Vauxhall Mokka GSE Review 2026: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Vauxhall Mokka GSE?

Vauxhall is hoping to reignite the flame of nostalgia with the return of pumped-up performance models - and the popular Mokka small SUV is the first to receive a racy ‘GSE’ makeover.

And it’s about time, too, because we haven’t seen a properly sporty Vauxhall since the demise of the popular VXR sub-brand in 2019. Younger petrolheads will surely remember the boisterous Astra VXR and Corsa VXR, but GSE may need context for some.

It stands for Grand Sport Electric. That’s future thinking, as few rival brands have yet been brave enough to fully commit their performance brand to the EV world.

But GSE also evokes memories of both Vauxhall’s earliest GTE-branded hot Astras and Novas of the 1980s, as well as the GSI-branded Corsas, Astras and Vectras that came after that. The British brand is leaning heavily on this heritage in the new car’s marketing, too, as well as the new car’s motorsport inspiration from its appearance in an FIA Rally series.

This is no styling exercise, either, as the Mokka GSE gains a whole heap more power over the standard Mokka Electric. There’s also a proper limited-slip differential, overhauled suspension and bigger Alcon brakes. That same treatment will be applied to the lower, lighter Corsa soon, too.

So, is the new Mokka GSE worthy of all the marketing hype, or is it an underwhelming flash in the pan? Our in-depth review assesses its talents.  

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Verdict: is the Vauxhall Mokka GSE a good car?

Hot Vauxhall fans should rejoice that the brand is willing to put proper engineering effort into the Mokka GSE. Being electric means it may not suit all but, overlooking the lack of an engine sound and gears, there’s a good amount of fun to be had behind the wheel.

The Mokka GSE is fast and quite well-priced, too. But that comes at the expense of range, which may be a compromise too much for many. The regular Mokka underneath isn’t a class-leading small SUV anymore, either.

Pricing, specs & rivals

Prices for the new Vauxhall Mokka GSE start at £36,995 – but as that’s a mere five pounds under the threshold for the Electric Car Grant, the price you’ll actually pay is £35,495.

That makes the GSE fractionally cheaper than the related Abarth 600e Competizione and the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman, and significantly cheaper than the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce.

In terms of standard equipment, it mirrors higher-spec versions of the regular Mokka, but with some added sporting bits.

So, along with equipment such as adaptive matrix LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a panoramic rear-view camera, sat-nav, keyless entry and start and a wireless phone charging pad, you’ll find unique 20in alloy wheels, heated Alcantara bucket seats, a heated sports steering wheel and aluminium pedals.

There’s also a wealth of standard safety assist features. Options include a set of range-boosting Goodyear tyres to replace the standard, high-grip Michelin Pilot Sports, while you can choose from a black or body coloured roof.

Rivals

As is sometimes the case with the sheer number of brands in the Stellantis group, the Vauxhall Mokka GSE’s closest competitors are related under the skin. The Abarth 600e in Competizione form has identical power in a more extroverted body, while the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce takes the same mechanical bits and wraps them up in a classy Italian body.

Elsewhere, the Mokka GSE’s rivals include the MINI Aceman JCW, Alpine A290, Smart #1 Brabus and more powerful versions of the Volvo EX30.

Interior comfort, quality & technology

Lowered suspension, big alloy wheels and yellow brake calipers help the Mokka GSE stand out from the crowd externally, but there are also some key clues inside.

The first is a pair of new, Alcantara-trimmed sports bucket seats with integrated headrests – a hallmark of a sporty model. There’s also a new steering wheel, black headlining and Alcantara trims for the doors.

The overall effect is subtle rather than overtly racy – you’ll want the shoutier Abarth 600e for that. And it only goes some way to livening up what is otherwise a rather plain interior with plenty of hard plastics.

Still, those bucket seats are very supportive and snug without being too restrictive for larger adults. There’s a wide range of adjustment, although the seats are only manually adjustable.

And despite the fact you sit lower in the GSE than in the regular Mokka, you still get a good view forwards and decent rear visibility. What’s more, there is a good number of physical buttons, and proper climate control switches, to make adjusting settings on the move easy.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

As with the standard Mokka you get two 10-inch displays high up the dash. One is your instrument display, the other is for your infotainment functions.

The central infotainment touchscreen is mostly easy to operate, with fine graphics and decent response to your inputs. The GSE also gets a specific menu area with performance data, such as a G-force meter, race timer and various temperatures.

Of course, you can still access wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a wireless phone charging pad is standard. There is also a USB-C port up front and a pair of USB-A ports in the rear for charging devices.

As for audio, there’s a six-speaker sound system and no fancy name-brand upgrade – but the standard setup is punchy enough to drown out the road noise.

How practical is the Vauxhall Mokka GSE?

With dimensions of 4,150mm in length, 1,787mm in width (excluding mirrors) and 1,506mm in height, the Mokka GSE is identical in size to the standard Mokka, bar a 10mm lower ride height.

There’s sufficient space in the front seats for a pair of six-foot adults to get comfortable, with enough width to avoid banging elbows.

Rear seat space isn’t exceptional but is fine given the Mokka’s position, with enough headroom to accommodate six-footers and adequate legroom. Happily, the GSE’s bespoke front seats don’t have much impact at all on knee space and foot room, but the integrated headrests do make it a bit darker and impede the forward view for those in the back.

Overall, space-wise the GSE is standard Mokka fare: perfectly acceptable for a small SUV and roomier than a Volvo EX30, but it can’t match a Smart #1 Brabus for fitting large adults in the back.

Storage and boot space

Cabin storage in the Mokka GSE is unchanged over the standard car, meaning a good-sized glovebox, decent enough door bins, a pair of cupholders in the centre console and a small under-armrest cubby. There’s also a usefully large phone or wallet storage tray where the wireless charging pad lives.

There’s not much storage of note in the rear of the GSE, bar a pair of door bins that will just about fit larger water bottles. There’s no armrest cupholders or pockets in the front seatbacks.

The Mokka GSE’s boot capacity is unchanged from the standard Mokka, which is good. But that 310-litre capacity isn’t exactly generous. It’s no bigger than a petrol-powered Corsa, for example, and 50 litres smaller than the Abarth 600e’s boot. It is, however, 10 litres larger than the MINI Aceman’s load area.

The boot is a square shape at least, and you get an adjustable boot floor to help reduce the Mokka’s high load lip. The rear seats fold in a class-typical 60/40 split.

Performance & drive: What is the Vauxhall Mokka GSE like on the road?

Vauxhall is proud to boast that the Mokka GSE’s 281hp electric motor, along with the battery and inverter, is shared with the GSE Rally car.

That’s a nice pub fact, but it’s also worth noting that the Abarth 600e Competizione has the same power output. Still, the GSE is easily potent enough to match today’s hot hatchback performance standard.

It’s worth noting that Eco and Normal drive modes cap the respective power to 190hp or 231hp. But pushing through a ‘kickdown’ point in the throttle pedal releases the full 281hp regardless of drive mode.

A 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds only goes some way to reflect this, as in all road situations the Mokka feels brisk. The mechanical limited-slip differential is also essential at putting the power down cleanly as you exit a bend, meaning the GSE feels properly engineered and genuinely capable.

Happily, the power is also delivered smoothly and the throttle isn’t too aggressively mapped even in Sport mode, so gentle driving isn’t a chore. Having said that, we’d like some kind of synthesized engine note to up the drama even further.

Similarly, the Mokka would be even more engaging for the keen driver if you had more regenerative braking adjustment. As standard the regenerative effect is light, with a stronger ‘B’ mode on the drive select switch, but we’d like some steering wheel mounted paddles to let you adjust it through different modes into and out of a bend.

In Sport mode, the Mokka’s regenerative braking is reduced to give you more pedal feel. That means the chunky 380mm front brakes by Alcon (the company that supplied the brakes for the Aston Martin Valkyrie) can bite with real force.

Power, 0-62mph times

• Vauxhall Mokka GSE: 281hp/ 5.9 seconds

Ride and handling

A lot of engineering effort has gone into the Mokka GSE’s chassis. Along with the 10mm lower ride height, the suspension springs and anti-roll bar are much stiffer, the rear axle has been redesigned, the steering is quicker and there are special hydraulic bump stops.

From the moment you set off it feels like no Mokka has before it. There’s real control to the suspension on all roads, a small amount of body lean and steering that feels much sharper, giving you loads of confidence when you throw it into a series of bends.

There’s also loads of grip thanks to those sticky Michelin tyres and the limited-slip differential, which helps the GSE maintain its line when pushed hard into a bend. There’s even some steering feel giving you a sense of connection, too. It’s not quite a Ford Puma ST, but it is enjoyable.

The GSE’s more hardcore setup does mean it doesn’t ride bumps as smoothly as a standard Mokka. It’s not unbearably harsh by any means, but sharp potholes are felt and undulating roads have you bobbing about in your seat a bit. Enthusiasts will see it as a worthy sacrifice, we reckon.

Noise and refinement

The Mokka GSE’s performance additions do have an impact on refinement, although it’s far from unbearably noisy. Tyre roar from the chunkier, stickier rubber and big wheels is the main impact, and although it’s ever-present on poor surfaces it can be drowned out by the radio.

Wind noise isn’t any more noticeable than the regular Mokka, while the electric motor makes a bit of a whine at low speeds. It’s a pity that Vauxhall hasn’t given the GSE a bit more fun factor with some faux engine noises under acceleration, as brands such as Hyundai and Abarth prove these can add some engagement if done in the right way.

Euro NCAP: is the Vauxhall Mokka GSE a safe car?

Although safety body Euro NCAP is unlikely to specifically test the GSE, the wider Mokka range achieved a rating of four stars out of five when crash tested in 2021.

That’s okay by small SUV standards but far from class-leading:  the MINI Aceman, Smart #1 and Volvo EX30 all achieve five stars and much better category scores. The Mokka’s 73% adult occupant protection score is so-so by comparison.

Still, there’s plenty of standard safety aids to stop you crashing the Mokka GSE in the first place. These include the usual autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, speed limit recognition and driver drowsiness detection. But there’s also adaptive cruise control, lane positioning assist and even blind spot monitoring.

Charging, range and running costs

Just as sporty versions of petrol cars take a hit on fuel economy, sporty versions of electric cars often sacrifice range for performance. And the Mokka GSE is no different.

Like the standard Mokka Electric, it has a battery with a modest 51kWh of usable capacity. That’s enough for an official 250 miles on a charge in the standard car, but in the GSE that drops to 209 miles in WLTP combined tests.

The GSE’s 209-mile figure is also only achieved with the optional, more economy-focused Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres. With the standard Michelin rubber its official figure is 201 miles – and you’ll see less than that if you make full use of the performance.

Those are roughly the same figures as the Abarth 600e, but the Smart #1 Brabus boasts more range. Regardless, it’s a clear compromise that means the Mokka GSE might be taken off the shopping list for many motorists.

Enthusiasts might consider it a fair trade-off, however. It’s just a shame that a heat pump isn’t standard on the GSE to help mitigate the effect of heating the cabin in winter on range.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures)

• Vauxhall Mokka GSE: 209 miles (with optional eco tyres)

The Mokka GSE might not go very far on a charge, but at least its smallish battery means charging times aren’t yawningly long.

The GSE has the same 100kW DC rapid charging peak speed as the standard Mokka, which is sufficient for a 10-80% charge in under half an hour. Although that peak speed isn’t huge, it’s more achievable with the existing UK EV charging network.

All versions can charge at a maximum of 11kW using home or destination AC charging, which is par for the course at this price. On a standard 7kW home wallbox, you’ll be looking at just over eight hours for a full charge from empty.

No electric Mokka comes with battery preconditioning, which is a shame, while a Vehicle-to-Load adapter is available as an option via Vauxhall dealers.  

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 8hr 15 mins
• 11kW charging: 5hr 30 mins
• 50kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 56 mins
• 300kW+ rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 28 mins

How much does the Vauxhall Mokka GSE cost to insure?

The Mokka GSE commands a premium over the regular Mokka when it comes to insurance, but that shouldn’t be anywhere near as expensive as it was in the GSE brand heyday of the 1980s.

Sitting in insurance group 32, the Mokka GSE is seven groups higher than the previous top-spec Mokka and three groups higher than a MINI Aceman JCW. But it’s also several groups lower than a Smart #1 Brabus.