Vauxhall Mokka SUV - Interior & comfort

The interior is just as much of a forward step as the exterior, possibly even more so. It swaps the traditional layout of the Mokka X for a crisp, minimal design with lots of horizontal lines that accentuate the interior's width. 

Even when fitted with 18-inch wheels in SRi trim, the Mokka is pretty comfortable around town, soaking up bumps and potholes without disturbing occupants too much. At higher speeds the suspension can struggle to deal with badly scarred tarmac but overall it stays composed and fairly refined, with only some tyre roar really noticeable.

Vauxhall Mokka dashboard

In the place of the analogue dials Vauxhall had been using for years, there's now a digital instrument panel and a touchscreen that sit side-by-side. Vauxhall call's this 'Pure Panel' and the size of the screens grows depending on which trim level the buyer chooses. Lower trims get two seven-inch screens, growing to 10 inches for the central display and 12 inches for the digital dash in top versions. 

It's quick to respond and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which work better than the sat nav pre-loaded in the car. It's a promising setup, with Vauxhall fitting physical rotary dials and switches for the heater and climate controls rather than incorporating them into the touchscreen, which makes them easy to reach and operate when driving. 

Materials are reasonably attractive, even if there's a bit too much piano black plastic in the SRi trim, along with some fake carbon-fibre that's unlikely to fool anyone. Some red trim helps lighten the mood and soft-touch trim in prominent areas, making the Mokka's interior higher quality than that of other recent Vauxhall's.

Equipment

Trim levels kick off with SE, and even here equipment is generous, with standard 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple Android and Android Auto. SRi has a sporty look, accentuated by 18-inch alloys, a black roof and a black Griffin front badge. It also gets tinted windows, two USB ports in the back, rear parking sensors, heated front seats and adaptive cruise control. 

Elite Nav is considered an alternative step up from the SE trim, but aimed more at comfort. It gets 17-inch wheels, sat-nav, adaptive cruise control, heated seats and a heated steering wheel, along with a panoramic rear-view camera. Ultimate Nav upgrades to the top infotainment setup, with a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument display. It also has 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start and Intellilux LED Matrix headlights that automatically adapt for the conditions. A Launch Edition builds on the Ultimate Nav spec with leather upholstery, a massaging driver's seat and advanced self-parking.

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Buyers can also bolster equipment by picking the 'Nav Premium' version of SE, SRi and Elite trims, adding sat-nav and the larger 10-inch infotainment screen to the SRi and Elite grades.

Options

Like many mainstream manufacturers, Vauxhall has resisted the temptation to offer too many optional extras, instead encouraging buyers to pick the most suitable trim level. You can, however, personalise the Mokka with a white roof for £300 to help it stand out, and even tick the option for a black bonnet for £200 if you're feeling especially bold. There's also a red roof colour, but only for SRi Nav trims.