Vauxhall Mokka Electric Review

​Introduction & model history

Despite its name, the last Vauxhall Mokka was the motoring equivalent of a cup of watery instant coffee. It was awkward looking, uncomfortable and even disinterested motorists thought it was disappointing to drive. And like that coffee it was cheap, but not cheap enough to forgive its shortcomings. 

But now there’s a new one. And it promises to be more like a fresh ground bean rather than own-brand instant. Is it finally time to bury those Mokka prejudices and start afresh? 

Before we get to the driving impressions, we need to talk about the looks. They are always a question of personal taste of course, but there is no doubt that the new Mokka is now a much more interesting car to look at. It really has gone from the sort of car you’d park around the corner to something you’d be proud to say is yours. And the big news, for us at least, is that it’s also gone electric. Just like the smaller Vauxhall Corsa, the new Mokka has a choice of power. When you’re ordering your new car, you can tick the box for petrol or 100% pure EV.

If you do go for the electric you’ll get a 50kWh battery and a motor which produces around 134bhp. The Vauxhall Mokka Electric has an official range of 209 miles, but we’d wager that’ll be more like 170 to 200 miles in everyday driving, and its 100kW charging capability means an 80% top-up from a rapid charger should take under 30 mins. It should be pointed out that many rivals have arrived since the Mokka Electric launched in 2021, and quite a few offer larger batteries and consequently longer ranges. 

You get some decent tech in the Vauxhall Mokka Electric, housed in a smart interior. It feels far more finished than the Corsa’s and isn’t quite as divisively-modern as the Peugeot e-208 and e-2008. There are a couple of disappointments inside though. First, while the space and quality feel in the front of the cabin is fine, the rear seat passengers don’t get such a good deal – it’s a bit tight for anyone over 5’8” and the quality of the plastics takes a nosedive.

Move around to the boot, and it is usefully bigger than a traditional ‘supermini’ hatchback like the Peugeot e-208 or MINI Electric, and has a removable floor panel (on top spec Ultimate trim) which makes hiding valuables and charge cables easy. It’s not quite as big as a car like the Nissan Leaf or Volkswagen ID.3 though.

Out on the road, the Mokka Electric goes back to impressing. Different driving modes allow you to choose a sportier driving experience at the cost of range, or get every watt from that 50kWh battery. Overall, the Mokka Electric can be quite good fun in Sport or Normal mode, but what’s most striking is the refinement. This is a very quiet and relaxing car to drive.

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric starts at over £36,000 and is only around £600 cheaper than the Kia Niro EV, which has a much larger 64.8kWh battery. The Mokka Electric range tops out at over £41,000 for the Ultimate model, which is a little expensive in our book.

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Verdict

It may be on the pricey side but the Vauxhall Mokka is still a desirable electric crossover. It's certainly a looker, drives well and has a pleasant interior, but it's worth doing your homework as for similar money you can buy other crossovers that get more miles on a charge thanks to their larger batteries. The Vauxhall Mokka Electric is an attractive option, though, and one we wouldn't blame you for choosing – we certainly aren't Mokka mockers any more.