Vauxhall Mokka X SUV (2012-2019) - Interior & comfort

As well as new exterior lines, the Vauxhall Mokka X gets a completely new dashboard that’s significantly improved over the outgoing model. It’s broadly similar to the Vauxhall Astra’s – and that’s a good thing, as the Astra marks something of a high point in Vauxhall’s interior design catalogue.

The Mazda CX-3 feels plusher inside and is ultimately a nicer place to sit, but the Mokka X can hold its head high in the company of the Peugeot 2008, and has the Renault Captur soundly beaten when it comes to interior quality. The Mokka X also has very comfortable seats that offer a wide range of adjustment, something you may not notice on a quick test drive, but you’ll be glad of over the course of ownership.

Vauxhall Mokka X dashboard

In the centre of the Mokka X’s dashboard sits a seven-inch touchscreen, although Vauxhall has sensibly left the heating and air-conditioning controls as separate, physical knobs, which are easy to use and don’t require you to take your eyes off the road as you prod at icons on the screen. The materials used throughout the interior have a high-quality feel to them, and the addition of gloss ‘piano’ black plastics lifts the general ambiance.

Equipment

If there’s one thing to say about the Mokka X, it’s that it’s well equipped. There are five trim levels to choose from, starting with Active, moving upwards through Design Nav, Design Line, Elite and range-topping Ultimate.

Even the entry-level Active model has Vauxhall’s IntelliLink touchscreen, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning it essentially becomes an extension of your smartphone – but you’ll need to be running Android 5.0 or above, or have an iPhone 5 (or later) for these systems to work.

But the connectivity doesn’t stop there: all Mokka X models can be equipped (at a cost of £450) with Vauxhall’s OnStar concierge service, which will automatically contact the emergency services for you in the event of a serious accident, acts as a wi-fi hotspot and will even help the police locate your car if it’s stolen. You get a year’s subscription to OnStar when you add the option to your Mokka X, although the wi-fi hotspot is only free for the first three months.

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Other standard equipment highlights include alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, cruise control, air-conditioning, automatic lights and wipers, all-round electric windows and LED running lights. Design Nav trim gets you an upgraded infotainment system with sat nav, while Elite models have heated leather sports seats, tinted rear windows and cup-holders in the rear armrest. The Ultimate model features 19-inch alloy wheels and a sporty bodykit.

Options

Adding a reversing camera for £285 would seem sensible, while those who like a touch of luxury should consider the £280 Winter Pack (standard with Elite and Ultimate), which brings heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

Vauxhall will add intelligent LED headlights for around £1,160. These turn on and off automatically, of course, but also dip for you so you don’t dazzle oncoming traffic. They’re speed and light sensitive, so when the system detects the presence of streetlights (and you’re doing less than 34mph) they’ll switch to dipped beam automatically. Speed up, and the brightness of the lights increases. They can also tell if you’re on a dual-carriageway or motorway, as well as if you’re driving abroad, optimising the distribution of the light beam accordingly.