Opel Mokka-e Car Review

Model: Opel Mokka-e
Engine: Electric 50 kWh
Transmission: One-speed Automatic
Power: 100 kW(136hp)
Torque: 250 Nm
Price: $69,990

Introduction

Quiet, fast-charging, and stylish, the Opel Mokka-e is one of most efficient German brand who are all about detoxing and resetting. This small SUV is suitable for urban lifestyle – tuned to handle both narrow city streets and wide-open roads with ease.

What's on the outside

Think bold and brave, as the eye-catching Opel Mokka-e is a vehicle that certainly stands out from the car crowd. What strikes you first is how much the Mokka-e is packed with personality. With futuristic L-shaped head and back lights and a red accent trim that wraps around the windows, pausing only at the bonnet and continuing around the (standard 16”) alloys, there’s no chance of losing this car in the carpark.

What's cool inside

The interior is smart and comfortable. However, it lacks the same visual flair as the exterior. When you sit inside, it doesn’t seem to scream ‘electric car’ as there are physical controls for features rather than everything on an infotainment screen. While the climate and stereo controls aren’t that modern their physical presence makes them easier to navigate.

Most Mokka-e models do come with built-in heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Something important to consider for those early winter morning starts and if you don’t like hot air blowing into the car cabin. Our favourite thing inside was the 12” instrument cluster which is customisable by flicking through different pre-set menus via the left stalk.

For a small SUV, the seats are positioned quite high, which is good as you can see everything in front of you. However, the rear seats are best suited for kids only. Once we adjusted the seat to suit our driving position, there wasn’t much leg room left over unfortunately - the taller teenagers in the family might be calling for the front passenger seat.

Performance (inc. efficiency)

If you have never driven an electric vehicle, the Mokka-e could be a good starting point. With its smooth power distribution, it’s not going to have you torque steering towards the kerb. The electric motor produces 100 kW of power and 260 Nm of torque. Opel claims that the small SUV achieves 60 mph in 8.7 seconds.

The Mokka-e is not a sporty vehicle nor did Opel state it is and as a front-wheel-drive it may be better suited to urban areas rather than country roads. It is. The suspension setup does give you a more comfortable driving experience in and around the city where there are a lot of speedbumps.

Next-generation battery technology provides the freedom to go further with up to 363 km according to WLTP1 on just a single charge. When it comes to charging the vehicle, most people will probably opt for the home wall charger which has a standard 7 kW and will take the Opel 7hrs 35mins to charge from 0-100%.

How much it'll set you back

At $69,990 this is at the higher end of Small SUVs on the market but is filled with lots of safety features. Several airbags and ISOFIX hooks for kid safety seats are included. Moreover, it has lane-keeping assistance, automated emergency braking, and road sign recognition. Your Mokka Electric will come with a 180-degree rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, and IntelliLux LED matrix headlights for better vision if you upgrade to the SRi trim level or above.

In Conclusion... 

If you’re after a stylish electric runabout for urban adventures, it would be worth a look. The Mokka-e is an all-rounder with stylish exterior design and a practical interior configuration.

However, our opinion is that the Mokka-e might be a bit cramped to be a family car, your family would have to be small in stature to fit in comfortably. However, something to point out is the steering, ride and handling were great and the Mokka-e has an excellent exterior design for a small SUV.

The Mokka-e has a range of just over 360 kms, it’s fine for a person who will charge the car every time they stop. However, if you’re going on a long trip, it might not be suitable for you, unless you plan out your charging stops.

Pros

• Safety systems
• Exterior
• Simple informational system

Cons

• Rear leg room
• Cramped

Safety systems

• ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) 
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill Start Assist 
• Airbags (x6): Driver & Front passenger, Front side, Front & Rear curtain 
• Electronic code immobiliser, deadlocking & Child locking functionality on rear doors 
• Front optimised safety headrests & Rear retractable headrests (x3), height-adjustable
• Front & rear three-point retractable seatbelts with force limiters (front & outer rear seats)
• Outer rear seat ISOFIX mounting points (x2) with Top Tether 
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function and Speed limiter 
• Lane Keeping Assist 
• Lane Positioning Assist (semi-autonomous) 
• Speed limit recognition & recommendation 
• Active Emergency Braking (AEB) with night function, pedestrian & cyclist detection 
• Blind Spot Monitoring 
• Driver Attention Alert & Forward Collision Warning 

• Approaching Vehicle Audible System (AVAS)

Find out more on how the AA can help you when buying a new car:

• AA Money - aa.co.nz/money
• AA Insurance - aa.co.nz/insurance
• AA Car Reviews - aa.co.nz/car-reviews
• AA Running Cost Reports - aa.co.nz/runningcosts

Vehicle experts you can trust