Electric cars are more affordable and practical than ever, thanks to increasing choice and much-improved infrastructure. Cars like this new Mokka GSE prove they can be fun as well, Vauxhall reinventing its hot hatch past with a faster, sharper and genuinely exciting addition to the regular Mokka range. While closely related to cars like the Abarth 600E and Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, the Mokka GSE is usefully cheaper while its performance is more exploitable and relevant than the likes of the Smart #1 Brabus or Volvo EX30 and their focus on acceleration over handling.
Vauxhall is part of the wider Stellantis group, and the Mokka shares much of its engineering with others within the mainly European supply chain. This helps reduce what is considered in the jargon its embedded manufacturing footprint, Stellantis aiming to build on its already impressive use of renewable energy for its plants and reach 100 per cent by 2030. It also intends to halve water consumption compared with 2021 levels by the same point, which as Europe bakes in a heatwave at the time of writing can only be a good thing. As a model the Mokka Electric qualifies for the lower band of the government electric car grant, which is judged on sustainability but we’ll dock half a point for the GSE for the fact it’s built more for speed than efficiency!
Running costs for a Vauxhall Mokka Electric
“Seriously impressive for the level of engineering devoted to making this Mokka GSE faster and more fun to drive”
The Mokka is great value for money and the whole range qualifies for the Government Electric Car Grant. This includes the GSE, the impressively keen starting price also undercutting the closely-related Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Abarth 600E it matches in terms of horsepower, handling and all-round sportiness. Which is seriously impressive for the level of engineering devoted to making this Mokka GSE faster and more fun to drive than the regular one. Beyond that it’s the same story as any other electric car, with cheaper running costs if you’re lucky enough to have somewhere you can plug in at home. Something Vauxhall can contribute to if you don’t have a charger already, or, if you don’t have anywhere you can install one, some cash credits to take the sting out of more expensive public charging costs.
Expert rating: 5/5
Reliability of a Vauxhall Mokka Electric
“The standard three-year warranty is nothing to write home about, though you can extend it at extra cost”
Vauxhall is now part of the wider Stellantis group alongside the likes of Fiat, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and others, the Mokka GSE benefitting from the shared resources and technology this brings. It seems to have paid off, all these brands improving their collective reliability record. The standard three-year warranty is nothing to write home about, though you can extend it at extra cost if you feel the need.
Expert rating: 5/5
Safety for a Vauxhall Mokka Electric
“We also like the fact Vauxhall has gone the extra mile with things like more powerful brakes and grippier tyres”
The Mokka GSE might put more focus on fun but it doesn’t do so at the cost of safety, and comes with all the electronic aids and alerts you’d hope for, including Vauxhall’s clever Intelli-Lux Matrix headlights and uprated emergency braking with cyclist detection. We also like the fact Vauxhall has gone the extra mile with things like more powerful brakes and grippier tyres to help you enjoy the extra performance safely, something rivals like the Volvo EX30, Smart #1 Brabus and MG4 XPower overlook in the chase for outright power and 0-62mph bragging rights. For those who care about such things there’s even a clever Torsen differential between the front wheels to put the power down more effectively, something we were able to test to the full on an entertainingly slippery race track. And will be just as helpful on a greasy roundabout in more everyday driving situations.
Expert rating: 4/5
How comfortable is the Vauxhall Mokka Electric
“Even the sportier suspension and bigger wheels don’t totally ruin the ride comfort”
Bar huggier front seats and some extra suede-style trimmings to lift the ambience it’s much the same as a regular Mokka on the inside. So, measure your expectations when it comes to rear space, for the fact it’s still a relatively small car. There are no real compromises in practicality over the regular version, though, and even the sportier suspension and bigger wheels don’t totally ruin the ride comfort. The fat Michelin tyres are a bit noisier on poor surfaces though, this being the only real price you pay in terms of comfort or refinement. We didn’t get to try the optional Goodyear tyre option, which maximises range over outright performance and may prove quieter as well.
Expert rating: 3/5
Features of the Vauxhall Mokka Electric
“It adds snazzy 20-inch wheels, a GSE-branded bodykit and a contrast black roof”
Those with memories of hot Corsas and Astras from years gone by will find plenty of delight in the geekier depths of the Mokka GSE’s technical specification, and admirable attention to engineering detail. We’ll spare you the full geekery but if you know your limited-slip differentials from your hydraulic bump-stops you’ll be impressed, the GSE even getting sharper steering than the regular version. At a more real-world level the Mokka GSE builds on the Ultimate trim of the standard Mokka, to which it adds snazzy 20-inch wheels, a GSE-branded bodykit and a contrast black roof. To which you can add a black bonnet if you want. Or go the other way and keep body colour if you prefer. Yellow trim details inside and out help set the GSE apart from regular Mokkas but, fundamentally, it’s all the same. Which, when it comes to the tech, is no bad thing, given we’ll gladly accept a smaller screen than those on some rivals in return for keeping physical controls for basics like volume and heating.
Expert rating: 5/5
Power for a Vauxhall Mokka Electric
“Just don’t expect to get anything close to the official range if you drive it like you stole it”
We admire the Mokka GSE’s focus on handling over outright speed and supercar chasing acceleration stats. And if you’re transitioning from petrol-powered performance cars and hot hatches there’s much to enjoy in the way it carves corners and rewards keen drivers, too. One example being the Sport mode, which turns off the regenerative braking so you can instead enjoy a more natural brake pedal feeling. Just don’t expect to get anything close to the official range if you drive it like you stole it, as demonstrated by the fact we nearly drained the battery in our exuberance. More efficiency focused drivers may want to opt for the less sporty Goodyear tyre option, which increases the maximum range to a claimed 209 miles over the 201 miles standard Michelins. For more everyday situations we appreciated the fact the other driving modes actually dial the power down from the 281 horsepower maximum, meaning smoother and more efficient progress when the mood is more for chilling than thrilling.
Expert rating: 4/5
Still interested in buying a Vauxhall Mokka Electric?
