There is a small performance bonus for the Opel Mokka with electric drive. The customer also gets more reach. ntv.de was traveling with the dapper Rüsselsheimer.
This time Opel has come up with a very special campaign to dynamically present a new model to the public. The Mokka Electric is not a really new model. The electrically powered version of the small car SUV has received the same increase in performance (from 136 to 156 hp) as all other members with the small electric drive train from the Stellantis Group.
But the decisive factor is not the more power (the 1.6-ton truck drove confidently before), but rather the redesign of the battery. In the future, the battery will hold 54 instead of 51 kWh, while consumption will fall by around 0.5 kWh/100 km to 15.2 kWh (WLTP) compared to the previous variant. This means the nominal WLTP range increases from 336 to 406 kilometers. These are all nice numbers, but how does the Mocha behave in practice?
Thousands of kilometers are no problem
One thing must be clear: the Mokka is of course a city SUV and not a long-distance vehicle. But Opel wanted to know and registered him for the ED1000 rally. In this context, he was condemned to cover more than 1,000 kilometers in a single day. As a reminder: With 54 kWh battery capacity, the 4.15 meter long Rüsselsheimer is definitely not one of the vehicles predestined for long journeys. But it doesn't matter. If people can grow with their tasks, perhaps the same applies to their mobile companions.
Comfortable seats that are capable of long distances as well as lots of infotainment make the small SUV attractive.
(Photo: Opel)
We start in Düsseldorf with a full battery and then drive via Brussels to the Dutch Sea. And after the lunch break, Papenburg is on the agenda. Then it goes back to the starting point. At the end, the little Mokka will have covered 1006 kilometers. Now you have to know that its technical basis is generally not designed for incredibly fast charging. It is based on a conventional 400-volt architecture. In addition, you don't get a lot of power into a small battery so quickly. As you approach the capacity limit, the charging performance decreases. That's why large batteries simply charge large amounts of energy more quickly, because every single percent means more electricity in absolute terms.
Four charging breaks along the way
Expectation management works accordingly. So I know that I have to charge heavily on the go and I'm in a relaxed mood. In the end I complete the 1000 kilometers calmly, driving at 120 km/h on cruise control in Germany and Belgium, while in the Netherlands I reduce the speed to 100 km/h during the day, following traffic regulations. And according to chemical or physical rules, I stick to it adamantly and recharge the battery to a maximum of 80 percent state of charge – otherwise I would lose time.
In the end there were four loading breaks. In total, around 80 charging minutes were required to complete the route. And that's completely fine, considering the segment we're talking about. However, the so-called Mokka “Long Range” with a refreshed battery-motor unit is by no means available cheaply – the manufacturer is asking a whopping 44,720 euros.
With the typical Opel Vizor, the city SUV still looks up-to-date.
(Photo: Patrick Broich)
The Mokka E top model is expensive but well equipped
And of course this Opel is excellently equipped, with big chunks such as a keyless locking system plus adaptive cruise control. The latter takes over longitudinal guidance (accelerates and brakes to a standstill in accordance with road traffic). However, it doesn't help those interested with a small budget. Opel attracts these customers with conventional drives – then you can get the Mokka from just 28,565 euros.
It's important to know that Mocha is basically good at a few things. This also includes seating comfort that is remarkable for the class. Although you can already tell that the space (more at the back than at the front) is limited due to the segment. You can definitely tell that the Mokka is no longer the youngest candidate in the Opel range: you won't find USB-C ports.
The small SUV still looks modern. At the front you can see the now familiar Opel “Vizor” – the striking black mask in the grill area. And the rear with its graceful LED taillights looks very cool. The optional two-tone paint (roof in a black contrasting color) makes the SUV lively. And the Stromer version also passed the long-distance test.
