It’s a new segment for Opel in South Africa – the sub-compact SUV segment, or any SUV for that matter, wearing an Opel badge is a foreign concept to us locally; but as one of Opel’s ‘new Germans’ the Mokka looks to impress. The new model comes laden with features, and aims to attract youthful buyers away from other competitors such as the Nissan Juke.
Design-wise the Mokka looks strong and solid. Not overly masculine, but far more aggressive than some of the feminine competitors on the market. It bears resemblance to the Opel family though, with a similar front end design to that of the ADAM and new Corsa, although with slight variations to set the model apart from its smaller siblings.
Inside, the Mokka is firmly quality and comfort biased, with large cabin-space, high mounted seats for a commanding view of the road, and premium look- and feel- trim. Black trim and chrome detailing are used for the functional elements and instrument cluster, whilst the dashboard is designed in a ‘wing’ style to maximise special usage and remain visually pleasing. High up on the Mokka’s priority list is space, of which it has plenty – luggage space is a commodious 1371 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded flat, and 356 litres with the rear seats upright. The Mokka also makes do with a 16-inch spare wheel under the cargo floor.
On the engine front, the Mokka sadly doesn’t get any of Opel’s new turbo-triple powertrains, or the new gearbox. Instead, it features the 1.4T of yesteryear, found in the Astra, which develops a healthy 103kW and 200Nm. Driving the front wheels via either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, the Mokka can reach 100km/h from standstill in 9.8 seconds (10.7 for the auto ‘box), top out at 191km/h, and tow up to 1200Kg braked or 500Kg unbraked. Claimed fuel consumption is set at 6.3-6.6l/100km, but we know from experience the 1.4T will be slightly higher than that in real-world conditions.
On the technology front, Opel is packing the Mokka as much as they can. Not only does the Mokka feature a 5-star NCAP safety rating, but it also features ESP-Plus, Hill Start Assist, ABS with EBD and BAS, a tyre pressure monitor, and remote central locking, climate control, heated side mirrors, power windows, and cruise control with speed limiter – all as standard across all models.
When the Mokka is specced in Cosmo guise, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera featuring dynamic park assist lines are standard fair. Available as standard on the Cosmo models, and as an optional on the Enjoy models, is Opel’s IntelliLink infotainment system – complete with 6-speaker audio system, 7-inch colour screen, and complete Smartphone connectivity.
The Cosmo 1.4T benefits from the addition of rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror, automatic headlamps with High-Beam Assist, electric folding mirrors, heated front seats, ambient lighting, 18-inch alloys, leather upholstery, and a heated leather steering wheel – all as standard.
All models are backed by Opel’s 5-year/120 000km warranty and come with a 5-year/90 000km service plan. Pricing on the Mokka is a tad expensive compared to the likes of the Nissan Juke and Ford EcoSport – although none of the competitors are as well specced – with prices starting at R288 500 for the 1.4T Enjoy Manual, and finishing at R335 500 for the 1.4T Cosmo Automatic.
