2022 Opel Mokka Review & Buyer's Guide
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What Are the Strengths of the 2022 Opel Mokka?
Excellent Ride and Handling
The Mokka delivers a compelling balance of sharp, roll-free dynamics with genuine comfort and suppleness. The Stellantis chassis provides a firm foundation, and Opel engineers have created a vehicle with impressive body control during cornering that also smooths out rough road surfaces effectively. The car feels more assured and comfortable than the previous Mokka generation and is notably agile for its class.
Quiet, Refined Cabin
The Mokka exhibits exceptional noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) control, creating a calm and tranquil driving environment. The cabin demonstrates excellent body rigidity and comprehensive insulation materials, making it feel like a quality product despite the compact segment classification. One owner noted the quietness 'made me fall in love with driving again.'
Comprehensive Safety Technology
Despite the four-star rating, the Mokka-e comes with an impressive array of active safety features including Enhanced traffic sign recognition, Lane Keep Assist, Collision avoidance sensor with brake assist, Pedestrian and cyclist detection alert, and Adaptive cruise control with automatic Start & Go. The vehicle includes multiple airbags and ISOFIX child-seat mounting points with top tether mounts.
Modern Design and Styling
The 2022 redesign presents a fresh, contemporary exterior that turns heads and differentiates the Mokka from competitors. Buyers rated its exterior styling very well in the 2024 Driver Power survey. The design represents Opel's successful revival under Stellantis stewardship.
Low Running Costs (Electric Variant)
The Mokka-e delivers cheap-to-run operation with impressive efficiency. Owners report achieving 185 miles of range from a full charge on the 2022 model, making it suitable for daily commuting. The electric drivetrain has fewer complex systems than petrol or diesel alternatives.
Easy to Drive with Advanced Automation
Owners praise the Mokka-e for being quiet and easy to drive, with standout technological features including semi-autonomous driving capabilities. The adaptive cruise control can brake automatically to maintain safe distance from vehicles ahead, and one owner stated 'the car almost drives itself.'
What Are the Weaknesses of the 2022 Opel Mokka?
Cramped Rear Seats and Limited Practicality
The Mokka suffers from notably cramped rear seats and a small load bay that limits practical family use. When fitting child seats with ISOFIX, there is minimal space for passengers, and doors don't open particularly wide, making rear access awkward. Practicality was rated as one of the model's worst traits in the 2024 Driver Power survey.
Dark, Claustrophobic Interior Design
The interior uses excessive black materials that create a dark, enclosed feeling, making the cabin appear more compact than it actually is. This design choice is consistently criticized across reviews, with one reviewer describing it as 'claustrophobic' and noting it detracts from the spaciousness that objectively exists in the vehicle.
Four-Star Safety Rating (Not Class-Leading)
Despite being a modern design, the Mokka achieved only a four-star Euro NCAP rating rather than five stars, scoring 73% in adult occupant and 75% in child occupant crash tests. The rating reflects Opel's decision not to equip the vehicle with active emergency braking for cyclists or a centre airbag as standard.
Opel Brand Reliability Concerns
While the electric drivetrain itself is mechanically simpler, Opel and its Vauxhall brand historically have poor reliability records. Vauxhall ranked only 26th out of 32 brands in the 2024 Driver Power survey, though 21% of owners reported issues (just below average). The Mokka ranked 34th out of 50 models in the same survey.
What Are the Most Common 2022 Opel Mokka Problems?
Battery Coolant System Problems
ModerateAt least one Mokka-e owner reported a coolant problem affecting the battery system that lacked a permanent fix as of their report, though the vehicle continued to function normally. This issue appears in early mileage (5,000-10,000 miles), suggesting potential manufacturing defects in the battery thermal management system.
Infotainment and Dealer EV Knowledge Gaps
ModerateOwner reports indicate a lack of dealer knowledge regarding EV-specific features and troubleshooting. This creates challenges when addressing technical issues or understanding vehicle capabilities, particularly for first-time EV buyers unfamiliar with electric vehicle peculiarities.
Public Charging Infrastructure and Cost Concerns
ModerateMokka-e owners report issues with poor public charging availability and high public charging costs as ongoing concerns. While home charging solutions like Pod Point work well, the lack of reliable public charging infrastructure limits the practical range advantage of the vehicle for long-distance travel.
What Owners Say
Owner sentiment is moderately positive regarding driving dynamics, refinement, and running costs, particularly for the electric variant. However, satisfaction is tempered by concerns about practicality, interior design choices, and reliability expectations based on Opel's brand reputation. Electric variant owners appreciate the quiet, easy-to-drive nature and low operating costs but encounter frustrations with dealer knowledge and public charging infrastructure. Practical concerns about rear seat space and boot size emerge consistently across owner feedback.
"Cheap to run, quiet and easy to drive - the car almost drives itself and when cruise control is active, it brakes itself to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front." — Vauxhall Mokka-e owner, ElectricRoad.co.uk
"So, so quiet, made me fall in love with driving again." — Vauxhall Mokka-e owner, ElectricRoad.co.uk
"It's very well-specced as standard and because of its Peugeot underpinnings it's really well put together and feels playful - it's fun." — YouTube reviewer, Opel Mokka 2022
"The dark cabin with excessive black materials makes the car feel claustrophobic and more compact than it actually is." — YouTube reviewer, Opel Mokka 2022
"Great value car with good ride and handling, but the cramped rear seats and small boot are significant limitations for families with children." — Vauxhall Mokka owner, YouTube review
"Lack of dealer knowledge with regard to EVs is a real problem when you need technical support or want to understand all the vehicle's capabilities." — Vauxhall Mokka-e owner, ElectricRoad.co.uk
Reliability Rating
AverageReliability predictions for the 2022 Mokka are difficult to assess given its relatively recent launch, but the electric drivetrain offers inherent advantages with fewer complex systems than conventional powertrains. However, Opel's overall brand reliability record is concerning—the parent company ranked 26th out of 32 brands in the 2024 Driver Power survey, though this is improving with Stellantis ownership. The Mokka specifically ranked 34th out of 50 models tested in 2024, with just 21% of owners reporting issues, placing it slightly below average. The vehicle comes with a standard 3-year warranty and a 100,000 km battery warranty for electric models, with 36 Opel service locations providing decent after-sales support. Early reports suggest isolated battery coolant issues in some electric variants, though sample size is insufficient for broad conclusions.
Final Verdict
The 2022 Opel Mokka is a well-engineered compact crossover that excels in driving dynamics, refinement, and modern design, making it appealing to buyers prioritizing comfort and technology. However, prospective owners should carefully consider limited rear-seat practicality, the claustrophobic interior design, and Opel's historically weaker reliability reputation compared to its Stellantis siblings (Peugeot and Citroën). The Mokka-e electric variant offers compelling running costs and enjoyable driving characteristics for commuters, but buyers should verify local charging infrastructure and ensure dealer EV expertise before purchasing.
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