Vauxhall Mokka X review

Vauxhall’s mid-size crossover, the car that slots in below the Grandland X and above the Crossland X. But it’s different. Those two are newer, having arrived since PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) bought Vauxhall and Opel. The former is based on the Peugeot 3008, the latter on the 2008.

The Mokka is older, based on the Gamma II platform that also underpins the Vauxhall Viva, although size-wise it falls into the gap between Nissan’s Juke and Qashqai. Its size (roughly 4.2 metres long by 1.6 metres high) and price point (prices from a little over £20,000) have gone down well with buyers over the past few years, giving the Mokka X a regular presence in the UK top ten sales chart.  

However, sales have declined recently both due to cannibalisation fboth rom within – the Grandland is now Vauxhall’s best selling car after the Corsa – and without, the crossover class having expanded with many new arrivals.

To help rationalise its position, Vauxhall has simplified the Mokka X’s model range. There’s now just one petrol and one diesel, both offering around 140bhp, and both available with either six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes. An all-wheel-drive system is available on higher spec versions.   

The styling matured when the car was facelifted in 2016, gaining new headlights, a wider grille and fresh front and rear bumpers. Inside, a completely new dash was fitted with central touchscreens (either 7in or 8in) as standard. Between entry-level Design Nav and flagship Ultimate, prices run the gamut from £20,035 to £31,180. You get the impression discounts are there to be had.

Now manufacturers are getting their teeth into this class, there are some increasingly talented cars out there. The Vauxhall Mokka X isn’t one of them. It’s now six years old, and its trump card is nothing more exciting than a well-packaged and reasonably spacious interior.

But it is easy to own, you won’t have to travel far to get it mended, it’s not going to do anything to scare you, it’s easy to get in and out of, has the kit you want (and makes it understandable to use), and so on. In short, it does what you need. It does it with little flair, and none of the buzz that surrounds the best cars in the class, but maybe that suits you. To us though, Vauxhall – having been in there since the start – now needs to do better.