Vauxhall Mokka review

We’d perhaps stop short of calling the original Vauxhall Mokka a gamechanger, but there’s no doubt that, along with the first-generation Nissan Juke and Skoda Yeti, it helped change the face of the car industry. With an elevated driving position and a competitive price, it gave those on a more modest budget the chance to experience the social cachet that comes along with owning a high-riding SUV.

However, just like One Direction, Ugg Boots and Saturday night TV, just because something is popular, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good. And so it was with the Vauxhall Mokka – a poor ride and a drab interior ensuring it consistently finished towards the back in our group tests. The fact that it remained consistently in the UK’s top 10 sellers list was more down to heavy discounts and attractive finance offers than the allure of the package itself. 

Thankfully, this second-generation version has all the ingredients to be a vastly better all-rounder. Not only does it feature styling inspired by the Vauxhall’s GT X Experimental Concept car (striking, isn’t it?), but under the skin it is closely related to the impressive Peugeot 2008 – that means it features a range of modern petrol and diesel engines and there’s even an all-electric version called the Mokka-e which we’ll be reviewing separately. 

As for the interior, it is a much more digitised place than in other Vauxhall models; the sleek-looking 'Pure Panel' dashboard is made up of two screens and designed to reduce the need for multiple buttons and controls, with the aim of improving your ability to concentrate on the road. It’s a layout that’s very much on-trend in the car world right now, but doesn’t always work so well in practice.

So, whether you own an original Vauxhall Mokka already or you’re thinking about buying one for the first time, there’s plenty to discuss, not least how it stacks up against an army of talented rivals. The keen-handling Ford Puma, the spacious Skoda Kamiq and the comfort-orientated Volkswagen T-Roc are just a few of the challengers that the Mokka is pitched against.

Should the Mokka be at the top of your shortlist? That’s what this review will tell you. And before you leave us, make sure to check out our New Car Buying service, where you can save a bundle of cash on hundreds of new cars, without having to lift a finger.