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MT 21 May 2017

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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 MAY 2017 IV Motoring & Boating X almost always marks the spot CHRIS MANGION LOOKING tough whilst keeping their charm, small SUVs have always been popular on the road. Decent economy and a slightly raised driving position has helped turn the compact crossover mar- ket into an ultra-competitive sector. Back in 2015, the Opel Mokka was one of the 10 best-selling cars in the UK. Two years later the new Mokka X – Vauxhall's smallest SUV builds on that strong legacy and adds the option of four-wheel drive. Whilst remaining faithful to the origi- nal bodylines, the updated "X" strikes a balance between acting tough and look- ing pretty. Underbody skid plates and the raised ride height give this car the rugged beast feel, yet the bold chrome front grille and large swept-back head- lamps help achieve the smoother lines belonging to the city cruiser rather than the off roader. With plenty of soft-touch plastics, chrome on the instrument surrounds, and a gloss-grey panel across the dash and door trims, the Mokka X achieves the interior feeling of rival high-end crossovers. In the infotainment department, the Mokka X boasts a 7-inch screen touch- screen, which can be upgraded to 8-inch. During our test drive the touchscreen proved to be very responsive, with its main functions being accessible through shortcut icons. DAB radio, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, and Vauxhall's OnStar concierge service also come as standard on all Mokka X versions. The OnStar feature provides online connectivity, wi-fi hotspot and a call centre connectionwhich can download Google routes directly to your sat-nav. Seating is comfortable with plenty of shoulder room providing ample space for two tall adults on the front seats. Room on the back seat is also spacious thanks to the tall rear side windows, which provide the extra headroom. The raised driving position also helps the driver get more forward visibility; while the thin front pillars do not interfere with line of site particularly in corners. Storage space comes in abundance with plenty of cabin cubbyholes and storage bins, a small-lid compartment above the glove box and can also include an op- tional front passenger's under-seat stor- age tray. A nice and practical addition is the cubbyhole in front of the gearlever, making it ideal for keys, wallets and phones. In the back, the Mokka X provides 356 liters of well planned booth space. The boot floor is aligned with the boot lip, making the loading of heavy items easier. The rear 60/40 seat bases flip forward and fold down, making the boot floor is flat all the way through to the front seats, too. The booth area also includes bag hooks and a small side storage compartment. The Mokka X has an ad- ditional storage compartment under the booth floor for valuable items. The Mokka X is available in both petrol and diesel engines, however the diesel variants obviously return better economy. The 1.6-litre petrol engine rated at 113bhp at 6,000rpm and 155Nm of torque at 4,000rpm returns 42.2mpg and has CO2 emissions registered at 155g/ km. The turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol delivers 138bhp at 4,900rpm and 200Nm from just 1,850rpm, and manages 47.1mpg. The 1.4 Turbo also comes in a 150bhp version. Adding four-wheel drive deducts an average of 5mpg to these figures. Another petrol option is the 150bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine with standard four-wheel-drive and an auto- matic gearbox, which returns 43.5mpg. At the other end, the 108bhp 1.6-litre ecoFLEX diesel model returns 72.4mpg with CO2 emissions of just 103g/km; while the 134bhp turbo goes from 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds. Adding four- wheel drive on the 1.6 CDTi bumps up emissions up to 124g/km. A typical Opel/Vauxhall trend is mak- ing available a plethora of options on their vehicle models. The Mokka X is no different. The entry-level version, labeled the 'Essentia', will get you dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, electric windows and power folding mirrors, high beam assist, 17-inch wheels, plus the 7-inch touch- screen infotainment system. Vauxhall's emergency call and concierge system OnStar comes on all Mokka X models. Stepping up, the Design Nav version throws in Vauxhall's Intellilink touch- screen nav and infotainment system; while the Elite model includes electri- cally heated steering wheel, tinted glass, sports seats, a leather interior and heated seats, while obviously the Elite Nav up- grade includes sat-nav, as you'd expect. Opel also offers a bike carrier and a hard liner for the boot. The Mokka X was awarded the full five stars in its Euro NCAP crash test, scor- ing 96% for adult occupant protection, 90% for child occupants and 67% for pedestrian protection. Such high scores are also due to the car's stability con- trol, and the inclusion of front, side and curtain airbags. Security features include an alarm and engine immobiliser, with its score to resist theft scoring four out of five. The Mokka X is available locally from Motors Inc in Qormi, with prices start- ing from € 22,450.

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