Among the half a dozen models or so that they sell in the Middle East, the Mokka is Opel’s only crossover SUV in most markets in the region. The Opel Mokka was first launched back in 2012 as the German marque’s entry-level crossover, specifically their offering in the subcompact crossover segment. And if you think that this Opel resembles a certain American crossover of the same size and proportions, that’s because the Chevrolet Trax is basically the same as the Mokka. Opel gave the Mokka a minor facelift in 2016, though much of it remains similar to what it was before the update.
Underneath, the Opel Mokka is based on General Motors’ versatile Gamma II platform, and depending on the market, can be had with a wide variety of engines and transmissions. In the UAE, however, the Opel Mokka can only be had with one petrol engine, plus there’s only one trim level to choose from. Some of the Mokka’s rivals in the region come in the form of the Hyundai Creta, Suzuki Vitara, Renault Captur and also the Renault Duster. And since they’re so similar to each other, one could consider the Chevrolet Trax as a competitor to the Mokka as well.
Exterior
The Opel Mokka isn’t particularly the most enigmatic looking car by any measure, but it isn’t a bad looker either. And after the facelift in 2016, the new Mokka actually looks quite alright I think. The sculpted front end is where you’ll notice the most apparent alterations, now featuring Opel’s signature wing-shaped grille arrangement with chrome surrounds, stylish headlamps with new ‘double wing’ LED daytime-running lights, and a more aggressive bumper design with horizontally-placed, deep-set fog lamps and a faux skid plate as well. The hood has also been slightly revised now.
The side profile of the new Mokka remains more or less the same as before. The sides of the Mokka are mostly comprised of soft lines and contours along the bodywork, with little in the way of sharp ridges or angles. However, the rising window and shoulder lines along with the Mokka’s flared fenders and short overhangs give it a sporty yet confident stance. Then there’s the slightly sloped roof with fake roof rails, black body cladding, and bold-looking 16-inch alloy wheels - all of which work quite well in this crossover’s favor. The Opel Mokka is 4.275 meters long, 1.781 meters wide and stands 1.658 meters tall at the roof. The Mokka boasts a wheelbase of 2.555 meters and has a total boot capacity of 356 liters.
Interior
The interior of the Opel Mokka looks decent for what it is - after all, the whole design is quite mundane and simple, though it’s still a big improvement from its predecessor. You now get a completely revised part-digital instrument cluster, center stack and console area. Plus, there are also higher quality materials and textures being used, piano black trim with chrome and silver inserts, and softer contours along the dashboard and door panels. Space is decent up front, but the sloping roof, rising window line and the thick C-pillar makes this cabin feel a tad small and dingy. As for its feature list, the Mokka gets adaptive LED headlamps, keyless entry & go, single-zone air-condition, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, electronic parking brake, touchscreen multimedia system, parking sensors with rearview camera and a barrage of other passive & active safety nannies.
Engine and performance
The Opel Mokka uses a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that’s good for 140hp and 200Nm of torque, and drives the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The Mokka’s top speed is a respectable 191 km/h, even though it takes almost 11 seconds to get past the ton-mark. However, with its 6.5 L/100 km fuel-consumption rating, at least you wouldn’t have to visit the pumps too often.
Verdict
The facelifted Opel Mokka costs AED 87,000, which isn’t a cheap proposition in this class. However, it does perform quite well in day-to-day conditions, is decently equipped with conveniences and safety features, plus it looks alright too.
