If you were a fan of hot Vauxhalls in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, the last few years will have felt a bit bleak. Cars wearing the fabled GSi and VXR badges haven’t formed part of Vauxhall’s line-up for quite some time, with the British brand closing down its motorsport division and concentrating on more humble cars like crossovers.
But things are starting to change. It all started two years ago with warmed-over plug-in hybrid variants of the Astra and previous-generation Grandland SUV that wore a new sporting badge – GSE (Grand Sport Electric).
That was just a toe-dip into the world of performance cars, though. Two years on and Vauxhall is cranking things up a bit – the new Mokka GSE is the starting point, with Vauxhall even using the car as a base for a return to motorsport in an electric rally car series.
While those GSEs of two years ago were plug-in hybrids with a few sportier touches, the Mokka GSE is a bit more full-caffeine strength.
It’s based on the pure-electric Mokka, and, in turn, becomes the brand’s most powerful electric car it has ever made. The chassis has had a good going over too, while the exterior and interior have had a makeover.
As the Mokka shares the same platform as other Stellantis cars such as the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, Abarth 600e Scorpionissima and Peugeot E-208 GTi, it gets the same 276bhp, 345Nm electric motor on the front axle. Here, it gives a 0-60mph sprint time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.
Just like with its sporty Stellantis sisters, there’s been some engineering work to get the most from the power on offer. There’s a Torsen multi-plate limited slip differential, revised spring rates (+49% front, +35% rear), a 10mm ride height drop, new shock absorbers with hydraulic bump stops all round, a different rear axle with an anti-roll bar (giving +189% rear roll stiffness), a new quicker ratio steering rack, Alcon four-piston brakes with 380mm ventilated front discs, and GSE-branded and yellow-painted calipers.
As for the battery, it’s the standard Mokka’s 54kWh pack. Vauxhall claims a range of 209 miles, and a 100kW maximum DC charging capability allows a 10-to-80-per-cent top-up in 30 minutes.
Just like with other Mokkas, three driving modes give different levels of power. In the GSE, ‘Eco’ restricts performance to 187bhp and 300Nm of torque, ‘Normal’ gives 228bhp and 345Nm, with ‘Sport’ giving the full beans of 276bhp and 345Nm. The latter mode should really be the default setting in our book, as the heavier steering and sharper throttle make the best of the engineering changes. And you can feel these as the GSE really does take on a hot hatch-like character as it’s a keener, sharper, more involving car to drive than the standard Mokka – just how a performance model should feel. The differential is very well tuned – mash the throttle into the carpet and there’s some initial understeer before the diff yanks the car back into line, while the steering gives accuracy and a real feeling of connection.
It all adds up to a surprisingly sporty and involving driving experience, but be prepared for an uncomfortable ride and plenty of charging. On our test route high in the hills around Madrid, Spain, the roads were silk-like smooth asphalt. In the UK, and on the concrete sections of the M25, we’d imagine the ride will be bone-crushingly hard and deafeningly loud. And use all of that power regularly, and that 207-mile range will probably be more like 100-120 miles.
The hard ride is partly due to the enormous 20-inch wheels Vauxhall has decided to fit. Admittedly, they look fantastic, but that’s the extent of the visual treats.
Yes, there’s a new front bumper, gloss black trim, and GSE written along the bottom of the front doors, but where’s the roof spoiler, the lurid paint schemes, and the badges on the tailgate? You can select a black-painted bonnet for £250, but it’s all a bit too muted. Its Abarth 600e stablemate manages to look far more flamboyant, and is all the better for it.
It’s a slightly better story inside as Vauxhall has fitted a pair of fantastic bucket seats. They’re trimmed in Alcantara and get yellow stitching and GSE badges. They not only look the part, but are also very comfortable and supportive. Alcantara is dotted around the rest of the interior too, but, again, we can’t help but feel it’s a little too business-like. Apart from a yellow theme for the screens, it’s all just too grey for us.
Surprisingly, the bucket seats don’t take up too much extra space. But, as rear legroom isn’t even a plus point for the standard Mokka, it’s just as well, really.
The GSE sits at the top of the Mokka line-up. So, along with the fabulous bucket seats (which are heated, by the way), there are Matrix LED headlights, a digital driver’s display, 10-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and a double load floor in the boot.
Vauxhall has done an excellent job in turning the pretty mundane Mokka SUV into a very decent little hot hatchback. The engineering changes have transformed the car, and it’s a serious hoot to drive. At £35,495 (after the government’s Electric Car Grant is deducted), the GSE looks like a bargain compared to its sister Stellantis models.
Some buyers will like the under-the-radar looks of the GSE, but we guess the slightly plain-Jane design might act against it. Its arch-rival, the Alpine A290, manages to be just as thrilling to drive but has the want-factor by the bucketload thanks to its heart-melting design. We fear the Mokka GSE won’t get under hot hatchback fans’ skins in quite the same way.
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