Overall rating:

The supermini sector isn't what it used to be - full of worthy but rather formulaic small cars that didn't cost the earth to run. Makers have to explore every inch of niche available no matter what the sector and from that point of view the new Vauxhall Mokka has hit the nail on the head. However, there's strong competition, and the Vauxhall already looks to have met its matches.

Key Facts

Model tested: Vauxhall Mokka 1.7 CDTi Tech Line
Pricing: £17,445
Engine: 1.7-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder diesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door compact SUV
Rivals: Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Juke, Skoda Yeti
CO₂ emissions: 120g/km
Economy: 62.8mpg
Top speed: 116mph
0-60mph: 10.0 seconds
Power: 130hp at 4,000rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 2,000- to 2,500rpm

In the Metal:

It's hard to categorise the Mokka's size, but in truth it sits somewhere between Nissan's Qashqai and Juke models. Regardless of footprint though there's an awful lot going on in such a small space. The front is striking, but the rear fussy and contrived. The end result is rather 'try-hard and failing to succeed' - the Nissan Juke and even Skoda's Yeti pull off the 'urban' look rather more convincingly.

Inside's a bit of a button fest (we counted over 20 for the audio and satnav controls alone) and there are similarities with the firm's Astra model especially - both in switchgear and layout. Quality is behind though, the hard plastics lower down and fingerprint-attracting materials higher up only curtail the ambience. Still, at least the rear seats have plenty of room and the 362-litre boot should prove sufficiently practical for family buyers.

Driving it:

Vauxhall claims that the Mokka has been developed with the urban environment in mind, making it easy and responsive to manoeuvre around towns and cities as a primary focus. Light steering (which unfortunately offers as little feedback as we've come to expect from such electric systems) and a compact footprint confirm this. But one thing you will notice, even at such low speeds, is just how noisy and unrefined it is; the 1.7-litre diesel engine rumbles and booms away - there's certainly no questioning when stop-start is working, as the silent engine is a momentarily welcome relief.

Things don't really improve on the open road either, where both wind and road noise add to the clattering engine - rev it hard and the unit sounds strained and more commercial than consumer. There's also little meaningful pull from anything below 1,500rpm so you find yourself working through the gearbox in a bid to keep up with traffic - and the action of the lever is unhelpfully notch-like.

Our arrow straight test route, mainly on the German Autobahn, didn't exactly allow us to check the car's dynamic prowess, but the odd off-ramp did confirm body control is acceptable and grip as expected in this class. The suspension has been set up to be smooth and comfortable but though there are no crashes or bangs entering the cabin it does seem to take some time to settle at speed. It's certainly not an exciting or involving car to drive on the open road.

We were also steered away from any off-road assessment, which is probably wise enough since most owners won't see anything more taxing than a Tesco's speed bump. At least the elevated driving position offers plenty of adjustment and thanks to the deep side windows the view to the front and side is good. However the rear view, both towards the traditional blind spot and through the tailgate, is limited.

What you get for your Money:

Nigh on £18,000 buys you a lot of car these days, and in some respects the Vauxhall Mokka is no different. Choose the Tech Line trim, aimed at company users especially, and you'll gain satnav over the Exclusiv trim's standard fit dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, DAB radio and 18-inch alloys. And whether you opt for the front- or four-wheel drive versions, all Mokkas benefit from Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.

But then the £18,000 mark offers quite a lot of choice elsewhere in the segment; for £18,445 you could find yourself behind the wheel of a Skoda Yeti SE Plus 2.0 TDI. Not only is it larger, better built and more practical, but it's also far more refined and fun on the road. At least the Mokka claws back some points thanks to low running costs - the 120g/km CO₂ figure ensures annual road tax is only £30 and the 62.8mpg economy promise means visits to the pumps will be pleasantly infrequent.

Worth Noting

We also drove the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol 4x4 version, a model that Vauxhall expects will account for 30 per cent of UK sales. Producing 140hp and 200Nm of torque you might expect it to offer lively performance. However, both engine and road speed are slow to increase, and the package feels lacking. We didn't get a chance to test its four-wheel drive capabilities, but the Mokka defaults to 100 per cent front-wheel drive for most conditions, though can send up to 50 per cent of its torque to the rear axle on demand.

Summary

It's a strange package the Vauxhall Mokka; plenty will like the distinctive looks, the cabin packaging is good, running costs low and standard equipment levels generally impressive. However, quality is lacking in both the cabin and driving experience - especially in terms of refinement - while the try hard design just won't be to everyone's taste. Consider its relatively high price tag (and just how talented its rivals are) and it's difficult to recommend the Vauxhall in this sector.It's a strange package the Vauxhall Mokka; plenty will like the distinctive looks, the cabin packaging is good, running costs low and standard equipment levels generally impressive. However, quality is lacking in both the cabin and driving experience - especially in terms of refinement - while the try hard design just won't be to everyone's taste. Consider its relatively high price tag (and just how talented its rivals are) and it's difficult to recommend the Vauxhall in this sector.