Vauxhall Mokka-e long-term test: report 5

The car Vauxhall Mokka-e 50kWh Elite Nav Premium Run by Neil Winn, Hubs Editor

Why we’re running it To find out how easy it is to go electric and to see how well the Mokka-e stacks up against an ever-increasing number of small electric SUV rivals

Needs to Be practical, deliver a relaxing driving experience and have a long enough range to be viable as an only car

Mileage 1350 List price £34,580 (not including £2500 gov’t grant) Target Price £33,142 Price as tested £35,230 Test range 151 miles Official range 201 miles

28 October 2021 – Learning to drive? Go electric 

According to a recent study, four out of 10 UK parents want their children to take their driving lessons in electric cars. That might come as a bit of a surprise to those of us who had to learn the hard way. After all, surely perfecting hill starts and getting the most out of a manual gearbox is crucial to understanding the art of basic car control.

The survey from Peugeot certainly caused a bit of a debate in the What Car? office when we saw the press release. But I reckon very soon most parents will want their children to learn in an electric car, for a few simple reasons. 

Firstly, buying your son or daughter an electric vehicle makes you look like a socially and environmentally conscious parent – and who doesn’t want to look responsible? Secondly, if the sale of new cars powered solely by petrol or diesel is going to be banned in just a few years, why should your children have to go to the trouble of learning in a manual? And thirdly, electric cars make learning to drive a more painless affair. 

The reason I’m confident in making that last point is that my fiancée is utterly addicted to driving my Vauxhall Mokka-e despite being a relatively inexperienced driver. Like many young people working and living in London, Hollie has never felt compelled to buy her own car and rarely drives any of the test cars I have for work. Yet she can’t wait to grab the keys to the Mokka-e.

With its one-speed automatic gearbox, punchy acceleration, automatic regenerative braking and upright driving position, it has helped her confidence to absolutely soar.

After her first longer distance drive, she couldn’t stop raving about the Mokka-e’s instant power – how it made nipping away from the lights or joining a faster flowing road an absolute breeze. And because the car has such a progressive accelerator response (unlike, say, the Tesla Model 3) and gentle regenerative braking (when ‘B’ mode is selected), Hollie has also found it particularly relaxing to drive around town.

So if any driving instructors are out there looking to buy an electric car, perhaps give the Mokka-e a look. It might prove rather popular.

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