There are vehicles that just make manufacturers happy. The Opel Mocha belongs to this mood-brightening genre. The small SUV has sold more than 2012 units since its debut in 600.000. Even after its facelift in September - to better distinguish it from the unlifted model now with an X in its name - the sales curve is still pointing upwards. In addition to a slightly modified look and the latest generation of infotainment and assistants, the Mokka X is now also available in a combination of petrol, all-wheel drive and automatic. Our test car configured in this way costs from 26.690 euros.
The new engine-drive-transmission version consists of a 1,4-liter turbo direct injection engine with 112 kW / 152 hp, all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic. This variant is currently the only way to combine the Mokka X, 4 × 4 drive and automatic. The technical data reads not bad at first. The standard sprint is achieved in 9,7 seconds, the top speed is specified at 193 km / h. Even the maximum torque does not have to hide at least on paper. 235 Nm are fine for a small turbo. In comparison to the 103 kW / 140 PS strong 1.4 engine, there are even 35 Nm more. Unfortunately, one has the feeling that the power is developing in slow motion. Nothing with an invigorating caffeinated hot drink. The power transmission is at best reminiscent of decaffeinated filter coffee that has been in the warming jug for too long. If you force the whole thing by courageously stepping on the accelerator pedal, it gets loud on the one hand, and on the other hand the machine, through inharmonious gear changes, indicates that it is reluctant to support a pulse-accelerating driving style. In addition, the consumption jumps in the double-digit range.
All right: we understood, instead of mocha, gentle coffee is the order of the day. Stress and time pressure are left out, it is leisurely on the slopes. And lo and behold - the six-speed automatic system cautiously tickles the accelerator pedal with gentle transitions, the roar is a thing of the past and the average consumption levels off at 8,3 liters. However, this is still almost two liters more than the standard value promises.
So if you prefer to drink your coffee deep black - so strong - and also do without flavor-reducing additives such as milk and sugar, you better use the 103 kW / 140 hp turbo. It is available with automatic and front-wheel drive or as a hand switch and all-wheel drive. Alternatively, the 1,6-liter diesel with 100 kW / 136 hp is available, gearbox drive concepts like the 1.4 turbo. With these engines, the fairly tight tuning of the mocha chassis also fits better with the overall picture.
After all: In contrast to many competitors, the mocha is also offered with all-wheel drive. The adaptive system with an electromagnetic multi-plate clutch normally transmits all power to the front axle; if necessary, it is split up to 50:50 between the front and rear axles. Although the Opel does not mutate into a classic off-roader, it ensures a relaxed driving experience in wintry road conditions.
Relaxation also spreads when you look at the interior. The many buttons that previously made the operation of the telephone or music system a bit awkward, have disappeared. This was made possible through gene donations from the Astra. The dashboard and infotainment systems including the integration of smartphones via Apple Carplay or Android Auto were adopted from the compact model. The Navi 900 IntelliLink multimedia infotainment system comes with an 950-inch touchscreen; instead of turning the buttons, simply wipe and swap around on the screen. Both worked fine and without having to try several times to find the right places. If you don't feel like entering your navigation destination yourself, you can make it super easy. You press the Onstar key and ask the nice employee of the telematics service to enter the desired address. This also works while driving. Meanwhile, the technology-savvy youth can surf undisturbed using the WiFi hotspot and do not have to worry about such mundane things as navigation.
Speaking of passengers: the mocha offers plenty of space for four people. The driver and front passenger sit very comfortably, especially when there is back-friendly seating (surcharge 685 euros). Stowing luggage or shopping is one of the easier exercises thanks to a 356 liter trunk. And there are other optional "passengers". Opel provides a variety of assistants. These include traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, distance warning or a high-beam assistant. In particular, the very reliably displayed traffic signs made driving stress-free and made it easier to register speed limits. What you shouldn't do without, by the way, is to order a rear-view camera: The rear view is simply bad. The rear view camera helps to reduce stress and keeps the paint on the rear bumper fresh for longer.
(Elfriede Munsch / SP-X)