Vauxhall Mokka GSE Review: Can Enthusiasts Take This Go-Faster Electric Crossover Seriously?
Do I spy a carbon bonnet? Not quite. But a striking black hood is just one of several subtle clues that you are looking at no ordinary Vauxhall Mokka. There are the vibrant yellow brake calipers. Enormous 20-inch alloy wheels. And, if you are a truly dedicated brand follower, you will have clocked that it sits 10mm lower on its springs and boasts newly negative camber on its wheels.
Is anyone actually a dedicated Mokkanista? You have just identified one of the primary reasons this car exists, dear reader: to inject some much-needed excitement into a lineup that has historically under-indexed on passion, to borrow a phrase from corporate marketing presentations. In simpler terms, it is a brand that benefits enormously from a bit more bounce in its step.
So, what does GSE actually mean? It claims a vague assonance to the legendary GTE and GSI badges of old, now signifying Grand Sport Electric. The Vauxhall Mokka GSE draws all of its power from a plug, utilizing a 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) feeding a punchy front-mounted 276bhp motor for some genuinely potent performance figures. Vauxhall claims a 0-62mph sprint in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.
Its official range figure peaks at 201 miles when fitted with standard Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres, creeping up to 209 miles if you opt for Goodyear Eagle F1s. That is assuming you can achieve—or better—Vauxhall’s officially claimed efficiency of 3.4 miles per kilowatt-hour. Drive quickly on a challenging piece of twisty asphalt, however, and you can easily lower that figure to around 2.0 mi/kWh. Take it out for a track session, and you will effectively halve that efficiency yet again.
A Mokka? On Track?
Surprisingly, the hardware is built for it. Much
