Drive with us: Vauxhall Mokka Electric Review

Can the Mokka Electric become the compact SUV of choice for your next electric car lease?

The market for a compact electric SUV is a competitive one that is growing rapidly. With a claimed range of just over 200 miles, practical family space and some bold design choices, the Mokka Electric is making a very strong case to emerge as one of the best in its class.

Competing with the likes of the Peugeot e-2008, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia e-Niro or even the Mazda MX-30, this incredibly modern-looking SUV certainly leaves an impression.

In this latest Carparison review, we’re putting the Mokka Electric through its paces to discover how well it drives, how practical it is as an electric vehicle and whether it can handle the demands of a busy family lifestyle.

Price

If you’re interested in driving away in a brand new Mokka Electric you’ll have to part with £30,540* for the entry-level SE Nav Premium trim.

Upgrading to the SRi Nav or Elite Nav trim levels sees prices rise to just over £32,000. The Mokka Electric is competitively priced when compared to some of its rivals and you won’t have to pay much more if you want the range-topping Ultimate Edition at £32,495 after taking into account the Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG).

The entry-level Kia e-Niro 2 comes in slightly below the Mokka Electric price point at £30,345 (after PiCG) but with a claimed range of only 180 miles, it falls short of the Mokka Electric's performance levels.

To experience the full claimed range of 282 miles that select e-Niro models can offer, you’ll have to pay at least £32,445 (after PiCG) or up to £39,645 for the top-spec e-Niro 4+.

Carparison's best electric car lease deals create a cost-effective monthly payment that will allow you to get behind the wheel of a brand new Vauxhall Mokka Electric for a fraction of the price.

*Prices correct at the time of publication

Electric Range and Charging

The Mokka Electric comes with a claimed range of 201 miles, six less than the Peugeot e-2008. We found the real-world mileage to be a fair reflection of Vauxhall’s claims, with the Mokka Electric performing well in various driving environments.

Compared to the range available from some of the Mokka Electric's rivals, it boasts more than entry-level Kia e-Niro models (180 miles) and the Mazda MX-30 (124 miles), though the Volkswagen ID.3 continues to offer one of the best-claimed ranges at 336 miles.

Powered by a 50kWh lithium-ion battery, the Mokka Electric can be charged up to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes. For context, that's 17 minutes quicker than the pure electric Hyundai Kona, making it a hugely practical day-to-day option for drivers considering an electric car lease.

Your estimated charge time rises to 45 minutes if you’re using a 50kW Rapid Charger, just over five hours via a public charging port or just over seven and a half hours via a domestic wallbox. 

The Mokka Electric was very simple to charge and it arrived with one of the longest charging cables we’ve come across - a useful feature for those planning to use a home charger but may not always have access to a driveway.

Drive

The Mokka Electric offers a reassuringly comfortable drive. It was incredibly easy to get to grips with and once you’re off, you soon lose yourself in such a relaxing and smooth drive.

As an electric car, you do get the benefits of instant torque. The acceleration isn’t mind-blowing, but it is certainly enough to feel the benefits. Vauxhall claim 0-60mph can be done in 8.7 seconds and we found the acceleration to be more than adequate for a vehicle of this size.

You quickly get a good understanding of why the Vauxhall range continues to be so popular. When you take into account such a relaxing, quiet and easy drive (not to mention the added benefit of zero CO2 emissions), a Vauxhall Mokka Electric lease quickly becomes great value for money.

Design and Interior

The Mokka Electric is, for me, one of the best-looking electric cars on the market. It looks incredibly smart and the new-look Vizor front really makes the car.

The Vizor houses the Vauxhall badge, headlights and front grille in one flowing design and it looks fantastic. I would argue it has been the biggest beneficiary of Vauxhall's recent facelifts. During our time with the vehicle, many complimented the Mokka Electric's aesthetics and commented how it doesn't look like what many would consider to be a 'traditional' Vauxhall. 

At the rear, the roof slopes away quite suddenly and you’re left with quite a boxy, compact SUV that looks extremely sporty.

Take a seat inside the cabin and you’re met with one of the most profound ‘driver focused’ interiors around. Many cars claim to be ‘focused’ towards the driver, but the Mokka Electric’s interior offers some of the strongest curves towards the driver we have seen. You feel the benefits of this instantly, with great visibility of everything that is well within reach and easy to use.

Inside there is a welcoming mixture of different materials and soft-touch finishes throughout the cabin. Comfort levels are very high and you won’t struggle to rack up the miles in the Mokka Electric on long family holidays.

The combination of a well-designed interior, rejuvenated exterior and smart Vauxhall detailing make the Mokka Electric feel surprisingly premium.

Technology

One area where I think Vauxhall have made tremendous strides in is the infotainment system available. The Mokka Electric benefits from an improved infotainment system and a crystal clear driver’s display.

The two are housed in one hub that runs across the dash, looking similar to the styling we witnessed during our recent Mercedes-Benz A-Class saloon review.

Having recently spent time reviewing the Vauxhall Crossland, this was an area that I felt it was let down in when compared to some of its rivals. I wouldn't go as far as to say what's on offer now is class leading, but it's a very usable system and it looks fantastic.

Space and Practicality

The Mokka Electric offers you a very practical space. Whether you have a growing family or simply want something bigger for your daily commute, it's perfectly suitable.

Complimenting the high comfort levels is a competitive amount of head and legroom in the rear. Taller passengers above six-foot tall will get by just fine on shorter journeys, but might feel a little cramped on longer trips.

Unlike some of its rivals, the Mokka Electric does have the potential to carry three passengers in the rear with relative ease. The middle seat is far from the usual firmness that you're usually met with and thanks to the competitive head space, it's manageable should you need it.

There's adequate storage opportunities dotted throughout the cabin, with good-sized door bins and glove box, as well as an armrest compartment and a large plate for your phone and other bits and pieces within the centre console. 

The Mokka Electric's boot space (310L) is 40L smaller than its combustion engine alternative, which is perhaps its biggest compromise by going electric. However, there's some useful underfloor storage to hide away your charging cables and it's by no means a small space - you won't struggle to get your weekly shop or a few travel bags in the boot.

If a bigger boot will be a deal breaker for you, you can find improved offerings in both the Hyundai Kona Electric (332L) or the Kia e-Niro (451L).

Model Lines and Equipment

SE Nav Premium – from £30,540 (after PiCG)

• 7-inch colour touchscreen with Satellite Navigation & Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• 16-inch silver alloy wheels
• Electronic Climate Control
• 7-inch digital instrument panel
• Panoramic rear-view camera with rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• LED headlights & taillights
• Lane departure warning with lane assist

SRI NAV Premium – from £32,435 (after PiCG)

(In addition/replacement to SE NAV Premium)

• 18-inch Bi-colour alloy wheels with red accents
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Heated front seats & steering wheel
• Panoramic rear-view camera (180 degrees)
• Black roof and headliner

Elite NAV Premium – from £32,080 (after PiCG)

(In addition/replacement to SRI Nav Premium)

• 10-inch colour touchscreen with Satellite Navigation & Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• 17-inch Bi-colour alloy wheels
• 12-inch digital instrument panel
• Keyless entry and start

Ultimate Edition – from £32,495 (after PiCG)

(In addition/replacement to Elite NAV Premium)

• 18-inch bi-colour alloy wheels
• Full leather seat trim with driver’s seat massage function
• IntelliLux LED® Matrix headlights with LED taillights
• Dark-tinted rear windows
• Advanced park assist
• Alloy-effect sports pedals
• Adaptive cruise control

Verdict

Perhaps the biggest compliment that we could give to the Mokka Electric is that it felt so familiar while also being a major step forward for Vauxhall.

Some of the areas where I’ve felt Vauxhall models have let themselves down in the past have been addressed and improved. While it may sound like something of backhanded compliment, the Mokka Electric is an electric vehicle that has been built very simply but has been brilliantly executed. 

The bold new design has sparked life into a rejuvenated Vauxhall lineup, which now possesses impressive technology and a tremendous amount of kit as standard. The Mokka Electric has to be considered as fantastic value for money and acts as a brilliant gateway into the world of electric cars.

Interested in a Vauxhall Mokka Electric lease deal? Browse our latest personal contract hire offers and business contract hire deals.