Opel Mokka review (2023) – Coffee break
Boring of not?
Have you ever heard of the ordinary car syndrome? It refers to cars that don’t excel in any area, but aren’t catastrophic in others. Easily forgotten, it is logically difficult to be excited about them, to dream about them, to remember them or even to think about them. As a result, even though it’s red, this Opel Mokka feels a little grey, especially in the basic Elegance version with its dull look. But let’s give it a chance, because while there’s nothing breathtaking about it, the German skillfully avoids disaster by being simple without being simplistic.
In terms of design, the Mokka is by no means exuberant. Yes, it respects all the rules of the perfect SUV, with a high bonnet, high ground clearance, wheel arches highlighted in raw plastic and a separate roof to liven things up. But it looks just like any other SUV, and its only original feature is the headlamps encased in a black mask nicknamed Vizor. Despite this audacity – oh dear, what madness! – it fails to tell a story and ends up looking like a chubby Corsa, certainly not ugly but by no means transcendent. So let’s not go into too much detail: the Mokka is a nice little car with restrained lines. And on board, alas, it’s nothing to shout about either! Once again, the reasonable design is backed up by a quality that is just about adequate. The digital instrument cluster is flanked by a second screen dedicated to infotainment. The problem is that both are strangely integrated into a rather messy black lacquered plastic. From a distance, it almost looks good. From a distance, that is!
Limited interior space
The same goes for the steering wheel, with its incredibly dated controls and neiman that look like they’ve been set back two decades. At least they blend in seamlessly with the multimedia system, which has an excessively old-school interface. However, the physical ventilation controls are a real ergonomic bonus. As for the driving position, the Mokka amply fulfills its contract: you effectively dominate the road. Those expecting a high driving position will be in for a treat. The rear seats, on the other hand, are rather cramped and legroom is limited. What’s more, access to the rear seats is complicated, due to the convoluted door layout. Watch your head! And the boot isn’t much better, with a capacity of just 350 litres. Hardly surprising for a car of 4.15 m.
Soft on the ears, hard on the back
It’s amazing how the same platform can give birth to such different vehicles. Whereas the Peugeot 2008 was exquisitely soft, this Mokka goes in the opposite direction, with suspensions that are unrivaled in their harshness. In town, you clearly get the impression that the shock absorbers are frozen in place, preventing any compression of the springs in the face of obstacles. Obviously, it’s firm. It’s not unbearable either, but it’s definitely stiff. The obvious advantage, however, is that the body holds up well in bends, with very little body roll. Continuing with the consolations, we should also point out that Opel has really worked on soundproofing! Wind noise is remarkably muffled, perhaps even more so than on the more expensive 2008. We’ll come back to that later. As far as I’m concerned, there’s very little road noise. In the end, the fault lies under the bonnet: the little three-cylinder seems to be trying to get noticed, and it succeeds with ease.
When it’s cold, it clatters like a pressure cooker ready to serve up a risotto. Under acceleration, the PureTech also produces a concert of kettledrums, while the steering wheel and pedals let out a squad of vibrations. Nothing frightening, however, and the performance is there, fortunately. In terms of fuel consumption, we’re not amazed but just satisfied, with an average of 6.4 litres/100 km. We can come back to the imperfect engine/gearbox combination in urban conditions. In stop-and-go traffic, the powertrain hesitates and stumbles at idle, with the transmission jerking as a result. The roughness of the Stop&Start doesn’t help, and the Mokka isn’t the most pleasant to drive at low speeds, which is a shame for a small-town SUV! It’s a pity, though, because the Mokka’s size is easy to get to grips with and all-round visibility is excellent. The glazed areas are generous and the bright interior skillfully avoids the prison cell effect felt in the 2008.
It’s finally alright
Let’s cut to the chase: the Mokka is not – and never will be – a car of passion. Its jovial physique contrasts to a lesser extent with a cabin that is cruelly lacking in gaiety. In its €29,850 base configuration with a few options, it delivers the essentials and nothing more. Cruise control, lane keeping assist, automatic climate control, reversing camera, LED lights, 17-inch alloy wheels and sign reading are all part of the standard package. The heated steering wheel comes as a bonus. Appreciable, but not enough to make it the bargain of the century. So the Opel Mokka is not to be recommended? Well, this reasonable version will satisfy those who need a car… and nothing more.
