I’ve got so much history with the Opel badge, you might even call it a soft spot.
I’ve owned five Opels, six if you count my 1975 Chevrolet 4100 which is essentially a badge-engineered Opel Commodore. They’ve built some truly iconic cars, especially in South Africa with the likes of the Superboss and 200TS. Yet, this is only the second car I’ve driven from the brand in the last five years. Look, I’ve been busy, and Opel’s had quite a tumultuous few years – but look to be in safe hands now that they’re under the Stellantis umbrella, along with Peugeot, Fiat, Chrysler and the lot. Which brings me neatly to this. The third generation of Mokka, now with styling you could call sharp – and surprisingly reminiscent of the classic Manta coupe of all things.
I attribute that to three things, that pointy Vizor-like front-end, the eye-searing ‘Matcha’ green paintwork on my test car and then ultimately that retro-inspired spine along the middle of the bonnet. From the driver’s pew, it is properly transformative, making you feel like you’re piloting something from the 70s. Sadly, the miniscule 1.2l turbo (3-cyl) engine brings you back to reality, not that it’s anything less than a gem in its own right. Especially here, mated for the first time with an 8-speed automatic – the Corsa with which it shares its CMP platform must make do with six cogs. Like cheese and wine, it’s a fine pairing – one that is more than up to the task of sending its 96kW and 230Nm to the front wheels. We covered around 200km of tarmac during our test in the Cape, some of it bumpy, most of it twisty and the drivetrain never left me wanting. The suspension surprised me – soft but not overly sprung allowing me to enjoy carving up apexes without feeling like I’m about to play roly-poly. Ironically, like a muscle car. I mean, it does have a rear spoiler of sorts so, there’s that connection (tongue firmly in cheek).
The cabin is neat, well-appointed but then, so are its Stellantis siblings such as the Peugeot 2008. Opel have employed what they call a Digital Detox by removing all the analogue controls in the cabin and replacing them with a swipey, slidey and pinchy interface. Which, folks, have been rallying against lately if we’re honest. A knob never hurt anybody, nor a dial or button – but alas, this is 2022 and if I’m honest, I don’t mind the integration here, at least volume controls remain on the steering wheel and the climate control doesn’t live in the infotainment screen.
The Elegance model gets a 7″ inch driver display ahead of the helm with a 7″ inch touchscreen taking front stage on the dash cloth – whereas the GS Line model im piloting gets a 12″ inch driver display and 10″ inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity including Android Auto and Apple Carplay. It also has cooled, massaging leather seats where the Elegance must sugfice with heated cloth seats – and you’ll have to just give yourself a backrub.
But, its the exterior that will sell itself, if the reaction from onlookers is anything to go by.
Opel have given it very tech-savvy Matrix LED headlamps called ‘Intellilink’ – along with their Opel Wings – their signature daytime running lamp treatment, and LED lamps at the rear. Also at the back, new spaced out ‘M O K K A’ lettering and a chrome diffuser.
But about those clever Intellilux lights, they include a Town light mode, Country, Motorway, Static Curve, Cornering light and Maneuvering light modes – so quite comprehensive. The Elegance model has regular LED lamps but then it’s R50,000 cheaper at R469,900 where the GS sells for R519,000.
The GS has the full raft of safety aids including adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance and mitigation, active lane keep assist, hill start assist and steet sign recognition. But both have 17″ inch wheels in the corners, blackened on the more expensive car. The result is a compact SUV that is brimming with curb appeal and presence and just like that, Opel are back in the game. Only time will tell how the market will react, but it’s a great car, that deserves to sell well.
PRICING
Opel Mokka Elegance R469,900
Opel Mokka GS Line R519,900