Opel has a hidden gem in its 'very affordable' Mokka

It is only years later that I realise what the dodgy dealer was talking about. Every Monday when I arrive home with a new test car my wife hardly bats an eyelid.

In fact, sometimes she doesn’t even know what I am driving until much later on in the week, possibly only if I have blocked her car in the driveway.

However, a couple of weeks back when I rolled up the driveway in my latest test car, she was straight out the door with a look of love in her eyes. I should have known straight away that it certainly wasn’t for me, but for the new Opel Mokka that had just landed on her doorstep.

The new Opel Mokka is certainly an eye-catcher from the first time you see it in the flesh.

The Opel brand is slowly but surely climbing back up the motoring league tables after spending a few years in the doldrums since its heyday in Ireland during the 1980/90s.

Thanks to popular cars like the Mokka and the much-loved Opel Corsa, the brand is still offering engines to suit everyone’s needs.

You see, although there is a pure electric version of the Mokka on offer, Opel is still open to the idea that not everyone wants to go full electric right at this minute and has superb small petrol and diesel offerings available in this model. My test model for the week was the 1.2-litre 130bhp petrol eight-speed automatic Mokka in SRI trim.

It made a lovely change having a little peppy petrol under the hood rather than having to watch my electric range and plug in at night to my home charge point.

On the outside, the new Mokka is very easy on the eye. The first thing I noticed when I sat behind the steering wheel was the lovely crease down the centre of the bonnet. Straight away it reminded me of the old Vauxhall Viva, which was such a stylish car in its day.

My test car, like the one in the main photo above, came in white with a black bonnet and red trimmings throughout.

Yes the overall look is slightly out there but somehow it works really well, without looking like you’ve been to the breakers yard to replace the bonnet. Inside too, is very neat and tidy and loaded with technology.

My test car was fitted with the larger 10-inch touch screen, which was very easy to use.

And, thankfully, Opel has decided to go old school and stick with traditional knobs to control the temperature instead of those annoying digital ones. Elsewhere inside, I found the Mokka extremely spacious and ideal for a family of four.

Overall, the new Opel Mokka is a breath of fresh air for the Opel brand and with prices starting from €23,295 it is very affordable too. I just hope the wife is not expecting one on Christmas morning from Santa.