The beginning of summer has prepared us with a real parade of new products, which is now being continued by the updated Opel Mokka 2025 crossover. What changes have occurred to the car externally and internally? How do they affect the character of the Opel Mokka and what about the market positioning of the car? All the answers – in one detailed review!
Design: When it's okay to be bright
If we recall the beginning of the 2010s, the first-generation Opel Mokka was the only compact crossover in the brand's lineup, because the Opel Antara was a class higher. However, today the Opel SUV lineup has become much wider and denser: the compact Opel Crossland crossover, the larger Opel Grandland crossover, the new practical Opel Frontera crossover (yes, it is also a crossover now). And therefore, the Opel Mokka model was no longer required to balance on the border of practicality and style - accordingly, this allowed us to focus on design. The second-generation Opel Mokka, from the very beginning of its career, was drawn, designed, and positioned as the most designer, stylish, attractive crossover!
What is the first embodiment of the Opel Vizor concept on a production car worth: this is when flat headlights are combined with a black glossy element. It is also worth noting the massive and almost horizontal hood, which literally contrasts with the short rear and the incredible slope of the window line behind. Or look at the huge wheel rims and outlined arches, which are emphasized from above by smooth lines. These details can be described with equal success both on the original second-generation Opel Mokka and on the updated car. However, the question remains – what has changed? How to recognize the updated Opel Mokka 2025 crossover? Just look at the headlights and taillights, which now have triple horizontal stripes. Or pay attention to the appearance of new logos in the form of a branded “lightning bolt”.
The Opel Mokka crossover is one of the most compact in the B - SUV segment : length – 4.15 meters; width – 1.79 meters; height – 1.535 meters; wheelbase – 2.56 meters. But it is also, undoubtedly, one of the most stylish, attractive, designer: a huge number of interesting details per square meter of body area. Plus, this incredible new color! The updated car is distinguished by a modified front bumper, headlights and taillights with triple horizontal stripes along the edges, as well as the absence of chrome in the trim. Instead, maximum use is made of black gloss, even for the model designation.
Similar minor changes await us in the car's interior. The front panel is clearly turned towards the driver, a decorative protrusion with a gray-painted finish has been left for the passenger. Below is a large driver's ventilation deflector and a rectangular-shaped center console. A separate climate control unit is also installed; by the way, it is marked for a 2-zone "climate", although in fact it is an ordinary 1-zone one. And there are seats with a fairly comfortable fit and unexpectedly massive back and hip support: nice and nice, nothing to say. But what has changed in the interior of the Opel Mokka 2025 model year? For example, the steering wheel: with an increased number of buttons and their more logical arrangement (I like this); but also with a protruding central part that looks like a pie and a very thin rim with an incomprehensible coating (and I don't really like this). Gone are the buttons for activating additional functions that were previously located on the upper edge of the center console - now all settings are integrated into the menu of the center display. Instead of these buttons, a small shelf is arranged, although I would prefer to make it deeper for the possibility of real use, otherwise now small things easily jump out of this place. Plus, there is a niche for wireless charging.
And the center console now has a gray-matte color instead of the previous black-glossy one: that's great - there will be fewer places for fingerprints and constant wiping! Although the black gloss still remained in the huge frame-framing of the two displays. By the way, completely new displays! If earlier there could be a combination of a pair of 7-inch displays, or a 12-inch driver's display and a 10-inch multimedia system display, now both displays have the same 10-inch diagonal. Plus, they have nice graphics and good picture quality, for the central display - I will also note a new system for controlling multimedia functions and car settings. That is, we have the same system that we have already met on the example of the Peugeot 2008, Peugeot 308, Peugeot 408, Citroen C 4 X, Citroen e - C 4, Citroen Berlingo, Opel Combo, Opel Astra; to continue? In fact, this system has become standard for many modern cars of the ex- PSA group, but it has not become worse: home page customization, selection of desired elements for quick access, good speed, wireless connection of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Two paragraphs describing the front of the cabin – and only one paragraph describing the rear, including the trunk. All because there are no changes behind and there are no particularly interesting details either. A 3-seater sofa is optimistically installed behind, although in reality, due to the width of the cabin, only two adults can comfortably sit behind it. It is also desirable that it is not too large (I will give the measurements below). Moreover, the sloping line of the windows forces you to bend your head when getting in, and the black ceiling hangs over your head and visually reduces the space even more – don't believe it, in fact there is more or less enough space! The same can be said about the trunk. Especially, after a quick external inspection of the rear of the body: it seems that the small rear overhang and the sharp end of the trunk lid leave almost no space for bags. But open this lid (by the way, without an electric drive) – and you will see a more or less sufficient volume of 350 liters, a couple of hooks for bags, as well as a 2-level floor; under which the minimum necessary set of tools and a spare tire are hidden.
The interior of the updated Opel Mokka 2025 model year has not changed in form, but has changed in details: a new steering wheel, new displays, a new design of the center console. The front is interesting and original; the back is as it is - thank you at least for the sofa with a nice combined finish and a pair of USB ports. The trunk offers a volume of 350 liters, a pair of hooks for placing packages and a 2-level floor.
Measuring the dimensions of the cabin is already becoming a new positive tradition and I see no reason to break it. So, as usual, we start with the front seats. The length of the front seat cushion is 52 cm and this is a pretty good indicator for a compact crossover, where you have to fight for space in the cabin - such a cushion provides good support for the legs. The distance from the edge of the seat cushion to the accelerator pedal varies in the range of 46-69 cm depending on the seat position. The space for the torso and head, that is, the space from the seat cushion to the ceiling, is 102 cm (measured along the backrest and headrest, the seat is lowered as much as possible, the backrest is set at an angle of 105-110 degrees).
In the back, we have a body/legroom reserve of 53-77 cm (from the base of the rear sofa to the back of the front seat, depending on the adjustments and position of the front seat). The distance from the rear sofa cushion to the ceiling is 92 cm - this is a completely normal figure for a car of this class. That is why I said above that the cluttered window line only visually reduces the space, but in fact there is more or less enough headroom in the rear cabin.
Finally, some measurements of the boot. Its width is 100 cm (measured between the side panels); but note the 5 cm protrusions on the right/left to fix the boot floor. Next: the depth of the boot is 62 cm (in the standard position, when the rear seat backrests are raised), or it is 120 cm (measured to the edge of the folded rear seat backrest) or a maximum of 145 cm (measured to the stop at the front seat backrests).
We have a compact crossover – and we have the appropriate interior dimensions. There is quite a sufficient amount of space in front and a long seat cushion; in the back – well, let's say, a couple of passengers will sit down. In general, everything is expected from the B model - SUV; no more, but no less.
Technology: familiar platform, familiar engine, familiar everything…
The design of the updated Opel Mokka 2025 model year has not changed and in general everything is quite known and familiar from other related models. We have a base in the form of a SMR platform, a supporting body and a front engine location, an independent MacPherson front suspension, a semi-independent rear suspension based on a transverse beam. Usually such cars offer exclusively front-wheel drive (although the Jeep Avenger promises us all-wheel drive on the SMR platform), and they can also offer an electric version (which has already been described in detail on the example of the Opel Mokka - e).
However, if we talk specifically about the test car, if we talk about mass sales, then it is worth paying attention to the gasoline 3-cylinder 1.2-liter turbo engine with the PureTech designation , which is also well known. This is an engine from the EB 2 series and there was once a remark about the premature failure of the timing belt in the oil bath; but it seems that this problem has been solved a long time ago. Otherwise, engines of this series have been found under the hoods of various ex- PSA group cars for a dozen years and have clocked up many kilometers. And quite often, hydromechanical “automatic” transmissions of a classic design are found with this engine. Here's how it is in this case: we have an 8-speed automatic transmission, which is an additional plus in a class where “robots” or CVTs usually reign.
The crossover is built on the SMR platform, under the hood is a 3-cylinder 1.2-liter gasoline turbo engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. All this promises us a power of 130 hp (5500 rpm) and a torque of 230 Nm (1750 rpm), acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds, a maximum speed of 196 km/h, fuel consumption in the city of 7.4 liters per 100 km and fuel consumption in the country cycle of 5.3 liters per 100 km. So…
Behind the wheel: everything is familiar – including the car’s behavior
If you once had the experience of driving this car before the update, then the Opel Mokka 2025 crossover model year will not surprise you with anything new. But it will not disappoint you either.
For example: the engine and gearbox provide normal acceleration and smooth movement. I will give the dynamics measurement below, but in ordinary words: you can keep up with the general city traffic, on the highway you can maintain 100+ km/h with a certain margin for overtaking - that's all, it is difficult to demand more from such a car with such parameters. Probably, the most memorable thing is not so much the stunning dynamics or engine thrust (after all, there is nothing stunning here), but the characteristic 3-cylinder rumbling sound during engine operation. Moreover, this sound is heard quite often, even with the usual accelerations at an average pace (2.5-3-3.5 thousand revolutions) while driving around the city. But it is not very loud and does not put too much pressure on the ears; Even during dynamics measurements, when the engine speed reaches its maximum (about 5.5 thousand), the sound volume in the cabin was at 70 dB ( measurement was performed with a Benetech GM1352 device, placed between the driver and the front passenger, the microphone at the level of the driver's head ). Also memorable is the imperceptibility of gear shifting - the very smooth "automatic" deserves a separate distinction.
However, in the matter of suspension settings, there are already more details that stick in the memory; one might even say - they jump. Exactly the way an unloaded rear suspension jumps on the next bumps of broken roads. It doesn't reach frank and painful impacts, but vibrations and jolts behind are quite frequent. The issue is solved either by loading the rear part (a lot of things in the trunk, passengers behind), or I would advise having smaller wheels and higher-profile tires. And if I were to say that the stiff suspension seems to hint at the sporty character of the car - but this is not the case. Firstly, because of the dynamics indicators: familiar and generally normal, but these are clearly not the indicators of a car with a sporty-dynamic character. Secondly, because of similar, quite familiar steering wheel settings: average sharpness (2.7 turns from lock to lock) and minimal background effort, which only slightly changes depending on the steepness of the turn.
I admit, I don't understand the correlation between the design of the Opel Mokka and its driving character. After all, this compact crossover looks surprisingly energetic and toned, youthfully dynamic. But where does all this fit into the driver's feelings? And okay, about the engine and gearbox - you can't demand superpower, they generally do their job well and for that I'm already grateful. I'm talking more about the chassis settings. Or make it really exciting to drive, give it a sharp steering wheel, drastically reduce rolls (though, then you'll also need to add power); or make the suspension soft and position this car in a style - beautiful on the outside and comfortable in everyday commutes. Moreover, there are various examples on the SMR platform on a similar topic: the extremely comfortable Citroen C 4 or the Peugeot 2008 with a fairly good chassis balance. What do you think? They have a longer wheelbase and this allows you to better adjust the behavior of the rear of the body? Maybe; but at the same time I will also mention the DS 3 Crossback: also compact and with a short wheelbase, but pleasant on the road. If only we could combine the design of the Opel Mokka and the character of the DS 3…
The small turbo engine and 8-speed “automatic” provide acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 9.8-10.1 seconds – this is somewhat worse than promised, but in general, in line with expectations from a car of this class and even in urban traffic you do not lag behind the general flow. And what about fuel consumption? The promised figure of 7.4 l per 100 km in the city can indeed be achieved, but only if there are no traffic jams and a smooth driving style. Because in reality, the average in the city is 8.5-8.8-9 l per 100 km, and in the case of a large number of traffic jams and/or a dynamic driving style, the car can consume up to 10 l per 100 km in the city. When driving on the highway, gasoline consumption at a speed of 100 km/h is about 5 l per 100 km of the road. There are three driving modes, where the sport mode, as expected, allows you to keep the gear lower and the engine speed higher - it turns out more interesting; but the normal mode is truly the most versatile for ordinary, normal trips.
Price: how much does the Opel Mokka 2025 cost and who are the competitors?
As of the time of writing this review, the updated Opel Mokka crossover was offered in Ukraine in only one version – with a 1.2-liter 130-horsepower gasoline engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission, in the GS trim level with the possibility of ordering option packages. Another option is the electric version of the Opel Mokka - e, but that's a separate story.
So, the Opel Mokka GS crossover offers: ABS and ESP systems , cruise control, lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, emergency braking system, front and side airbags, curtain airbags, power steering, climate control, heated steering wheel and front seats, interior backlighting, interior trim with fabric with eco-leather elements, digital 10-inch instrument panel, multimedia system with a 10-inch touch display, ECO LED headlights with adaptive high beam, black roof, 17-inch alloy wheels, panoramic rear view camera, etc. The price of the Opel Mokka 1.2 PureTech 130 Automatic Transmission-8 GS car is from UAH 1.08 million or $26 thousand.
As you can see, the Opel Mokka crossover immediately offers a pretty good package: LED headlights and alloy wheels, climate control and a rearview camera, security systems and a pair of 10-inch displays. Additionally, the test car received several more option packages, for example: an extended safety package (adaptive cruise control, monitoring of "blind spots" of mirrors, standard navigation, etc.); suede seat trim plus a lumbar massage function on the driver's seat; enlarged 18-inch wheels. The total cost of such a car as the hero of this test, the Opel Mokka, including options, is about 1.16 million UAH or $28 thousand.
Now let's look at the competitors. If we start from the original design in the format of a compact crossover, then a couple of competitors I would immediately name the Nissan Juke and Jeep Avenger, which even met in a separate duel-test around this issue. Then we can also mention the related crossover Peugeot 2008, the rather interesting crossover Ford Puma, the hybrid compact crossover Toyota Yaris Cross.
It seems that we can also mention numerous crossovers from Suzuki , Renault , Skoda , etc. However, it seems to me that all these cars are focused more on buyers - who choose based on the ratio of price and interior size, study the list of equipment items, are interested in the cost of maintenance and try to calculate everything in advance. That is: this is a story about practicality; while the Opel Mokka is betting on emotions. So, the conclusions…