Which came first the Mokka or the Qashqai? Well it may come as a surprise to know the Nissan Qashqai had a 6 year head start on the Vauxhall Mokka, spearheading the hotly contested market for crossover cars.
Their instant success was owed to a shift towards drivers wanting a more dynamic and economical driving experience, and soon more manufacturers followed on the trails of the Qashqai including Vauxhall with the Mokka.
As far as all-rounders go, both cars combine the styling and higher seating position you get from an SUV with the size and agility of a hatchback. Both are also top sellers at Cargiant, so to help decide which is best for you – we’ve put them head-to-head when it comes to design, practicality, performance and cost.
For more in depth look at the Nissan Qashqai, check out our review to find out more.
Design
Nissan made the most of their early superiority by honing in on the design of the Qashqai, from the well-built dashboard to practically placed buttons and easy to use infotainment system. The Nissan Qashqai is designed for comfort and also commands control – there’s a distinctive profile to the interior ambient lighting and spinal supporting seats.
The Mokka makes the most of hindsight by noting all the key attributes of its predecessor and taking it a step further. Despite being 50mm shorter than a Qashqai you still get an abundance of headroom and there are handy storage compartments throughout the cabin. The muscular lines and bold chrome front grille make the Vauxhall Mokka one of the sleekest exterior designs on the market.
Practicality
If it’s a big boot space you’re after, the Nissan Qashqai definitely has the bigger of the two, with 430 litres of space behind the back seats. There’s also a split-level floor than can be lowered to boost useable space or raised to make a flat floor with the back seats down.
There’s a central compartment between the front seats, which is where the aux-in socket and USB port are hidden.
In comparison the Vauxhall offers 362 litres of boot space, a respectable size for a marginally smaller looking vehicle. What you do get with the interior of the Mokka are storage options which ultimately will keep your car looking tidy.
Performance and Handling
The Mokka’s light responsive steering makes it a great choice for city driving, its size also makes parking a dream, but despite being nimble there’s also a sturdiness that gives it full competency on A roads.
The Vauxhall Mokka offers a more than adequate range of engines, the popular choice is a 1.6 litre petrol and 1.7 litre diesel. Both are capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in less than 12 seconds. For a more flexible drive we recommend the four wheel 1.4 litre turbocharged Mokka. It also trumps petrol powered rivals that are heavier and less powerful with aspirated engines.
The Qashqai makes the most of being developed at Nissan’s engineering base in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, so its ability to handle British roads is unrivalled. There’s a durability that provides extra comfort and security for everyday use, it also makes it a great family car option.
The entry level 1.2 litre petrol is the perfect choice for city/town driving and for an extra injection of pace pick the 1.6 litre petrol which is primed for performance. The 1.6 litre diesel engine feels much stronger on open roads and with long distance driving will save you money on fuel.
Whether it’s the 1.2 petrol model or the 1.6 diesel you’ll definitely have an edge on other compact SUVs as you’ll be able to achieve 0-60mph in just 9 seconds
Cost
Crossovers are ultimately designed and engineered for practicality and efficiency, so keeping cost low has always been a priority. And with buyers having more choice than ever you’ll be able to find one that’s perfect for you.
Find Yours Today
We currently have a combined total of over 200 Nissan Qashqai and Mokka in to choose from. So book yourself an appointment with our Sales team and take one for a test drive.
