Opel mokka test drive with stillavin. Opel Mokka: video selection of test drives

01.10.2019

Miscellaneous

Sometimes a crossover is so small that it needs no more space in the world than a small car. And does he really need all-wheel drive? And why does he need a mechanic? The Germans studied the demand, estimated the situation and built us a gasoline Opel Mokka 1.4 Turbo with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. So that you can ride comfortably and not pay extra. And do not carry iron on yourself, which is not at all small in a compact crossover - almost one and a half tons. This is a necessary equipment in a large city, although TopGear would not exchange our favorite four-wheel drive for any money there. Your money, of course.

When Mokka was prescribed in Russia, the bumper lip was cut by three centimeters. In order not to drop it like false teeth, getting off the back of the curb. But if you are not going to do this balancing act on a German crossover, you can order an OPC body kit for it. With it, Mokka becomes like cubic Japanese cars that fashionable boys like to drop on the pavement so that they press speed bumps.

The engine paired with a six-speed box does a good job in the city, and more or less outside the city: the acceleration of the car pleases as long as you do not need to crank out a vigorous overtaking. However, the box will not allow you to once again reproach yourself for laziness: even for small movements of the gas pedal, it responds with instant bursts of switching. On a kickdown, the reaction is instant - it immediately becomes much louder. And a little faster.

The big monitor got new graphics. Now everything is finally beautiful, and navigation works well. Music can be heard and seen even from a flash drive: album covers, track titles. Everything moves to the screen, you should ask the music to play. Mokka, like any modern Opel, can also read traffic signs: it's nice that at least someone here pays attention to them.

The main newsmaker in the cabin is a display with modern graphics

There is very little space in the tall compact, except for the height of the ceiling above your head. The trunk is small, it makes sense for rear passengers to take the asana, the relative position of the steering wheel and pedals is such that either the legs are bent or the arms are outstretched. But it's good that this circumstance makes it impossible to ride in heels.

The chassis is excellent: even a tall small car is fun to ride in corners and in a straight line. It copes well with bumps and ruts, and it does not like only a strong side wind.

The version with a machine gun and 140 forces starts at 893,000 rubles. This is already with a rain sensor, power windows, roof rails, fog lights, climate, cruise and a bunch of other goodness, which makes such an Opel Mokka a completely competitive offer in today's market.

TEXT: DMITRY SOKOLOV

But what else is your concern? Oh, are you worried that the trunk will be small for travel? Let's see together! Yes, its volume is not a record. But you can't call it small either. Moreover, the shape of the compartment is correct, with even walls. If necessary, you can fold the rear sofa - completely or in parts. In addition, there is another nice addition here. See the handle on the rear bumper? Let's pull it, and - oops! Here's a bike rack for you! Well, have you already changed your mind about the cargo capabilities of Mokka?

Do not go, "Mokki", out of town to walk

To be honest, I can talk about the equipment of Mokka for a very long time - I don’t want to bore you. Let's talk about how he rides. The company's marketers made a smart decision: they made the main bet on a car with a 1.8-liter atmospheric gasoline engine, all-wheel drive and a 6-band “automatic”. Do you want other options? But there are practically none. More precisely, they are inferior: you can choose a car with a 1.4-liter petrol turbo engine or even a 1.7-liter diesel engine. But - only with a manual box. Docking these units with "automatic machines" will begin no earlier than in a year. Here is such a cunning marketing policy!

So what will you choose? Of course, a car with an “automatic”! But I must honestly warn you - in this case, you will have to forget about fast driving. Even passport 11 s to “hundreds” say little. In fact, the traction reserve is quite enough for the city, but not enough for the highway. That is, you can go on a trip, but you will be doomed from time to time to get into unpleasant situations. For example, when overtaking: you roll out into the oncoming lane, press on the “gas” and ... “hang” in space! It takes a few seconds for the box to simply react to the actions of the driver, then it jumps a step or two down, the speed soars to the red zone, the cabin is filled with the roar of the disturbed engine, but ... energetic acceleration never starts! You can, of course, try the manual shift mode to prepare for the maneuver in advance.

But I wouldn't recommend doing that. Firstly, the “+” and “-” buttons are located unusually and inconveniently on the top of the joystick. And secondly, even this method does not help much. So it is better to accept and go calmly and leisurely. Then you will be able to fully appreciate the advantages of the machine. For example, sound insulation - if you keep the engine speed within reasonable limits, a cozy silence will reign in the cabin. By the way, pay attention to the work of the suspension: it just perfectly smooths out small bumps, in addition, its energy intensity is enough to overcome solid potholes. Are you wondering how the Mokka will perform off-road? Excuse me, naive question! This car is for the city only.

Yes, it has a multi-plate clutch that can transfer up to half of the torque to the rear wheels. But this is only useful for driving into a snow-covered parking lot or keeping the car under control in a slippery turn. In more severe conditions, it can easily overheat. However, not the features of the drive will stop you. The main problem is a small clearance - yes, it can be seen even with the naked eye, see for yourself! And the front bumper with a low “skirt” completely discourages the desire to move off the asphalt. After all, this very “skirt” is not something to be lost on village potholes, when storming high curbs near your home. So I emphasize again: this car is exclusively urban.

Well, I told you about the main features of this machine. To be honest, I like her very much. Let it be slow, but beautiful, richly equipped, roomy inside and compact outside. In addition, on the move, she behaves very pleasantly and understandably in the conditions of a metropolis - unless, of course, you press the “gas” to the floor. Earnestly? However, I forgot to mention one more of its important advantages: a car with such a motor and an “automatic” has a rather modest price - from 900,000 to 970,000 rubles, depending on the configuration. Try to find such prices from competitors! That being said, they are all noticeably more expensive. I see your eyes are on fire! Take? Then let's get the paperwork done!

Specifications Opel Mokka

Dimensions, mm

Wheel base, mm

Track front / rear, mm

Specifications Opel Mokka
Dimensions, mm
Wheel base, mm
Track front / rear, mm

Nowadays, not having a whole bunch of crossovers of various calibers in your model range is unacceptable for any mass automaker. Even companies that have been making supercars all their lives are targeting curb and flowerbed conquerors. What can we say about more popular brands. That's Opel seeks to close the gaping hole in the lineup so far, and introduced a new compact crossoverMoka.

Denis Smolyanov recently talked about the American brother Mokka called the Chevrolet Tracker. Same car with different nameplates? Yes and no, but rather no. They share a common platform and many units, but different bodies, interiors and suspension settings. The GM concern very competently caught the right balance and made two out of one car.

The American looks, perhaps, more impressive, and Mokka, in contrast, is playful. And this was done on purpose, because in a dialogue with an Opel marketer, I found out that the main target of Mocha is a very wonderful Nissan Juke. And you can't approach his target audience without an intricate appearance.

One of the strong points of the compact Mokka is its extensive list of standard and optional equipment. This is a proprietary adaptive AFL + headlight system with 11 lighting modes, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, excellent orthopedic seats, a multifunctional front camera, a rear view camera, an on-board navigation and entertainment system, an optional bike rack with the ability to carry up to three bikes pieces, a heated steering wheel and an automatic interior quick heating system, a rain sensor, a tire pressure monitoring system and much more. And, of course, a lot of auxiliary electronics that insure the driver while driving and help him get under way on the rise and go down steep hills

The body of the Mokka crossover does not have a single common body part with the Tracker, and only their silhouettes are similar. The full-face Mokka looks assertive thanks to the “steep-browed” hood, large-mesh grille and massive plastic bumper pads. And black pseudo-grids under the headlights give originality and freshness to the look. The profile with the window sill rising to the stern is also good, and its powerful stamping on the rear door visually facilitates it, although the Tracker has a more interesting sidewall. But the rear turned out to be not so recognizable and memorable - it is rather a timid citation of the appearance of Corsa. In general, the Mokka was made not as shocking as the Nissan Juke, but at the same time it looks fresher than the Skoda Yeti, Mitsubishi ASX or Suzuki SX4, which can also be attributed to the novelty's rivals.

The controls and key blocks in the cabin are well known from other Opel models, the materials are selected at a decent level (the silver lacquer finish on the front panel and doors is especially good), the front panel is finished with good plastic, albeit with a not very large “softness depth”. There is plenty of headroom, and there is a sense of spaciousness, as far as it is possible with such dimensions. There are convenient pockets in the doors, and the upper additional glove box has a small, but never superfluous volume. And there are 19 niches and pockets in total! Of these, 13 in the front of the cabin and 6 in the back. And in the rear of the cabin there is a socket where you can connect an electrical appliance with a regular “home” power plug.

The front dimensions are not felt very well - you have to choose the captain's landing, although the adjustment ranges of the seats allow you to sit low. However, most owners of such cars still prefer the “I sit high - I look far away” landing, so here everything is in order with Mocha. By the way, the chairs please with unobtrusive, but tangible lateral support of the pillow, so that the body is comfortable both on the autobahn and in the turns of rural paths. At the same time, the fabric seats seemed to me a little more comfortable and embossed than leather ones. The excellent performance of the chairs is not surprising - after all, they have received the approval of the AGR association (the movement for healthy backs). By the way, in the B-segment crossover class, no one else can boast of such an approval. Another interesting option is a heated steering wheel, which buyers will get along with heated seats.

At the European presentation, the Opelevites rolled out two versions to be torn apart by journalists: an all-wheel drive with a turbocharged 140-horsepower 1.4-liter engine (it is also installed on the Astra) and a diesel engine with a 1.7-liter engine about 130 “horses”, but at the same time with a front drive - a 4 × 4 transmission is not yet combined with such a motor. Gearboxes on both versions are mechanical six-speed. In fact, we should be more interested in the modification that was not brought to the international presentation - with the usual "aspirated" 1.8-liter volume, which has proven itself on models of previous generations.

There was no such car just because the good old 1.8 was attached under the hood of Mokka specifically for our country, and therefore it is of interest exclusively to Russians. Surely this modification will be chosen by buyers living far from large cities. After all, Mokka with this motor is cheaper, its device is simpler, which means there will be fewer maintenance problems. In addition, he is unlikely to get very sick from refueling 92 with gasoline, unlike his turbocharged counterpart, which is designed for a good 95. Yes, and the power is the same up to the horse - 140 forces. Although the old man has less torque - 178 N∙m versus 200, and fuel consumption is almost a liter more.

So, we in Russia can choose from the following modifications: a turbo engine with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed “mechanics”, a naturally aspirated engine with front-wheel drive and a 5-speed manual box, and the same engine with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed “automatic”. This implies the main limitation: if you want an "automatic" - you have to agree to all-wheel drive and the old engine. Although there is one more thing - in Russia, traditionally (not for Opel, but rather for the market as a whole), the diesel version is not sold. But in vain!

Despite the fact that Opelevites call the Nissan Juke, which has as much as a 190-horsepower engine, the main competitor of the novelty, they are not going to offer more powerful engines for the Mokka yet. This is possible, unless the company decides to stick the coveted OPC nameplate to Mokka, as it once happened to the family Zafira

It was with her that I began my acquaintance with this car. The first feeling is very strange - when I try to move out of the parking lot, I stall one, two, three. I can't control the clutch pedal! However, I'm not the blonde from the jokes: every day I click the "mechanics" of my own car and effortlessly cope with the ceramic clutch of a racing car. But the “clutch” of the diesel Mocha did not immediately submit to me - it grabs sharply, but it is almost impossible to feel the key moment along the pedal. As a result, when maneuvering in the city, it was necessary to set fire to the clutch with extra engine speeds so as not to twitch and freeze at the next traffic light.

But I think I said that the diesel Mokka is good. It really is. The engine pulls and spins well, so briskly jumping off a traffic light will not be a problem. With the noise of the engine, everything is also quite acceptable, so when traveling along the highway, the car pleases not only with excellent traction (300 N∙m!) In the entire range of revolutions and speeds, but also with a good level of acoustic comfort. True, the diesel engine has a small feature: in order to get all its power, the gas pedal needs to be pushed deeper, since it is in the second half of its stroke that the entire supply of engine power is located. In addition to the clutch, only the gearbox is frustrating - the selection mechanism is less clear than that of the "six-speed" gasoline version, and the efforts on it are higher.

Switching from diesel to petrol. The clutch pedal is the same "empty", but it is much easier to get under way on the car. And the gearbox turned out to be clearer and more pleasant to use. The motor promises good traction, but in fact, alas, it demonstrates spinelessness. You can guess that this engine has a turbine only by the inscription on the tailgate. I couldn't even drive off the autobahn with the pedal to the floor from the old Peugeot 206 CC convertible, which was never a powerful car. To make sure that the motor has a supercharger, I had to open the hood. "Snail" - that is, but is the impeller in place in it? In general, the motor pulls, but without enthusiasm, and he obviously did not hear the word pickup.

The car is generally pleasant to drive, which is facilitated by an understandable chassis and adequate effort on the steering wheel with an electric booster (by the way, on atmospheric versions, the booster is hydraulic). It is especially pleasant to steer if the car is diesel. She has different settings for the suspension elements, due to which the car feels more collected. We raced with colleagues one after another along the autobahn, and I, driving a diesel Mocha, decided to try something like a rearrangement. Great! The review of the driver of the gasoline car, who repeated my maneuver, was not so optimistic. And I understood it, having exchanged cars, - the gasoline crossover responds to sharp steering movements with reaction delays, excessive rolliness and, as a result, the intervention of the stabilization system (but she knows her business) already at a speed of 70-80 km / h. Diesel didn't do that. There is nothing to say about the brakes, as on all modern machines - simply because they do their dusty job without question.

All-wheel drive Mocha is implemented through a multi-plate electromagnetic clutch, which, at the command of the electronics, connects the rear wheels when the front wheels slip. In general, 4 × 4 transmissions can be conditionally divided into those sharpened for cross-country ability, for handling and for driving confidence. Mocha has four-wheel drive - just the last type. With it, you won’t be able to climb into the jungle or gracefully rally revenge with your tail. Yes, it is not necessary. This is a simple and inexpensive knot, which is designed to give confidence to the owner of a crossover on a country road and slippery winter roads. Indeed, according to representatives of the Opel marketing service, Russia is one of the most promising and desirable markets for this model.

It was not possible to evaluate Mokka's passability - the test was held in Germany, where it is more difficult to find a "dirty" place than to accelerate to a hundred in less than 10 seconds on Mokka (the fastest gasoline turbocharged version does this in 9.9 seconds). Not only is there no off-road in this licked and well-groomed country as such, but also a congress in any field is a violation of private property rights. But on the other hand, the German side prepared a pleasant surprise for us: near the town of Sankt Peter-Ording, where the test route from Hamburg lay, there is a stunning beach overlooking the harsh North Sea. This is the place where kiters rest, and seagulls over the boundless sandy space, due to powerful winds, fly only sideways.

It was there that we were allowed to frolic on new crossovers. Remembering old Ken Block, I tried to do something similar on the tide-packed sand. All the exercises only confirmed the thesis that the new crossover needs four-wheel drive mainly for confidence on slippery surfaces - Mokka can’t have fun in drifts, since the clutch comes into operation longer than the driver would like, and quickly overheats, and the stabilization system not fully deactivated. And this is good. When the stability of the trajectory is lost, the Mokka behaves safely and predictably, and even a beginner can easily cope with skidding and drifting with the help of electronics. Just what you need for a family SUV.

The lane tracking system works funny: if you decide to take a nap on the go, then only a delicate one-time squeak and a change in the color of the icon on the tidy from green to yellow will warn you about a change in course. It must be admitted that there are few chances to wake up from these events in the cabin. But the Opel Eye camera, which monitors the row, is not useful - it perfectly recognizes any road signs with speed limits and transmits information to the tidy. And if you missed a sign, you can always “rewind” the information read by the camera. Another function of the camera is a warning about a dangerous approach to the car in front, but the force of its intervention in what is happening is about the same as in the case of a lane change.

In general, Mokka was a success for the Opelevites, although it turned out to be ambiguous. She has a look that will appeal to the vast majority, a comfortable and beautiful interior, energy-intensive suspension and excellent equipment. What more could a buyer want, especially in Russia! But the impression is slightly spoiled by the rolling chassis of the gasoline version, as well as the fact that the Opelevites have not yet made friends with a diesel engine with an all-wheel drive transmission - that would be a great combination. In any case, for its minimum 717 thousand rubles, this crossover will find many buyers - so far there are only one or two competitors in this segment.

How much and competitors

The base Mokka is offered today for 717 thousand rubles - this is a front-wheel drive aspirated on the "mechanics" in the Essentia configuration. Among its standard equipment, you can find daytime running lights, electric mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, front electric windows and a radio with 6 speakers. The same car in the Enjoy version costs 785 thousand and has on board fog lights, tinted rear windows (electric, by the way), more intricate interior trim, alloy wheels and other equipment grouped into packages - both standard and optional. Finally, the top performance Cosmo costs 840 thousand. Advanced things like navigation and a rear view camera are grouped into a separate interesting Innovation package for 37,500 rubles.

If we talk about the cost of units, then the alignment is as follows. A turbocharged petrol version is available starting from the Enjoy version (from 880 thousand). But you will have to pay even more for the combination of all-wheel drive with an “automatic”, even if you get an atmospheric engine at the same time - from 900,000 rubles. And in the upper version of Cosmo, such a car will cost 955 thousand rubles. And even if you order the only available option for it - the Innovation package - you still won’t be able to step over a million. But what about the competitors?

Since the segment of compact crossovers has not yet been chosen by all manufacturers, Mocha does not have many competitors now. The main one is the Nissan Juke - a car with a 115-horsepower engine costs from 690 thousand rubles. The "automatic" (or rather, CVT) Juke for 750 thousand is more profitable than the two-pedal Mocha! But a full-fledged offer with all-wheel drive and a real "automatic" is already worth 975 thousand! True, in this case, the motor will already produce 190 hp.

Text: Dmitry Laskov
Photos: Author and Opel

The rear view camera has to be constantly wiped

In the city of Opel Mokka - like a fish in water. And all because it has a set of qualities that are somewhat superior to the set of characteristics of a typical "city dweller". The main trump cards of the Mokka regarding banal cars are, of course, high ground clearance, high driving position and all-wheel drive. 19-centimeter ground clearance allows you not to stand on ceremony with curbs and snowdrifts when parking and to overcome treacherous road and yard pits without a sinking heart. How much it "inspires", you will not understand until you try it.

A small trunk is often not able to accommodate all the luggage

The high vertical landing of the driver (and the rest of the crew) is also a "balm for the soul." The elevated position in society allows you to more objectively assess the traffic situation, and the "stool style" - to make the compact interior large. True, for the rear passengers, the engineers determined the excessive verticality of the seatbacks, which does not add comfort on long trips. These properties, of course, are also inherent in the mono-drive (more precisely, front-wheel drive) version of the car.

It is not easy to quickly clean the wipers due to the small bending angle

With all-wheel drive, automatically connected by electronics if necessary, the possibilities of Mocha are even wider. It stands better in corners and storms off-road. Although the capabilities of the machine should not be overestimated. If you go too far with speed on a slippery road, then it will not be easy to reason with the all-wheel drive Mokka in a skid. Even harder than usual. And the desire to move off the road, for example, in a winter forest, will most likely end up capturing the car because of the too “rough” bottom. Large windage and a modest 350-liter trunk are also not the most compelling arguments in favor of auto travel. In short, the city of "Mokke" is prescribed "to the full", and nature - without fanaticism.

Aesthetically, the interior is impeccable.

The petrol 1.8-liter 140-horsepower engine is enough for this car not only for the eyes, but also for the ears. And the consumption is adequate: 10-12 liters per hundred. The automatic transmission of the car is also handy. It makes life much easier, especially in a “tested” (full of traffic jams) city. True, the character of the gearbox is peculiar. Traction to the wheels is sometimes transmitted with some shift in time. This has to be taken into account in tense situations, for example, when leaving a secondary road for the main one, activate the gas pedal in advance for a “shot”.

The suspension of the car is a compromise, with a slight roll towards stiffness. This gives confidence when maneuvering. However, the suspension copes well with bumps, even serious ones. Although in this case, her work is accompanied by a muffled sound accompaniment. The brakes of the crossover are set up perfectly and allow you to slow down "according to the scenario." The wheel is also good. But visibility is problematic. Rather, it would, if not for the meticulous parking sensors front and rear. Plus, the camera allows you to minimize the rear threat, the readings from which are displayed on the information display. True, the all-seeing eye of the camera, in order for it to see everything, often has to be wiped. The handle of the fifth door is also subject to the accumulation of dirt and dust, which implies the presence of either a duty rag or dirty hands.

One of the buttons on the steering wheel can accidentally turn on the speed limit

Salon at "Mokka" is very pleasant in aesthetic terms. The quality of finishing materials pleases, as well as the convenience of the front seats and the saturation of the configuration with “goodies”, such as navigation, heated steering wheel or advanced headlights. However, some ergonomic solutions raise questions. Why is the front armrest only for the driver, and why is it located higher than you want? Why is there a button under the left hand on the steering wheel that can accidentally limit the speed of movement? Why are the scales on the instruments so small? Why does climate control “fever” from hot to cold and back from cold to hot in the region of 20 ° C? And a huge number of buttons on the center console? This can only be explained by the sudden loss of a sense of proportion among the creators of the machine.

Using the manual mode "+" "-" on the selector is not very convenient

A separate issue wipers. They are made in such a way that they rest against the edge of the hood when folded. Ridding the windshield wipers of frost during a snowfall or after an overnight stay is a problem. It is clear that there is a service position of the wipers or the possibility of turning off the engine during a stroke, but the need to regularly use one of these procedures is somewhat annoying. By the way, when washing the windshield, the wipers make just one stroke, after which the remaining liquid has to be cleaned again.

Surprising abundance of buttons on the center console. During operation, the "climatic" buttons of the lower sector spontaneously extinguished the backlight several times

Whatever it is, you get used to everything. The negative fades into the background. And on the first one there is a trail of positive emotions caused by Opel Mokka. Friendly design enhances the feel. Thanks to the charming “sphericity” and the signature orange color, funny associations come to mind: it’s not for nothing that one of the witty owners of the “red Mocha” calls his crossover “orange”.

A small compact crossover from Opel has appeared on the market relatively recently. Dealers started selling at the end of 2012. This car is also assembled here in Russia. Immediately after its appearance, Opel Mokka raised many questions and initiated a large number of discussions. To some, this urban crossover seems too small, but someone sees this as its distinctive character, someone considers it too round, and someone, on the contrary, is attracted by its streamlined shape. One way or another, everyone decides for himself how nice this car is to him. Well, in order to help readers of the Opel Automobile Encyclopedia understand this new car, we have prepared a special selection of videos from Opel Mokka test drives.