Mokka-e represents electric-powered value-motoring.
At the value-end of the electric vehicle (EV) market, one finds a slew of offerings such as the BYD Atto 3, Citroen e-C4 and Hyundai Kona Electric. Amongst them, one also finds the Opel Mokka-e from the Stellantis stable.
Being so spoilt for choice, does the Mokka-e have what it takes to sway buyers to this German compact crossover?
die Außenseite
One first notices how the Mokka-e sits somewhat higher off the ground. This makes ingress and egress a much easier proposition than compact sedans and hatchbacks.
The design language here is rather clean, interspersed by black plastic trim and a blacked-out front emblem and roof that play nicely against the test car’s White Banquise paintwork.
Murdered out 17-inch rims wearing 215/60 R17 Michelin Primacy 4 tyres help raise visual aggression levels a tad while contrasting nicely with the bodywork.
The clean design aesthetic carries on to the rump, where one finds a small roof spoiler, sleek tail lamps and one of my favourite features, a black ‘diffuser’ housing the bright red rear foglight below the bumper line.
das Innere
Swing open the hatch to find 350 litres of boot space, and if more is needed, the rear seatbacks can be lowered in a 60:40 split to liberate additional carrying capacity, to the tune of 1,105 litres.
I had the privilege of ferrying two pairs of female passengers in the rear, with one pair in their 20s and the other in their golden years. All rear-seat passengers complimented the good comfort and ride quality of the Mokka-e.
Naturally, longer-of-limbs and shorter-of-torso 1.82-metre tall yours truly wouldn’t be able to sit directly behind his driving position, but it wasn’t an issue for more petite individuals.
Two USB Type-A ports are available in the rear to charge mobile devices, but I found it curious that there were no overhead grab handles or dome lights in the back.
The front seats are manually adjusted, and comfortable for longer journeys. I was easily and quickly able to find my ideal driving position courtesy of the manual adjusters. See, electrical adjustments are not always the fastest.
Then it’s just a simple case of reach- and rake-adjusting the steering wheel to one’s ideal arms-length.
Ahead of the steering wheel sits a 12-inch instrument cluster screen. One can toggle the screen to display myriad information, including a trip computer, navigation and a minimalist display, through a rocker selector and button on the turn-signal stalk.
The 10-inch touchscreen infotainment is basic, but features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is what will mostly be used. The audio system, though basic, can play clear and loud.
Climate controls are physical (hooray!) and easy to adjust on the move.
A couple of cupholders can be found behind the centre console, along with an adjustable armrest that, once slid forward, obscures one of the cupholders. You could stow a short stubby can of classic Red Bull there though.
Not a big concern, for the front door pockets, can accommodate larger water bottles.
das Fahren
The Mokka-e is easy to drive and park. Outward visibility is excellent owing to large glass panels, and even reversing without the camera is a cinch thanks to the large wing mirrors.
Those wing mirrors also house blind-spot warning indicators which glow bright orange, so they’re easy to pick up on. The lane-keeping system, however, is a bit too over-enthusiastic and is best turned off via the button in the centre console.
On the move, ride comfort is great, especially in the rear, and the Mokka-e never gets too fidgety. It can even be momentum-driven through a bend or corner, but push it and it will begrudgingly comply under protest. This is a compact crossover for cruising, not bruising.
Cruising comes courtesy of its 132hp and 260Nm electric motor which drives the front wheels.
Propulsion juice comes courtesy of a 50kW battery pack, and the Mokka-e is fitted with an 11kW onboard charger, which can take the battery from flat to 100% in just 4.5 hours at a suitable AC charger.
It can also accept faster DC charging at 50kW, and I was able to charge it from 25%-90% in about 38 minutes, which is good.
Opel claims a WLTP average efficiency of 14.5kWh/100km or 6.9km/kWh. I was able to better this at a weighted and normalised average of 14.16kWh/100km or 7.1km/kWh during my drive.
Considering the 50kW battery capacity vis-a-vis the average efficiency during my drive, around 355km is doable on a full charge. I just wish the battery was slightly larger for 400km of range in between charges.
Naturally, your mileage may vary with driving style and use case, but the key to good efficiency, as always, is to drive smoothly, not slow.
The Opel Mokka-e makes a compelling proposition for those who want a simple, straightforward and cost-effective EV-ownership proposition. It rides well, is easy to drive and park charges relatively quickly and is pleasant to look at.
Does it make the cut for you? Take a test drive and see if the Mokka-e is your flavour of coffee bean.
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Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
technical specifications
Opel Mokka-e
Unladen Weight: 1,523kg
Battery Size: 50kW
Power: 132hp
Torque: 260Nm
Drive: Front wheels
0-100km/h: 10.1 seconds (claimed)
Range: up to 363km (claimed)
Energy Economy: 14.5kWh/100km or 6.9km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$181,500 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Opel Singapore
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