Mocha's pleasing appearance

Opel is doing well with its Mokka. We took a closer look at the hybrid version of the Rüsselsheim-based company's compact SUV during a test drive.

It's good that styling exists, allowing models on the same platform and with identical technology to develop distinct characters. This applies to all cross-group or intra-group collaborative models – and therefore also to the Opel Mokka . The compact SUV shares the same platform as the Peugeot 2008 and the DS 3, but thanks to the Vizor styling, Opel's new design language, it boasts a unique look. The second-generation model is available as a gasoline, hybrid, and fully electric vehicle; the diesel version was dropped from the lineup.

On the road with mild hybrid

View of the dashboard with the flat-bottomed steering wheel. Photo: © Opel

Measuring 4,15 meters long, 1,79 meters wide, and 1,53 meters high, it falls into the smaller category of compact cars. The dimensions are identical for all three versions; we're driving the hybrid . In this case, it's a 48-volt mild hybrid system, whose powertrain delivers a system output of 107 kW/145 hp. This allows the car to put 230 Newton meters of torque to the road, enough for a top speed of 209 km/h. According to the technical specifications, fuel consumption should ideally settle at 4,9 liters per 100 kilometers, but on our test route , which included city, country roads, and highways, the consumption was a respectable 5,3 liters.

In the revised second generation, which has been on the market since this year, the new lighting architecture is particularly striking. There are also a few exterior applications and the Vizor look in the interior. But that's all the innovations, as the Mokka still has a pleasing appearance. The hybrid weighs 1.362 kilograms, and the permissible total weight is then 1.750 kilograms. This also means that anyone driving five 100-kg passengers around will have exceeded the payload limit of 388 kilograms. A problem that, incidentally, is widespread throughout the passenger car landscape.

1,2 tonnes towing capacity

The Opel Mokka hybrid version officially consumes 4,9 liters per 100 km. Photo: © Opel

The rear seats are always somewhat uncomfortable for taller people due to the lack of headroom – and with three people, it becomes quite cramped. The luggage compartment isn't particularly spacious for the car's length either. It ranges from 350 liters to 1.105 liters with the rear seats folded down. On the plus side, the Mokka is also available with a tow bar, allowing it to pull a maximum of 1,2 tons.

Driving is as unspectacular as ever, but confidently so. The Mokka handles corners with pleasant ease, making it suitable for families, and the noise level at higher speeds is also better than in the previous generation. In addition, the software is faster, allowing the infotainment system to deliver information more quickly, for example, when using ChatGPT to ask about nearby points of interest. Another welcome feature is the ability to deactivate the annoying warning systems of the driver assistance systems, mandated by law, at the touch of a button. This standard has also become widely adopted.

As combustion engine, hybrid or purely electric

Those who prefer to drive the Mokka purely electrically will indeed travel emission-free, but the speed is limited to 150 km/h. The pure electric Mokka, with its 54 kWh battery, has a range of up to 403 kilometers and can be recharged to 80 percent capacity in 27 minutes using 100 kW DC fast charging. An alternative is the pure combustion engine version, available with either 100 kW/136 hp or 96 kW/130 hp. Prices for the hybrid start at €25,117,65 (net), the gasoline version with the smaller engine at €22.596,64 (net), and the pure electric version at €30.873,95 (net).

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