It is arriving at dealerships these days and promises a range of over 300 kilometres. Compact, with a 136-horsepower motor and a 50 kWh battery, the Mokka-e is a nimble little electric. We drove it.
Opel is relaunching the Mokka, the compact crossover in its range. And this time, alongside the petrol and diesel engines (which remain, though more efficient), the long-awaited fully electric version joins the line-up. Long-awaited because the Mokka-e becomes the model that, together with the Corsa-e, represents the new direction of the German brand which, it should be recalled, recently became part of Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest automotive group, formed by the merger of the FCA and French PSA brands.
Opel will have nine hybrid, plug-in or fully electric models in its line-up by the end of the year — a list that, in addition to the Corsa-e city car, includes the plug-in hybrid SUV Grandland X and the electric van Vivaro-e. In this landscape, the new Mokka-e crossover will play a leading role, arriving at a time when compact SUVs like the Opel Mokka — or potential rivals such as the Hyundai Kona — are among the most in-demand models in a rapidly growing electric car market.
In appearance it is not very different from the internal combustion engine versions: a new front grille, redesigned headlights (and far more efficient ones, as we will see shortly), a body shape that in general lowers the aerodynamic drag coefficient (which drops from 0.35 on the previous model to 0.32), and retains the short front and rear overhangs. It was already a good-looking car before; now it is even better. But the most significant — and interesting — aspects are the ones you cannot see. That is to say, the 50 kWh battery, the 100 kW electric motor producing a maximum output of 136 horsepower, and the electric range of up to 324 kilometres according to Opel's stated figures.
The Mokka-e uses the same motor and battery as the Peugeot e-2008 and the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, with which it shares its platform. Drive is to the front wheels, the "gearbox" is single-speed, and the charging system supports both 7 kW home chargers and 100 kW DC fast-charging points, allowing an 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes. That time rises to over 5 hours for those who install an 11 kW wallbox in their garage, and to an entire night if opting for a standard domestic socket.
There are three driving modes: Normal, Eco and Sport. Almost three different cars to drive. The electric motor pushes hard — it takes just 3.7 seconds to go from 0 to 50 km/h, and 9 seconds to reach 0 to 100 km/h. But it depends greatly on the mode selected. Choose Eco and power is reduced to around 80 horsepower, in favour of greater energy efficiency — a choice that allows the range to be extended as far as possible. The full 136 horsepower are only available in Sport; here too the difference is very noticeable, because this mode also alters the throttle response (which becomes sharper) and the steering, which is more precise and responsive.
What strikes you most about the Mokka-e is still the acceleration, which is better than that of the petrol version (compared to which the electric version is 300 kg heavier — no small amount…), and capable of almost spinning the wheels at the traffic lights if the power is not applied carefully. Of course, as with all electric cars, you quickly learn here too that too much acceleration takes its toll in terms of a rapid loss of range; fortunately the figure is always clearly visible on the dashboard, where the indicator instantly updates the range estimate based on the driving mode selected. In the end, to be on the safe side, the choice almost always falls on Eco… There is, however, one further remedy: pressing the "B" button, which increases the amount of energy recovered through regenerative braking. In real-world use, the range of the electric Mokka is around 260 kilometres. The top speed is 150 km/h, but it is best not to push it.
The suspension comfort, though tending towards the firm side, is good, even over manhole covers and cobblestones. Interior space is good, comparable to the petrol versions, though the electric model loses a little room (310 litres versus 350) in the boot, which also has a slightly higher loading sill. The quietness remains one of the most appealing qualities of the Mokka-e, even at motorway speeds.
Among the most noteworthy new elements of this second generation of the Opel crossover, the new digital dashboard stands out clearly, comprising a 12-inch instrument cluster and a 10-inch central touchscreen. The result is an always clear view of all on-board functions, with the dashboard angled towards the driver's side; buttons and stalks are kept to a minimum, and many controls can be operated by voice alone. The user interface is fairly intuitive, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available.
Among the Adas (advanced driver assistance systems) features, the electric Mokka has a great deal to offer: from the forward collision warning system with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, to the fatigue alert, through to road sign recognition and adaptive cruise control.
But the most interesting innovation — particularly because it greatly improves safety during night driving — is the IntelliLux matrix adaptive headlights; thanks to their 14 LEDs, these headlights are able to adapt in real time to the road ahead, always maintaining maximum power without dazzling other vehicles; during our daytime test we did not have the opportunity to try them out, but we know this technology and can assure you that, even though they require an extra investment (€600), it is an investment of considerable value. Finally, the price of the Opel Mokka-e starts from €34,000, before deducting incentives and any Ecobonus.