Opel Mokka

The Opel Mokka is an electric car with technology from Stellantis in a tall, youthful design based on classic Opel lines.

Opel Mokka e

Posted 01/12/2023 by Terje Bjørnstad

Opel has long been known for making cars with great design and well-known technology for ordinary people - a recipe Opel is in the process of finding its way back to. Mocha brings back old memories.

Straight out of the box

It was especially in the 1960s and 70s that things changed for Opel. Models such as the Opel Kadett B, Ascona and Manta A and B looked very good, but were devoid of ground-breaking technology. Opel has for many years distanced itself from its roots, but in the Opel Mokka I find the same qualities. It is quite conventionally built, with a front engine, front wheel drive and an interior that could just as well have been taken from a petrol or diesel car. You can take the car straight out on the road without studying complicated screens and intricate functions. The most important switches and levers are still where you would expect them to be. It's what I call "a straight out of the box" experience. This experience was reinforced when I pointed to the drive mode selector and asked the owner which he preferred, he replied: "I haven't touched it at all".

Cargo

We were on our way to charge along the road for the first time since the car had come out of the box. I was there as an advisor. The owner had loaded the app before we turned into XY at Høvik to see how the car coped with 150 kW. According to the specifications, it can be fast-charged with 100 kW and under optimally favorable conditions charge up to 80% in 30 minutes. Our charging went smoothly, but not as quickly as expected. We only got 30 kW - probably because we had driven too little since the car was taken out of the garage. Outside it was -1 and windy. When charging at work or at home, you can choose to have the compartment preheated from the charging station without straining the batteries, but you cannot preheat the batteries before charging.

Range

Stated range is 341 km (WLTP combined). Based on my own measurement over 100 km at a leisurely pace on motorways and country roads, the calculated range would be a decent 294 km in -1 degrees. From Opel's German website, the following ranges are stated:





80 km/t ved 20 grader og aircon
311 km


80 km/t ved 0 grader og varme
262 km


80 km/t ved -10 grader og varme
225 km

The figures are calculated based on normal driving style. With a calm driving style - looking far ahead etc. - you can gain a couple of extra miles. There is not much to be gained by sitting and freezing on the trip because the Opel Mokka has a heat exchanger.

Gets higher battery capacity

The electric car platform on which the Mokka is based has gradually gained a longer range and can compete with cars in the same price range. It has been announced that there will be a new model with a larger battery pack and a stronger engine - 54 KWh and 156 hp compared to the current 50 KWh and 136 hp. The stated range will increase by 65 km – from 341 to 406 km. Otherwise, there are no visible changes that I can see. It is rumored that the dealers will not get new cars until all cars with "old" battery packs have been sold. Therefore, we do not know exactly when the new model will go on sale, nor the final price.

Space and comfort

The Opel Mokka looks bigger than it actually is. It belongs to the B segment in the company of Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208, but thus looks like a crossover in a class above. One should not have too high expectations of space. If two adults are to sit in the same longitudinal direction, they have to work together to sit comfortably - as you have to in cars in this segment. The width feels good though. The luggage compartment is 310 liters and requires you to fold down at least one rear seat back to make room for a holiday suitcase.

The Opel Mokka is produced in France together with the sister model Peugeot 2008. The seating comfort in the Opel is fortunately German - fixed seats with good support - also side support. A lot of hard plastic has been used in the dashboard and center console, but the impression is saved by a good design. It looks good.

Limited space in the longitudinal direction

On the road

The Mokka e weighs 350 kg more than cars with a PureTech petrol engine. The extra weight does not cause any disadvantages, just the feeling of driving a bigger car. With studless winter tires with a lot of rubber, the sound level is very pleasant. The torque of 260 Nm is there right from the start and 136 hp from the electric motor is more than enough for this car. There is no option to accelerate and brake with one pedal, but you can select "B" on the gear selector for extra regenerative braking.

Conclusion

The Opel Mokka shares a platform with the Peugeot 2008 and 208 – and not least the Opel Corsa. Peugeot-Opel is one of the few car manufacturers that offers electric cars in the important B segment - with front-wheel drive. Regardless of what the advertising may say, the Opel Mokka does not contain any kind of ground-breaking technology, but is a safe choice in the price range under NOK 400.

Facts Opel Mokka (2023)

Weights and Measures
Length, width, height: 415 / 179 / 152 cm
Wheelbase: 256 cm
Net weight: 1547 kg (without driver)
Number of seats: 5
Trailer attachment not possible
Luggage compartment: 310 litres
Roof load: 70 kg

Drivetrain
Battery pack: Lithium Ion, 50 KWh from CATL, China
Engine: Electric, located at the front, 136 hp, 260 Nm
Gearbox: Stepless
Front wheel drive

Performances
Top speed: 150 km/h
0-100: 9,0 seconds

Range
WLTP: 341 km
Own measurement: 294 km, quiet country road at -1 degrees

Tires
Type: Winter tires without studs
Brand: Continental VikingContact 7
Dimension: 215/65R16 T XL

About the car
Place of manufacture: Poissy, France
Owner: Private
Model: 2023
Mileage: 1334
Km driven: 105

Price (50 KWh)
Edition: 335
Elegance: 364
GS: 377
Ultimate: 397
11kW onboard charger: 5 (recommended)
Varnish supplement: 4

Smiley faces and surfing
🙂 Good headlights, looks good
🙁 Legroom in the back seat, size of luggage compartment

Sources
Vegvesen.no
Opel.no
Opel.de

See

A world car in Østfold

Posted 15/06/2022 by Terje Bjørnstad

chest — Are there more copies of this car in Østfold than elsewhere?

It is a well-known fact that Eastfoldings like American cars. But the reason why there are more Chevrolet Trax in Østfold than elsewhere may be connected to the fact that the importer was based there - until GM decided to pull Chevrolet out of Europe.

Without dealers in Europe

- There aren't many of these in Norway - and most actually go here in Østfold.

the owner, Jonny Bunæs, is aware that his car is rare – a model that had an all too short career in Norway. We wonder if owners of the Chevrolet Trax run the risk of experiencing negative experiences as a result of the fact that there are no longer any dealers here?

Last year the owner discovered one Chevrolet Spark that the airbag warning light was on. He had the control unit replaced, but the workshop lacked the codes needed to configure the unit – codes that only authorized dealers had. The error meant that the then 6-year-old car could not be EU-approved. The case was discussed in TV2 Broome.

The Chevrolet Trax and Opel Mokka were both developed by Opel in Germany and put into production in South Korea. At the same time, the Trax was produced in Mexico for the American market. It is therefore not just a car for Eastfolders, but a real world car!

Can owners of Chevrolet - which is both developed and built together with the Opel Mokka - have problems that cannot be solved by Norwegian workshop chains?

Great similarities

Jonny's car has the same engine code as the Opel Mokka and Opel Astra. It is one of Opel's most popular: 1,6 ecoTec 115 HP. GM produces them both in Hungary and in South Korea. Mokka and Trax with four-wheel drive were delivered with another well-known Opel engine, namely the 1,4 Turbo 140 HP. In addition, they could also be delivered with Opel's 1,7 turbodiesel. When I search for vital parts on skruvat.no, I find no significant differences between Chevrolet and Opel. One of the biggest visual differences is the design of the instruments and the infotainment screen. The computer that controls technical functions works the same for the two models. This applies, among other things, to the calibration of the tire pressure sensors, which acknowledge by honking the horn loudly.

Safe used cars

When GM changed its name from Daewoo to Chevrolet, they had big plans to conquer Europe. There are therefore many Trax cars, especially in Germany, but I haven't found any stories online like the one reported by TV2 Broom. Both the Chevrolet Trax and the Opel Mokka appear today as safe choices on the used market. The Mokka received a facelift for the 2017 model year and production was moved from South Korea to Zaragoza, Spain.

Opel Mokka or Chevrolet Trax?

Cars of model years 2013 and 2014 are outside all new car guarantees. Chevrolet is completely without a dealer network in Europe, while Opel's aftermarket has been transferred to other dealers after being acquired by Stellantis. Opel's old dealer network is gone. The prices speak in Chevrolet's favor. Today, they are approximately NOK 20 lower than the equivalent Opel. The Opel has a more luxurious dashboard and interior that gives a higher premium feel.

Which model should you buy?

The models with Haldex-3 four-wheel drive and 1,4 turbo engine provide more driving pleasure and are better suited for long trips and motorways. When we tested the engines in the Opel Astra J, we gave thumbs up for the 1,4 T 140 HP - and thumbs down for the 1,6 ecoFlex 115 HP. The latter is experienced as slow in normal traffic and buzzes badly on the motorway. But in today's used market, you save NOK 20-25 by choosing cars with the simple drivetrain. It can therefore be an alright alternative if you are looking for car number 000 in the family.

Chevrolet Trax in the rest of the world

After GM stopped supplying Trax cars to Europe, the cars from South Korea were shipped to the US. The model is still sold there, with only minor changes and one facelift since the model was introduced for 2015. Most customers choose the 1,4 Turbo with four-wheel drive and automatic transmission. The model has also been sold as Buick Encore. The factory in Mexico supplies Trax to several countries on the American continent. Certain places with Portuguese and Spanish languages are called the model Tracker since Trax supposedly means female breast - or something like that. In Australia, the Trax is sold under the GM brand name Holden. During 2022, there will be a completely new model of Trax, but it is unlikely to come to Europe.

Opel Mokka facelifted model

2013 Opel Mokka Cosmo. European design gives a more premium feel

Prices

Average prices of 2013/2014 year models based on sales ads on Finn.no:

Chevrolet Trax 1,6: NOK 80
Chevrolet Trax 1,4 T 4×4: NOK 100

Opel Mokka 1,6: NOK 100
Opel Mokka 1,4 T 4×4: NOK 125-130

New car prices 2013:

Chevrolet Trax 1,6 LS: NOK 219
Chevrolet Trax 1,6 LT: NOK 259
Chevrolet Trax 1,4 T 4×4 LT: NOK 299

Opel Mokka 1,6 ecoFlex Essensia: NOK 239
Opel Mokka 1,6 ecoFlex Enjoy: NOK 262
Opel Mokka 1,4 T 4×4 Enjoy: NOK 307
Opel Mokka 1,4 T 4×4 Cosmo: NOK 339

(Source: Norwegian Tax Administration)

Number of Chevrolet Trax in Norway: 482
– with Østfold signs: 82
– with Haugesund signs: 65
– with Oslo signs: 60
– with Egersund signs: 39
– with Bærum signs: 27

(Source: regnr.info, VIN beginning with KL1B)

See

Mocha with a new twist

Posted 20/10/2021 by Terje Bjørnstad

The Opel Mokka is based on the PSA group's latest technology with a youthful design based on classic Opel lines.

Opel vizor

It makes me think: Why hasn't Opel done this before? Started with blank sheets and drew a beautiful car? They did it before – in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Then Opel ended up with models that no longer appealed to those of us who liked Opel - and sent Opel down in the sales statistics. Today it looks promising. Opel has taken lines from the classic Opel Manta A and called it Opel vizor. New Mokka is the first model designed on this theme. The result is very good.

The Opel Mokka looks damn good!

The front consists of 4 design elements that shape the 4 directions in a compass. Nord stretches like a marking in the middle of the hood. South is a small gap under the Opel logo and East/West are the daytime running lights shaped like the wings of a skate. The rear lights have also been given the same shape. The front is tough - with a fairly straight hood that gives the feeling of a big car. The lines around the roof are more harmonious and flow better than on the Opel Crossland and the previous Astra station wagon. The Cw value is 0,32. It is on par with similar cars - but higher than, for example, the new Astra station wagon, which is down to 0,25.

Internal

Almost everything you can touch is hard plastic. It is possible to choose cool colors for decor. Our car was grey. But the design is cool and appears modern. It is Design that makes it cool – not the choice of materials. It fits well with Mokka's youthful feel. The instrument panel is digital and can be configured. The infotainment system worked alright. I easily found my favorite Spanish station Radio Flaixbac and both the radio station and the navigation system followed me all the way to Carcassonne in France.

Interior space is quite ok for the size. If two long-legged people are to sit behind each other, some cooperation is required. The trunk is quite small. It has an insert plate to be able to load without a loading edge. With two large suitcases, we chose to fold down one back seat.

Shares platform with Peugeot 2008

Mocha is produced at the Poissy factory in France. The model shares a platform, drivetrain, etc. including the new Peugeot 2008. Here in Norway we know them as Mokka-e and e-2008. Both models are also produced with petrol and diesel engines. The petrol engines are based on the PSA group's "potato engine" - 1,2 liter PureTech with 100 or 130 HP. Our engine has 100 HP. The torque is the same as the 110 horse. The high torque range is around 1750 and 2750 revs. The small 3-cylinder engine pulls well from 1500 revs as well, but then emits some vibrations into the cabin. Although it pulls well, downshifting feels natural.

The manual 6-speed gearbox makes it easy to stay within the favorable torque range. You can actually maintain 130 km/h on French motorways and still drive on the good torque. Torque-heavy cars require you to follow up with new gears when accelerating. If you let the engine rev up, the acceleration disappears and you are left with a slightly tinny engine sound. I have recently run the PureTech engine in both 110 horse and 130 horse. The 100 horse works very well in comparison.

On the road

On the road, the Mokka generally feels quite similar to the Citroen C3 Aircross. But the two models are not based on the same platform. I like the Mokka better on winding country roads. It is better in the turns even when you enter at a slightly too high speed. But the Mokka doesn't swallow bumps in the road as well as the C3. With 4 adults in the Mokka, the rear seat passengers occasionally complained that it was a bit bumpy. It was about bumps corresponding to Norwegian telehiv. At speed, the sound image is very pleasant. You hear little of wind, road and drive apart from a faint squeal at motorway speeds. Transmission noise - not annoying - just typical French.

consumption

Mixed driving on country roads with an economical throttle gives a consumption of between 0,55 and 0,57. It is actually completely in line with the factory WLTP measurements. Without a focus on saving petrol, the consumption easily ends up between 0,60 and 0,65 litres/mile. Measured on the motorway at 130 km/h, consumption ended up at 0,85 between Perpignan and Carcassonne. It is a stretch of 150 km with some climbing. The same way back gave 0,80 litres/mile.

Conclusion

In Norway, the Mokka is only sold as an electric car with a 50 Kwh battery. The platform is not only shared with the Peugeot e-2008, but also the e-208, Opel Corsa-e and the new Citroen C4 ë. The platform is also shared between the petrol and diesel models. The new Mokka represents a new design direction for Opel. It appears far more attractive than the Opel Crossland. Opel is imported to Norway through Bertel O. Steen. It is difficult to understand that they choose not to bring in the Mokka with a petrol engine - but continue to sell Vauxhall Crossland. The Crossland is just one big yawn from a rush project to create an Opel variant of the Citroen C3 Aircross. Even Opel's new front doesn't help much. Mocha, on the other hand, represents something new. A new line. It's an Opel "we who liked Opel" actually like.

I never thought it would happen.

Facts about the Opel Mokka PureTech 100

Weights and Measures
Length, width, height: 415 / 179 / 153 cm
Wheelbase: 256 cm
Net weight: 1195 kg (without driver)
Payload: 430 kg
Max trailer weight with brakes: 1200 kg
– without brakes: 620 kg
Luggage compartment: 350 litres
– with folded seats: 1105 litres
Max roof load: 70 kg

Drivetrain
Engine: 1,2 PureTech 100 Start & Stop
Number of cylinders: 3
Displacement: 1199 ccm
Power: 100 HP at 5500 revs
Torque: 205 Nm at 1750 revolutions
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Front wheel drive.

Performances
Top speed: 188 km/h
0-100: 10,6 seconds

consumption
WLTP combined: 0,55 – 0,57 litres/mile
Own measurement:
- highway: 0,55 - 0,57 litres/mile
– 130 km/h: 0,80 – 0,85 litres/mile

Tires
Dimension: 215/60R17
Type: Summer tire
Brand: Michelin Primacy

About the car
Place of manufacture: Poissy, France
Owner: Sixt
Model: 2021
Mileage: 14300
Km driven: 800
Source: opel.de, auto-data.net