Keys to buying the new Opel Mokka, the most wanted small SUV

It has been a few months since we had the first static hands-on contact with the new Opel Mokka, and the first units will finally start arriving at dealerships. The Opel SUV has been very well received in a segment with fierce competition, thanks, among other things, to its exterior design and a digitalised, very modern interior.

Here are some keys to bear in mind if you are thinking of buying a 2021 Opel Mokka.

Prices and discounts on the new 2021 Opel Mokka

Keep an eye on the prices and discounts, because they have changed since Opel announced the Mokka. Initially the discount on the list price could be 1,250 euros or up to 2,750 euros, depending on the version. Now, all versions come with a 1,000-euro discount.

For example, the entry-level version, the 1.2 T 100 CV petrol in Edition trim, has a list price of 21,825 euros, which would drop to around 20,825 euros with the discount. However, and this happens on all versions of the Opel Mokka, you must add the 520 euros for the body paint that the configurator forces you to choose.

To get the most affordable Mokka right now, you therefore need 21,344 euros. So this is not a car whose best virtue is its price, especially compared with its rivals.

No ECO-badged versions: which engine to choose?

Opel does not offer, at least for now, versions of the Opel Mokka with an ECO label. To enjoy some of the advantages of the DGT environmental badges, the only available option is the Opel Mokka-e, with the ZERO label, which starts at 32,900 euros. Here you have more information on the Opel Mokka electric.

The petrol engine range offers two options, the three-cylinder 1.2 Turbo with 100 or 130 CV. In diesel you have the four-cylinder 1.5 with 110 CV. With equal equipment, the diesel costs 1,500 euros more than the “small” 1.2 petrol, and 100 euros more than the 130 CV one. Our recommendation would be the petrol in any case.

Choosing between the 1.2 of 100 or 130 CV depends on equipment and budget. The 130 CV is not offered with the basic Edition versions, and the 100 CV is not offered with the appealing GS Line trim, which is the one we would choose for this car. That being the case, our favourite Mokka would be a 130 CV 1.2 Turbo in GS Line trim, which costs 24,877 euros, before any financing discount.

Watch out for optional equipment and personalisation possibilities

We have already pointed out that when configuring a Opel Mokka you will have to “load up” on the paint option, which is mandatory and not included in the list price. But if the Mokka attracts you for its design and the colour combinations you have seen in the pictures, or for its spectacular interior, you should also know the following.

For example, the roof in a specific colour comes as standard on the two top trims, GS Line and Ultimate, but costs 450 euros on Edition and Business Elegance. And the bonnet painted in a contrasting colour carries an extra charge of around 400 euros, and you cannot choose it on every Mokka version, only on the best-equipped ones.

As for the interior, bear in mind that to get a Mokka with the Pure Panel screen system you see in the photos, including the 12-inch digital instrument cluster and the 10-inch dashboard screen, you must pay an extra 500 euros, or 1,200 euros if you want it with Opel Connect. And under no circumstances can you fit it on the basic Edition version.

The best alternatives to the new Opel Mokka

One of our favourite cars in the small SUV category, which also has a plus for its youthful and sporty design, is the Ford Puma. Compared with the Mokka, its prices are very similar, it also offers petrol and diesel engines, but it has an advantage that may be key: there are MHEV mild-hybrid versions with the DGT ECO label. We recommend the 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV 125 CV version, available from around 20,500 euros. Here you can read the road test of the Ford Puma.

We also recommend considering as an alternative to the Mokka its “cousin”, the Peugeot 2008. At current list prices it is more expensive than the Mokka, but the offers level things out considerably. The engines are the same as the Mokka’s, and it also has an electric version, the Peugeot e-2008. It is a little larger than the Mokka (15 cm longer), which also lets it offer more boot space, exceeding 430 litres.

A third very interesting option if you value versatility of use and personalisation possibilities is the Renault Captur. It has no diesel engines, but the petrol TCe with 140 CV offers a good balance between performance and consumption. It is also available in LPG version, with the ECO label. There is no electric version, but there is an interesting Captur E-TECH version, with plug-in hybrid technology and the ZERO label.

Other alternatives to the Opel Mokka would be the Volkswagen T-Roc, the Nissan Juke, the Jeep Renegade, the Kia Stonic, the Hyundai Kona, the Seat Arona or the Citroën C3 Aircross.