The Vauxhall Mokka GSE wants to be a hot hatch EV, but could do with being just a bit spicier

Introduction

Most electric cars are perky enough in everyday use, but the new Vauxhall Mokka GSE wants to evoke memories of the hot hatch generation with an extra level of zing. The GSE bit stands for Grand Sport Electric; it means you’re getting 281 horsepower from a motor shared with the firm’s new electric rally car, a limited-slip differential, lowered suspension, enlarged 380mm brake discs and hard-to-miss four-pot callipers. An appealing package, if you ask me.

With a largely unchanged exterior from the regular car, though, the Mokka GSE (which is sold as an Opel in Europe) doesn’t shout about its performance credentials perhaps as much as it should. Especially when Stellantis stablemates with similar performance include the head-turning Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Abarth 600e. Something like the Alpine A290 also offers similar thrills in a slightly more adventurous package.

Get behind the wheel of one, though, and there’s some good stuff going on – even if it might need a few tweaks before it starts getting the same sort of praise as something like the exceptional Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

The styling

Mild tweaks to the bumpers aside, the Mokka GSE really isn’t all that different to a bog-standard edition of Vauxhall’s affordable compact crossover. The brooding grey and black paint scheme brings out the best of its upright design, and there’s a certain appeal to an understated performance car, but this isn’t an EV you buy to stand out.

Only the brightly-painted brake calipers peeking out from behind the 20in alloys give the profile a lift from the norm. That you can wrap them in Michelin performance rubber from the showroom is a statement of intent, or you can go for more efficient Goodyear tyres if you like. They cost £100 quid more but add an extra eight miles of range. Wow.

The Mokka GSE is similarly understated inside, with a general layout that follows the same theme as the regular car. However, there are aluminium-effect pedals and some neat Alcantara-covered body-hugging seats, with special trim stitching that underlines the unique edge of this model. Those seats are very snug, which to smaller folks will seem ideally suited for keeping them firmly positioned through tight bends. People with larger posteriors mind find them a little too snug though.

While all of the darkened interior styling delivers a brooding experience, I think it might be a little bit too oppressive for some people. However, there’s still lots of practicality, with decent levels of room in the front and the back. A reasonably sized 310-litre boot completes the everyday usability side of things.

The drive

Based on figures I’d seen prior to getting behind the wheel, I wasn’t expecting the Vauxhall Mokka GSE to be a rocket ship. The slightly raised body doesn’t instantly evoke memories of hot hatch classics gone by, either.

The reality was much better than I’d anticipated, with plenty of engagement and a responsive accelerator pedal while in Sport mode; this is easily where it delivers the most fun, particularly through the bendy bits of country roads. While the steering felt a little odd at first, as time went by the EV delivered some grin-inducing moments.

The ride on those low-profile tyres is admittedly quite harsh. I quite liked the setup, which suits the purpose of the sporty specification, but it might be less appealing on crumbly British B-roads.

One of the Mokka GSE’s most surprising aspects was the brakes. Being bigger and beefier than standard, I thought they’d be more than a match for the power, but they felt surprisingly ineffectual in places – usually when I was belting down a hill and into a corner at speed. They needed proper effort to really engage and made the GSE feel a little unpredictable as a result.

Underlying torque steer from the front wheels promoted the same feeling, and while I didn’t try it in the rain, I got the feeling the car could be a bit of a handful in the wet. Perhaps that slightly skittish, edgy stance is something that’ll turn the Vauxhall Mokka GSE into a fan favourite, as there are plenty of people out there who still love a hot hatch in the vein of cars that have long since disappeared from our roads. Astra or Nova GTE anyone?

This is also a car that’ll work best for people with access to home charging. The relatively small 54kWh battery can be replenished at up to 100kWh in less than thirty minutes, but driven enthusiastically it’ll be best enjoyed if it can be plugged in at home overnight. Driving fast sees the 200-mile or so range to ebb away rapidly. My test car had lost ten percent after just a few rapid motorway miles.

The technology

Vauxhall has done its best to inject a little more excitement into the cabin, mostly within the context of the infotainment screen. A dedicated GSE page is stuffed with showy yellow digital dials that explained in graphical form just how quickly I was munching through my battery power. Fun for a couple of times. Aside from that, the dashboard design is as seen in the normal Mokka, but it works well enough.

There’s an okay sat nav, some physical buttons for climate controls and run-of-the-mill audio that get the job done. It’s all quite low-key in much the same way as the exterior finish.

The graphics look a little old school compared to those seen in something like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, although I’ll admit that’s an entirely more expensive kettle of fish.

Vauxhall Mokka GSE verdict

The Vauxhall Mokka GSE isn’t astonishingly fast, with 0-62 mph arriving in 5.9 seconds, and it’s never very furious either. But you’re still getting a lot of attainable performance here for a reasonable sub-£37,000 asking price (once the UK electric car grant is added to the mix).

I don’t think it’s as good – or as distinctive – as the Abarth 600e, but anyone wanting affordable EV thrills without the “look at me” styling should give it a run around the block. It’s livelier than you might think and does sporty things without shouting about it. Very handy if you’re not an attention-seeker.

Vauxhall Mokka GSE technical specifications

Powertrain	Permanent magnet synchronous motor
Battery	54kW
Power	276bhp
Torque	255lb ft
0-60mph	5.9sec
Top speed	124mph
Range	201 miles
Charge rate	100kW
Cargo volume	310 litres