The Return of the Sporty Griffin
Back in the day, a fast Vauxhall was a bit like a weekend in Blackpool: loud, slightly uncouth, and guaranteed to leave you with a bit of a headache. The VXR badge was the standard - bearer for this charmingly thuggish behaviour. Fast forward to the electric age, and Vauxhall has swapped the knuckle - dusters for a fitness tracker and a set of Alcantara - clad bucket seats. The badge is now GSe, standing for Grand Sport electric, and after a slightly tepid start with the Astra, the Mokka GSe has finally arrived with enough poke to make you sit up and take notice.
Vauxhall has taken the standard Mokka Electric - a car that is perfectly pleasant if a bit pedestrian - and thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at it. This is not just a trim level with some fancy stitching. They have fettled the suspension, tweaked the steering, and most importantly, given the motor a massive shot in the arm. It is a bold move in a segment that usually prioritises boot space over burnouts.
Power to the People (and the Front Wheels)
While the standard Mokka Electric trundles along with 156hp - perfectly adequate for the school run but hardly 'Grand Sport' material - this GSe version has been hitting the gym. It now boasts a whopping 280hp. That is a lot for a front - wheel - drive crossover. To stop it from spinning its wheels into a cloud of expensive Michelin rubber every time you encounter a damp roundabout, Vauxhall has fitted a Torsen limited - slip differential. It works. The way this thing pulls itself out of a corner is genuinely impressive for something that looks like it should be parked outside a trendy boutique rather than a rally stage.
The 0 to 62mph sprint takes just 5.9 seconds. In the real world, that feels properly brisk. It has that instant EV shove that catches other drivers off guard, but unlike some electric SUVs that feel like they are falling over their own shoelaces when you ask them to turn, the Mokka GSe feels tied down. The steering is meatier, and the chassis has been tuned with direct input from Vauxhall's motorsport engineers. It is stiff, yes, but in a way that gives you confidence rather than a bill for a chiropractor. On a twisty UK B - road, it actually feels agile, which is high praise for a battery - electric vehicle weighing nearly 1.6 tonnes.
Inside the Vizor
Vauxhall's design team is on a roll lately. The 'Vizor' front end remains one of the sharpest faces in the business, and the GSe treatment - 20 - inch wheels, gloss black accents, and an optional black bonnet - makes it look like a properly premium bit of kit. It is a car that people actually stop and look at, which is not something you can say about many compact crossovers. Inside, the GSe bucket seats are the star of the show. They are hugged by Alcantara and offer the kind of support that makes you wonder why more manufacturers don't get the basics right. They are genuinely brilliant and arguably worth the entry price alone if you value a good driving position.
However, it is not all sunshine and rainbows. The 'Pure Panel' infotainment system, while functional, is starting to look a bit last - season compared to the gargantuan screens and slicker interfaces found in a Kia or a Hyundai. There are still physical buttons for the climate control, though, for which I would personally like to shake the hand of the lead designer. Thank you. It makes life so much easier when you are bouncing along a B - road at 60mph and just want to turn the heating up a notch.
Practicality and the Electric Elephant
Now, let's address the elephant in the room: space. The Mokka is a compact SUV, and 'compact' is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. If you are a six - footer sitting behind another six - footer, you will find your knees making very intimate contact with the back of the front seat. The rear door opening is also quite small, which makes fitting a bulky child seat a bit of a localized wrestling match. The boot, at 310 litres, is also on the small side. If you have a growing family or a penchant for antique furniture, you might find it a bit of a squeeze. It is a car for couples or small families who value style and speed over the ability to carry a chest of drawers.
Then there is the range. In his quest for more power, the GSe has sacrificed some distance. The 54kWh battery is good for a claimed 209 miles, but in the reality of the Great British Winter, expect that to drop to around 170. It supports 100kW rapid charging, which is fine, but not class - leading anymore. It is enough to get you from 10 to 80 percent in about half an hour while you grab a coffee and a service station sausage roll, but those doing 200 - mile commutes regularly might find themselves becoming too familiar with the local charging infrastructure.
The Verdict: A Griffin with Guts
The Vauxhall Mokka GSe is a bit of an outlier. It is too small to be a primary family car and too expensive for those looking for a budget electric runaround. But as a 'second' car or a stylish urban commuter for someone who actually enjoys driving, it makes a surprising amount of sense. It is the first time in years that a Vauxhall has felt genuinely exciting rather than just competent. It has flaws, certainly, but it also has character, and in a world of increasingly anonymous electric SUVs, that is something to be celebrated. If you can live with the tight rear seats and the modest range, you will find a car that is genuinely fun to drive and looks fantastic on your driveway.
