Used Vauxhall Mokka review ~ station of gear

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2 May, 2016 1:00pm Richard Dredge

A full used buyer’s guide to the Vauxhall Mokka covering the Mokka Mk1 (2012-date)

When Nissan revealed its Juke in 2010, it changed the market. Until then, there had been no such thing as a supermini-SUV; the smallest rugged cars were in the class above.

But with new car buyers downsizing and the SUV becoming ever more popular, smaller road-biased off-roaders made a lot of sense. And rivals soon jumped on the bandwagon, with the likes of the Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur and Ford EcoSport, plus the Mokka from Vauxhall.

Despite mixed reviews from the motoring press, the Mokka has proven a great success for Vauxhall, and keen used prices make it a tempting choice for buyers on a budget.

Models covered

The Vauxhall Mokka was first produced in 2012 to combat the success of other compact crossovers. An updated version, bearing the name Mokka X, is on the way, but it’s the original Mk1 that we’re focusing on here.

• Vauxhall Mokka Mk1 (2012-date) - Well equipped crossover makes an excellent used buy.

Vauxhall Mokka Mk1

Prices from £9,000

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History

The Mokka reached UK showrooms in November 2012 with a choice of 113bhp 1.6-litre or 138bhp 1.4 Turbo petrol engines, as well as a 128bhp 1.7-litre CDTi diesel.

All manual cars came with stop/start; the diesel was the only model offered with a six-speed automatic transmission. At launch, there were S, Exclusiv and SE trim levels, but almost immediately Vauxhall announced a new trim for company car drivers – the Tech Line. It came with all of the standard equipment in the Exclusiv, plus sat-nav.

A 1.4T auto was introduced in May 2013, then in March 2015 a 134bhp 1.6 CDTi engine joined the range, in front-wheel-drive auto and manual forms. There was also a four-wheel-drive edition.

Vauxhall Mokka Mk1 reviews

Vauxhall Mokka in-depth review
Vauxhall Mokka 1.4T Exclusiv review
Vauxhall Mokka 1.6 CDTi review
Vauxhall Mokka 1.7 CDTi Exclusiv review

Which one should I buy?

The 1.6 CDTi engine is the one to have, but prices start at £17,000 so a 1.7 CDTi is the best alternative. The 1.4T is perky, too, but the 1.6-litre petrol feels rather gutless. Only the Mokka 1.6 was offered in entry-level S trim; it came with ESP, hill descent control, air-con, heated door mirrors and electric front windows, a DAB digital radio, cruise control and a multifunction steering wheel.

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The Exclusiv adds dual-zone climate control, USB, automatic wipers, powered rear windows and an auto-dimming rear view mirror, plus parking sensors all-round, 18-inch alloys, electric folding door mirrors and high-beam assist. The SE also comes with part-leather trim, heated front seats, bi-xenon headlights and privacy glass.

Alternatives to the Vauxhall Mokka Mk1

While the Nissan Juke was the first of the breed, it’s not necessarily the best. It stands out visually and is decent value, but isn’t very good to drive and offers limited practicality.

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The Peugeot 2008 is comfortable and comes with frugal engines, plus it’s very usable thanks to its roomy cabin and boot. But there’s no four-wheel-drive option.

The same is true of the Renault Captur, although this offers excellent practicality and smart looks, while it’s also safe. But as with most of the contenders in this class, the Captur isn’t as good to drive as it could or should be. We wouldn’t consider a Ford EcoSport unless you get a great deal, due to its awkward styling and lacklustre quality.

What to look for:

Mud flaps

Rear mud flaps were available as an extra, but we think Vauxhall should have fitted them as standard to help reduce the amount of debris on the rear window.

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Spare wheel

The Mokka doesn’t come with a spare wheel of any kind – just a ‘mobility kit’. Many owners have invested in a space saver spare wheel, as an accessory.

Wheels

The alloys sometimes corrode, and this isn’t covered by the warranty after 12 months. Rims on SE models can’t be refurbished as they have a special finish.

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Rear visibility

Visibility isn’t great to the rear; on cars fitted with privacy glass, rear three-quarter vision is almost non-existent, especially when you’re manoeuvring at night.

Interior

The quality of the Mokka’s trim and switchgear is good, and while the interior isn’t especially clever, the dash is easy to use. Plus, even though it’s a ‘small’ SUV, the cabin isn’t short of space; it’s almost up there with cars in the class above, and the 356-litre boot expands to 1,372 litres with the seats folded.

Running costs

All Mokkas need servicing at least every 12 months or 20,000 miles, although a service indicator on the dash highlights if maintenance is needed sooner.

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Check-ups alternate between minor (£149) and major (£199). Officially, these prices are for cars over three years old, but most dealers charge the discounted rate for any Mokka. Join the Vauxhall Service Club (it’s free) and you’ll get half-price MoTs, plus up to 25 per cent off maintenance and repairs. The cambelt on the 1.6 petrol and 1.7 diesel needs replacing every six years or 100k miles, for £259.

Recalls

The Mokka has been recalled only once so far. This was in March 2013 and affected 102 cars built in December 2012. The problem centred on the steering wheel, which sometimes detached from the steering column. This could happen because the securing bolt for the wheel may not have been tightened enough. The solution was simple enough; the bolt just had to be done up to the correct torque setting, with no need for replacement parts.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

The Mokka debuted in our Driver Power satisfaction survey in 2014, finishing 29th, but fell to 88th in 2015. A slight improvement this year saw It climb back up to 75th. Owners rated its reliability highest – ranking it 36th – followed by in-car tech (42nd), seat comfort (53rd) and build quality (70th). Only practicality (106th) ranked outside the top 100.

The Mokka doesn’t offer the feel-good factor that so many new car buyers now expect. But owners generally love their cars because they represent such terrific value for money – especially with Vauxhall showrooms generally keen to do deals. While rampant depreciation doesn’t make a new Mokka a great buy, it means it’s much more tempting second-hand, and it’s not as if the car is completely devoid of appeal. It scores with its spacious interior and it’s comfortable. The build quality is good and all versions are very well equipped. Throw in a choice of front or four-wheel drive, and there are lots of reasons to give this Vauxhall a closer look.

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