Vauxhall Mokka 1.2 Turbo 136 GS

The Mokka is hot stuff in the sales charts, but does it deserve to be everyone's cup of tea? Let's find out

- Jonty Renk

 

I DON'T LIKE coffee, but I do enjoy hot chocolate. So, if I wanted to get into the world of caffeine, I'd probably start out with a mocha.

And similarly, while I like the imposing style and road presence of SUVS, I don't like the running costs that often come with them. So, maybe the second-generation Vauxhall Mokka which combines chunky styling and an elevated driving position with the promise of impressive frugality is ideal for me.

It's certainly proving a popular choice among car buyers. So far this year, the Mokka has been the 10th best-selling car in the UK, with almost 15,000 examples leaving showrooms. With such a huge number finding homes, surely that many buyers can't be wrong about something?

Or could they? The first-generation Mokka was also a huge seller for Vauxhall, but that car - dating from long before the Luton-based car maker became part of the Stellantis empire alongside Citroën, Peugeot and numerous other brands - was decidedly mediocre in most areas and downright disappointing in others. Thankfully, I'm assured by my road test colleagues that the second-generation car I've gone for is much better.

It certainly looks far more sophisticated.