Vauxhall Mokka review - Interior & comfort

The interior is just as much of a forward step as the exterior, possibly even more so. It swaps the traditional layout of the Mokka X for a crisp, minimal design with lots of horizontal lines that accentuate the interior's width. 

Even when fitted with 18-inch wheels in GS and Ultimate trims, the Mokka is comfortable around town, soaking up bumps and potholes without disturbing occupants too much. At higher speeds the suspension can struggle to deal with badly scarred tarmac but overall it stays composed and fairly refined, with only some tyre roar really noticeable.

Vauxhall Mokka dashboard

In the place of the analogue dials Vauxhall had been using for years, there's now a digital instrument panel and a touchscreen that sit side-by-side. Vauxhall call's this 'Pure Panel' and the size of the screens grows depending on which trim level the buyer chooses. Lower trims get two seven-inch screens, growing to 10 inches for the central display and 12 inches for the digital dash in top versions. 

It's quick to respond and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which work better than the sat nav pre-loaded in the car. It's a promising setup, with Vauxhall fitting physical rotary dials and switches for the heater and climate controls rather than incorporating them into the touchscreen, which makes them easy to reach and operate when driving. 

Materials are reasonably attractive, even if there's a bit too much piano black plastic in the GS trim, along with some fake carbon fibre that's unlikely to fool anyone. Some red trim helps lighten the mood and there's soft-touch trim in prominent areas, making the Mokka's interior higher quality than that of other recent Vauxhall's.

Equipment

Trim levels have already changed several times since the Mokka’s launch, and now consist of Griffin, GS and Ultimate. Griffin is quite a bit cheaper than the others, but still gets LED lighting, a panoramic rear-view camera, dual seven-inch displays for infotainment and the driver, 17-inch alloy wheels and a contrasting black roof.

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GS has a sporty look, accentuated by 18-inch alloys, and it also gets a 12-inch instrument display and 10-inch touchscreen with sat nav. Other convenience features include climate control, auto wipers and two rear USB ports, while a Sport mode includes an ‘engine sound enhancement’.

Ultimate also has the top infotainment setup with everything included on GS-Line cars, but comes with all-round parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels and Intellilux LED Matrix headlights that automatically adapt for the conditions. These models also get Alcantara-trimmed seats, and driver convenience and safety features such as adaptive cruise control, parking assist tech and side blind-spot alert.

Options

Like many mainstream manufacturers, Vauxhall has resisted the temptation to offer too many optional extras, instead encouraging buyers to pick the most suitable trim level. You could previously personalise your Mokka with a white roof for £300 to help it stand out, or even tick the option for a black bonnet for £200 if you were feeling especially bold. Provision for a spare wheel costs £20, and Mokka Electric buyers can add an efficiency-boosting heat pump for £350.