Vauxhall Mokka Electric Review 2023

There's only one drivetrain available, which makes your decision easy in that respect. To complicate matters, though, there are four trim levels available – and they're all similarly equipped and roughly the same price.

We'd discount the entry-level SE Nav Premium as that does without desirable features like a rear-view camera and heated seats. Other than that, it comes down to personal choice – do you want sporty (SRi Nav Premium) or posh (Elite Nav Premium)? The Ultimate model isn't as expensive as you'd think and comes with fancy Matrix LED headlights, which may sway your decision.

The main competitors for the Vauxhall Mokka Electric come from within Stellantis Group (the giant megacorp which now owns Vauxhall and a whole host of other carmakers). These include the Peugeot e-2008 and Citroen e-C4, two small electric SUVs that share mechanical bits with the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and are, unsurprisingly, very similar to drive.

You should also consider the Hyundai Kona Electric and slightly bigger Kia Niro EV – two excellent electric SUVs with impressive real-world ranges and long warranties. The MG ZS EV is a surprisingly strong contender for a budget alternative, while the new Honda e:Ny1 is a slightly more upmarket electric SUV. If you are on a budget, then also check out the excellent MG4 - regardless of price, it's a brilliant little electric car. The Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 should be on your shortlist, too, as well as the bigger Skoda Enyaq iV. 

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric's interior feels like it'll stand up to day-to-day family life, but it's not exactly the last word in plushness. Rivals don't fare much better, though – even the Volkswagen ID.4 isn't bursting with squishy materials.

Most Vauxhall Mokka Electric models come with a 10-inch touchscreen sat-nav system as standard. This is easy to operate but isn't the slickest infotainment display we've ever used – it's just a bit clunky in its operation. Fortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. This means you can bypass some of the system's features by using apps from your phone instead.

Entry-level Mokka Electric SE Nav Premium models come with a 7.0-inch navigation display.

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric can accommodate a fairly meagre 310 litres of luggage in the boot. That's less than the Hyundai Kona Electric, Volkswagen ID.3 and even the Renault Zoe. There are no fancy features to aid practicality, either – a sliding rear bench, for example. 

While the Mokka Electric doesn't feel as spacious inside as a Kia e-Niro (the Vauxhall Mokka Electric measures 4151mm long and 1790mm wide), there's enough space for adults in the front while there are plenty of useful cubbies on hand, too. Things aren't so great in the back – there's enough headroom, but legroom is pretty limited. Growing teenagers won't be particularly happy back there.

There's only one 'engine' available in the Vauxhall Mokka Electric. It's a single-speed motor that's powered by a 50kWH battery, sending 136PS and 260Nm of torque exclusively to the front wheels. 0-60mph acceleration takes around 8.7 seconds which, while swift (and quicker than a petrol or diesel Mokka), won't push you back in your seat as much as certain small electric SUVs (we're looking at you, Hyundai Kona). Top speed is limited to 93mph.

If you're in the market for a sporty electric SUV, a VXR-badged model has been rumoured to join the Mokka Electric range for a while. It won't necessarily have any more power, though – expect upgraded suspension, bigger alloy wheels and meatier brakes.

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric can officially travel up to 201 miles between charges. For comparison, a Citroen C4 has a WLTP range of 217 miles, the Peugeot e-2008 can cover 206 miles, a Hyundai Kona Electric up to 300 miles. A mid-range Volkswagen ID.4 can cover up to 264 miles, while a budget MG ZS EV has an official range of 163 miles.

There are electric cars that can travel further between charges, then. And, just like rivals, the Mokka Electric's range will drop significantly if you're heavy with the accelerator pedal or driving on a drab winter's day with the heater working hard and the headlights ablaze.

Still, a 201-mile range is a fairly useable figure and more than electric city cars like the Fiat 500 or MINI Electric.

As the Vauxhall Mokka Electric is essentially a standard Mokka with an electric motor rather than a petrol or diesel engine, refinement is excellent. Not only is there a minimal amount of noise from under the bonnet, but wind noise is also well hushed and you won't notice too much of a roar from the tyres.

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric comes with an extensive list of driver-assist features, from a driver drowsiness alert to an automatic emergency braking system, which can apply the brakes if it detects a potential collision. This doesn't recognise cyclists – something that's attracted the wrath of Euro NCAP – but it should reduce the severity of a collision with another car.

Isofix child seat mounting points are fitted to the outer rear seats, while the front passenger's front and side-impact airbags can be deactivated via a switch. There are also child-proof locks on the rear doors.

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric is still very new, so it's hard to say how reliable it's going to be just yet. As there are less moving parts in electric cars, there's less to go wrong, while Vauxhall also provides a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty with the Mokka Electric. 

As a brand, Vauxhall doesn't have the best reliability record, ranking 29th out of 30 manufacturers in the 2021 HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.

Insurance groups for the Vauxhall Mokka Electric range from 21 to 23 with, of course, the most expensive models also being the costliest to insure.

This is comparable to other electric cars but you might find that the Mokka Electric is slightly more expensive to insure than a comparable petrol or diesel model. As ever, shop around for quotes, particularly if you've only recently picked up your licence (or it's got a few more penalty points than you'd care to admit).

A perk of an electric car is the free road tax. You won't pay anything in VED, saving you £150 a year compared to a petrol or diesel Mokka.

The Vauxhall Mokka Electric is available in a number of different trim levels, starting off with the SE Nav Premium. Standard equipment on this model includes a seven-inch nav system (with DAB radio, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto), a seven-inch digital instrument cluster and 16-inch alloy wheels. Tech highlights include a driver drowsiness alert system, forward collision alert, lane positioning assistant, speed sign recognition, automatic emergency city braking and adaptive cruise control. Rear parking sensors are standard, as well as a reversing camera and automatic headlights. There's a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel, electronic climate control, keyless start, LED headlights and a sports button.

The Mokka Electric SRi Nav Premium adds the fancier 10-inch Navi Pro media system, a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, 18-inch bi-colour alloy wheels and black exterior highlights. Keyless entry and start are standard, as well as a heated steering wheel and front seats. It also comes with LED front fog lights, lane positioning assistant and side blind-spot alert.

The Elite Nav Premium builds on the SE Nav Premium, also with the bigger nav system and 12-inch digital instrument cluster. It's fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, as well as a heated steering wheel and front seats. There are LED front fog lights, keyless entry/start and lane positioning assistant.

Launch Edition models come with 18-inch bi-colour alloy wheels, black headliner and a wireless phone charger. The advanced park assist system is standard, as well as LED Matrix headlights. You'll find alloy sports pedals inside, as well as leather seat trim and massage functionality for the driver's seat.