First Drive: Vauxhall Mokka Tech Line 1.7 CDTi 2WD Start-Stop

Vauxhall will make a bid to win lucrative extra business in the corporate sector when its first compact sports utility vehicle goes on sale this month.

Tech Line, the special trim level developed to appeal to fleet buyers, is set to play a key role in marketing plans for the Mokka, GM’s new South Korean-built car for drivers with active lifestyles.

After helping boost business registrations of the Astra and Insignia, the company’s most competitive trim level is expected to be a popular choice in a 16-strong line-up of models with either front wheel drive or an electronic adaptive all-wheel drive system.

“I’m confident we will repeat our Tech Line success with the Mokka,” Vauxhall marketing manager Simon Prior told Fleet News.

“With list prices starting from £15,995, these versions come with exceptional levels of standard specification and combining these with low P11D prices and attractive benefit-in-kind charges should make them particularly strong propositions in the company car market.”

Speaking in Germany at the launch of the latest contender in a market segment that grew by 7% in the first half of
this year, Prior said that while the Mokka was viewed as a mainly retail car, Tech Line would represent significant fleet business.

“In total, we expect the car to win 14,500 registrations next year, at least 70% of them from rival manufacturers. We have a product with good quality and aggressive pricing and we’re ready to make it a key player in a fast-growing sales area,” he said.

Standard equipment across the range includes air conditioning, rake and reach adjustable steering, roof rails, steer-
ing wheel audio controls, digital radio, a trip computer and cruise control.

Notable additions to the car’s electronic stability gadgetry are hill start assist and hill descent control, which limits speed to between 3mph and 12mph down slopes with tricky surfaces without the driver having to brake.

Based on the mid-range Exclusiv grade, Tech Line adds dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, power rear windows, power-fold door mirrors, Bluetooth, USB connection, a centre front armrest, automatic lighting with high beam assist, automatic wipers, fog lights, alloy wheels, a leather-covered steering wheel and colour-screen satellite navigation.

On the road the Mokka backs its high stance with a lusty performance, but the CDTi unit proves to be boisterous in acceleration and wind noise generated around the A-pillars can be intrusive at cruising speeds.

Supportive seats and smooth-riding suspension provide car-like comfort and neat handling characteristics. With 18 storage spaces and a load potential of 1,372 litres with the rear seats folded, versatility is good. A restricted rear view means the rear sensors are useful parking aids – but the rear view camera fitted to our test car was particularly useful and well worth the £200 extra cost.

By Maurice Glover