Used Vauxhall Mokka X 2016-2019 review

The Vauxhall Mokka X is an updated version of the Vauxhall Mokka small SUV, a car that proved surprisingly popular despite it being not terribly refined nor particularly good to drive.

Changes to the front and rear styling and a redesigned dashboard were enough to warrant the addition of the 'X' moniker to the Mokka's name in 2016, but the car retains the stature of the original and a lot of its underpinnings.

Engine options are 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol units in 138bhp or 150bhp states of tune, a 113bhp 1.6-litre petrol and two 1.6-litre diesels, with 108bhp or 134bhp.

At launch, there were four trims to choose from: Active, Design Nav, Elite and Elite Nav. As standard, the Mokka X came with a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system, OnStar (Vauxhall’s 24/7 emergency assistance and concierge service), a DAB radio and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring. Also included were dual-zone climate control, cruise control and front and rear parking sensors.

In Design Nav form, the Mokka X gained sat-nav and a larger, 8.0in touchscreen, while the range-topping Elite models added leather upholstery and heated sports seats in the front. Elite Nav models gained sat-nav as standard.

The Mokka X isn’t thrilling to drive. Its steering is light enough to make town driving easy, but it’s uncommunicative and the wheels run out of grip quite quickly in corners. The car's handling is also a little vague, with plenty of body lean in corners adding to the feeling of waywardness.

Nor does the softness of the suspension reward the Mokka X with a good ride; it's unsettled over broken surfaces, especially at low speeds, and feels wallowy over speed bumps, while potholes send nasty jolts through the interior. Refinement disappoints, too, with more noise than you get in rivals.

Occupants in the front shouldn't have any problems with head, leg or shoulder room. Three adults across the rear bench would be a squeeze, but two will be fine, thanks to decent head and leg room. However, chunky pillars can make the rear feel closed in; this could be a problem for younger children and those who are claustrophobic.

Both the Volkswagen T-Roc and Renault Captur have bigger boots than the Mokka X, and there isn't a clever folding mechanism for dropping the rear seats. You must move the seat base forward first before you can drop the back, although it will sit mostly flat when you do this. On the plus side, there's no lip to negotiate when loading up the boot.

Prices for early Mokka Xs start at around £8000 – a substantial saving on the new price. Up your budget to £9000 and you'll be able to find a low-mileage car in good condition and with a full service history. A 2018 example will set you back at least £10,500, while a year-old Mokka X from a franchised dealer will be £11,500 or more.

Check the value of a used Vauxhall Mokka X with What Car? Valuations

MPG

The most economical version of the Mokka X is the 108bhp 1.6-litre diesel. This has official average fuel economy of 70.6mpg. Not far behind is the 134bhp 1.6-litre diesel with a figure of 65.7mpg in front-wheel-drive form. The best-performing petrol engine is the 138bhp 1.4, which has an official average of 47.1mpg, or 42.2mpg with four-wheel drive. Not surprisingly, the larger 1.6-litre petrol has the worst economy at 41.5mpg.

CO2

The less powerful diesel has the lowest emissions of 105g/km, while the other one emits 114g/km. The cleanest petrol is the front-wheel-drive 136bhp 1.4, which produces 139g/km, although adding four-wheel drive increases emissions to 152g/km. The 1.6-litre petrol produces the most CO2 at 155g/km.

Road tax

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017 will vary depending upon the CO2 emissions (see paragraph above for more information), while examples registered after this date will have the same flat-rate fee for cars that cost less than £40,000 when new, currently £150 a year. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.

Insurance

Insurance groups range from a lowly 8 up to 16 for the higher-powered diesel models.

Servicing

Servicing costs for most Vauxhalls tend to be reasonable. There are three levels of service: interim, main and major. For petrol models, these services will cost £160, £265 or £305 respectively, and they are £170, £295 or £365 for diesels.

Engine

If you don’t cover huge mileages, we’d recommend the 138bhp 1.4T petrol model, because it has peppy performance and reasonable economy. The diesels have a peaky power delivery that makes them slightly difficult to drive smoothly.

Specification

We’d also try to seek out a car in Design Nav trim for its sat-nav and upgraded infotainment system. It should also be cheaper on the used car forecourts than higher-spec versions.

Our favourite Vauxhall Mokka X: 1.4T 140 Design Nav

The Kia Soul is a stylish alternative to the Mokka X. It has a spacious interior, plus it's decent to drive and well equipped. However, its ride is on the firm side and its steering is rather light and vague.

The Suzuki Vitara is both good to drive and immensely practical. The top-spec models are well equipped and good value for money. The Vitara also has plenty of room for passengers and in the boot, making it a good family proposition.

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