On a sunny day, somewhere about ten years ago, young Günther walked into his boss’s office and said: “Herr Hans, let’s combine the platform of the city-focused Corsa with a more muscular SUV look and take over the subcompact crossover market!” Herr Hans twirled his moustache (all German bosses have moustaches), took a sip of coffee, stared at his empty cup and whispered with satisfaction: “Mokka!”
Alright, that may not have happened exactly like that, but in any case Opel entered the growing urban SUV market at just the right time with a model named after a type of coffee and based on GM’s global Gamma II small car platform. This happened nearly five years ago, at the end of 2012.
Young Günther turned out to be right. In the first quarter after its launch, Opel had around 80,000 orders for the Mokka, and by 2015 the small car reached second place in sales within its class, dropping to third in the first half of 2016. That’s undeniably a strong result and makes the Mokka a key model in Opel’s lineup.
Its importance is further proven by the recent facelift from late last year, which is one of the most comprehensive updates I’ve come across. Beyond the heavily revised front lights and exterior styling, what really stands out—and is not typical in the automotive industry—is the complete overhaul of the interior, now following Opel’s latest design trends.
Taking all of this into account, I decided that a few days with the Mokka X (the facelift adds an “X” to the name) would give me a good understanding of what makes it so popular.
Design
At the risk of sounding like a teenage girl, I have to admit that the first word that comes to mind when I look at the Opel Mokka X is “cute” 😀
With its compact dimensions and rounded shape, the little Opel reminds me of a plush toy. And although I’m generally against statements like “this is a car for women”, in this case… well, this is a car for women.
That said, I find the Mokka X’s design pleasant and restrained. There are no overly aggressive elements like those on the Nissan Juke, for example. Interestingly, despite its overall friendly and rounded appearance, Opel has managed to give the front end a fairly dynamic look. The new headlights, with their LED daytime running lights and slightly “frowning” shape, add a hint of attitude.
In my opinion, the facelift has worked very well for the car and will help it maintain its strong position on the market. As for my personal taste, the rounded forms combined with the short front end don’t quite appeal to me. They remind me of something between a minivan and a toy. It’s not my cup of tea, as the British would say.
Interior
Things improve significantly on the inside. The dashboard follows the design of the new Opel Astra, whose interior I really like. We get a modern, clean layout combined with good materials and solid build quality (although the Astra still sits slightly higher in this regard).
This is where Opel’s strength in space utilisation becomes evident. The Mokka X offers plenty of room both front and rear, and the 356-litre boot is quite good for the class, with a very usable shape. There are also plenty of storage compartments and large door pockets.
Another plus is the comfortable seats, offering a wide range of adjustments and decent lateral support. Their only drawback is the backrest adjustment, which is done via awkwardly positioned levers… and they’re levers. Where did the good old rotary knobs go? Another omission is the lack of a central armrest for the rear passengers and one for the front passenger.
The centre console now has noticeably fewer buttons, thanks to the IntelliLink infotainment system and its touchscreen operation. The system itself is quite good, with fast response, simple menus and pleasant graphics.
Opel OnStar
Let’s focus on the most important thing I learned during this test – Opel’s connectivity and service system, OnStar, is now available and functional in Bulgaria. OnStar operates in two main areas: remote services provided by an OnStar team and connectivity via your smartphone or computer, allowing access to certain vehicle functions.
Through your phone, you can lock and unlock the car remotely, send navigation routes that activate once you start the car, or locate the vehicle. You can also check fuel levels, oil life, tyre pressure, average consumption and driving range. Some features may seem unnecessary, but once you get used to such a system, it’s hard to go without it.
More importantly, OnStar offers 24/7 access to a support team. By pressing a button on the mirror, you can connect with an operator who can send navigation directions directly to your car. If your Opel is stolen, OnStar can provide location data to the police and even immobilise the engine. Perhaps the most significant feature is accident assistance. In the event of a serious crash, the car automatically calls the OnStar emergency line. The operator receives information about the car’s location and impact severity and can dispatch emergency services if needed. They can also provide verbal support to those involved—something extremely valuable in moments of shock.
On the road
The car provided by Opel Bulgaria was an orange Mokka X in the top-spec Innovation trim, powered by the most powerful engine in the range – a 1.4-litre turbo petrol unit with 152 hp and 240 Nm of torque. This was paired with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox—a combination that is both uncommon and, frankly, not particularly suitable for this car. But more on that in a moment.
Immediately after picking up the car, I headed into Sofia’s relatively quiet (holiday-season) streets. The Mokka X makes a good first impression.
Let’s start with the high driving position, which contributes to a relaxed city driving experience, although it does reduce visibility when manoeuvring around lower cars. Thankfully, a rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors help.
The overall cabin atmosphere is calm, with good sound insulation and a quiet, well-balanced petrol engine… at least until you press the accelerator hard. Then, the sluggish response of the six-speed automatic gearbox and the loud engine noise become quite noticeable. Despite the noise, acceleration is reasonably brisk.
Drive it the way it’s meant to be driven—calmly and smoothly—and comfort remains intact, with minimal noise and a well-behaved gearbox.
After around 50 km in Sofia, achieving 9.4 l/100 km (not particularly efficient, but the cold weather and low mileage didn’t help), I decided to head to Borovets via Zheleznitsa.
On twisty roads, the Mokka X handles well for its height. Body roll is controlled, and neither of my passengers felt uncomfortable. That’s a clear plus.
The downside is the steering. While light and suitable for city driving, it lacks feedback on winding roads. Combined with the slow gearbox, it’s clear the Mokka X is not intended to deliver sporty driving.
After the corners, I joined a rougher stretch of road towards Samokov. The suspension handled the uneven surface well, and at one point, I realised I didn’t actually know where I was going.
So I pressed the OnStar button. Within moments, a polite operator answered. I explained that I had forgotten to enter my destination. After a brief conversation, she found the hotel and sent the address directly to the car. Seconds later, the navigation system displayed it.
Pretty cool, right?
Conclusion
The Opel Mokka X has all the qualities needed to perform well in the subcompact crossover segment. Its facelift is comprehensive and brings fresh life to an ageing concept.
The problem is the fierce competition: the more charming Jeep Renegade, the popular Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008, the stylish Fiat 500X, the Japanese Mazda CX-3, the futuristic Toyota C-HR and the ageing but still attractive Nissan Juke.
Despite this crowded field, the Mokka X stands out with excellent space utilisation, a quality interior and the OnStar system.
As for engines, I believe the tested configuration is not the right choice. All-wheel drive is unnecessary in this class—save yourself around €1,275. Likewise, unless you strongly prefer automatics, go for a manual and save another €1,530. The automatic gearbox is dated and negatively affects fuel consumption, while a manual suits the car’s character better.
This leaves sensible options such as the 1.4-litre turbo petrol (140 hp), the 1.6-litre petrol (115 hp), or the 1.6-litre diesel (110 or 136 hp). There’s also a factory LPG version of the 1.4 petrol.
Over the course of my test—covering several hundred kilometres in winter conditions—average fuel consumption was 9.7 l/100 km, ranging from 5.8 l/100 km on flat roads with cruise control to 10.1 l/100 km when driving more dynamically between Sofia and Borovets.
Finally, let’s talk price. The Mokka X starts at around €17,000, while a well-equipped version with features like a heated steering wheel will cost you about €23,000.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
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