
Stylish compact crossover offers appealing looks and interior tech. Does it have the drive to match?
The Vauxhall Mokka Electric takes the traditional crossover recipe and tries to meld it into something truly desirable and appealing.A funky, futuristic design and a stylish-looking interior made this car both modern and appealing to prospective buyers, and it still looks the part despite first going on sale back in 2019. Indeed, Vauxhall seems to have struck a chord with customers. Dealers have shifted nearly 100,000 examples of the second-generation Mokka, despite it finding itself in a fiercely contested market segment. The Hyundai Kona Electric, Volkswagen ID 3, Ford Puma Gen-E and Renault 4 all want a seat at the table too, but a series of technological and drivability enhancements promises to continue the Mokka’s appeal and competitiveness. The standard version is now fitted with the same 54kWh battery as the old Long Range version, plus it has been given a comfort-focused damping retune, reworked steering and the same styling revisions inside and out as the ICE Mokka.Read on, then, to find out if a minor update can continue this crossover’s appeal against an ever-increasing, ever-more competitive pool of rivals.The Vauxhall Mokka Electric range at a glanceThere are three trim levels available: Design, GS and Ultimate.Entry-level cars have pretty much all the kit you need, with a 10in infotainment touchscreen and digital instrumentation display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, rear parking sensors, LED lights and 17in alloy wheels. GS trim adds a rear-view camera, more adjustment for the driver’s seat, 18in alloys and tinted glass.Ultimate adds additional comfort-based trinkets, such as a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, lumbar support and massage seats.Design starts at around £32,500, while GS costs about £2000 more and Ultimate just over £37,000.As standard, you now get the bigger 54kWh battery pack from the old Long Range car. In combination with improved energy efficiency, that results in a claimed 20% range increase over the old 50kWh Mokka Electric, to 252 miles.It has a good maximum charging speed of 100kW, meaning a top up from 20% to 80% takes 27 minutes. That’s better than Renault 4 (80kW).Its front-mounted electric motor produces 154bhp and 191lb ft of torque, which is good for a 0-62mph of 9.0sec and a top speed of 93mph.