Should you buy one?

Viewed in isolation, the Mokka Electric is an appealing car. A cursory glance reveals a striking and up-to-date car – well aligned with the standards we’re coming to expect from mainstream EVs. But we’ll fall short of recommending it because of the strength of the opposition.

The elephant in the room for the Mokka Electric – as well as many rivals – is the MG4 EV, which packs more of a punch, goes further on a charge and is significantly cheaper. That car might not be an SUV, but it’s significantly roomier than the Vauxhall, so does the family car thing so much more convincingly.

There’s some good here, though. The steering, ride and handling are all up-to scratch, and – dare we say it – very much the measure of the more expensive Peugeot e-2008 that it shares so many components with. In many ways, most notably in terms of refinement and ride quality, the Mokka Electric completely shades the diesel and petrol-engined versions of the same car.

But all that good work is undone by the unimpressive range, which doesn’t come close to the claimed 209 miles, and inaccurate distance to empty indicator. These will no doubt improve with the next facelift.

What we like

The Mokka Electric is a good-looking small SUV, and the interior has plenty of tech to keep occupants entertained. The car rides well and performance is brisk, if not electrifying.

What we don’t like

Like the Mokka, the electric version is a bit too cramped to be a practical family car. It’s fine up front, but the boot, back seats and access are all compromised. A range of just over 200 miles is fine if you’re charging the car every time it’s parked, but longer journeys – especially in cold weather – might make you think twice.

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