VAUXHALL MOKKA
Town and country drives reveal the best and worst of our compact crossover
MILEAGE 1244
WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT
To discover if this revamped crossover can excite in a congested class
Having preached gospel about the Mokka’s styling, it’s time to move on to the mechanicals. The 129bhp 1.2-litre turbo engine has served well on longer-distance runs and confidently laughs in the face of motorways. At 70mph it’s quiet, composed and comfortable, yet willing to overtake if necessary. Country driving is a mixed bag. It’s still a reasonably comfortable car for the most part, but the low-speed ride is shaky on uneven surfaces – perhaps a consequence of those admittedly great-looking 18in wheels. At least the seats keep you nicely in place.