Hot on the tail of the new Astra and Corsa, Vauxhall has revealed a facelift for its small crossover – the Mokka. Now called the Vauxhall Mokka X, the car receives a new engine choice, a bold new design, and Vauxhall’s OnStar connectivity system.
The rear of the Mokka X is very similar to the previous model, but round the front it’s been given the new Vauxhall ‘family face’. It’s more chiselled than the outgoing model, with a ‘wing-shaped’ front grille and fewer bits of extraneous plastic trim. There are also ‘Adaptive Forward Lighting’ LED headlights to replace the previous Xenon units.
The inside has been given a more comprehensive redesign, and there are shades of the Astra about the Mokka X’s dash. That means a large IntelliLink touchscreen, fewer buttons than the previous car, and swathes of piano-black trim.
IntelliLink brings both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the Mokka X, but the real star of the show is OnStar. Vauxhall calls OnStar a ‘personal connectivity and service assistant’, and it combines plenty of functions. Kids in the back will be happy to use the built-in 4G wireless hotspot, but OnStar advisors are on hand 24/7 to download destinations to the sat-nav, bring roadside assistance to the vehicle’s location or even call the emergency services in the event of an accident.
The Mokka X will be available with the 1.6-litre ‘Whisper’ diesel we tested last year, but those after a petrol powerplant will be happy to see a new generation 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine. It provides 150bhp and Vauxhall says it will return 42.8mpg when combined with four-wheel-drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Vauxhall claims OnStar makes the Mokka X the best-connected car in the compact SUV segment, and with a new look (penned by a British designer) and new engines, it could just be a winner in other areas too. The Vauxhall Mokka X will be unveiled officially at the Geneva Motor Show, and will go on sale later this year.
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