Compact crossover kicking in with stronger spec, lower price than Peugeot blood brother.

THOUSANDS of dollars’ price advantage appears to be an immediate attraction attaching to the first car to return Opel to New Zealand when it is compared to Peugeot’s equivalent.

Sister marques within France’s PSA – which in turn is part of the Stellantis conglomerate - since General Motors fire-saled the German brand in 2017, Opel and Peugeot are represented by a common distributor in New Zealand, Armstrong Group’s Autodistributors’ operation, but operate under separate managements.

Conjecture about whether Opel would have leeway to undercut Peugeot pricing with products that, in the main, now base off Peugeot-Citroen hardware has been answered with announcement of detail for their first entry.

Opel New Zealand’s positioning of the Mokka, a compact crossover set for availability in October that will ultimately sit alongside three other models – Corsa, Astra and Grandland – highlights the prudence of cross-shopping over the fraternal Peugeot 2008, with which it shares powertrains and a platform, called EMP2, but not body styling.

The Mokka variants with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol from the Peugeot, the Mokka Edition and the Mokka SRi, are set to sell for $38,990 and $44,990.

That’s $3000 below the 2008 Allure and GT they most directly correlate against, though not fully.

There is a twist: All run the same engine, with an eight-speed transmission, but whereas Allure’s is in identical 96kW/230Nm tune to Mokka’s, the GT has a 114kW/240Nm version.

Peugeot also foots a base Active, that undercuts the least expensive Opel by $3000; Opel NZ has decided not to put up an equivalent Mokka.

A surprise from Opel is that its models are eligible for a $1923 Clean Car rebate that the 2008 does not achieve, this on strength of the German models’ engines pumping out less CO2.

With the Peugeot the count is 165 grams per kilometre in lower tune, diminishing to 153g/km with the GT. The rebate applies to engines making less than 146g/km. Opel says its engine makes 135g/km.

The Mokka line is headed by a fully electric 100kW/260Nm single motor powertrain, again shared with the e-2008. Opel’s Mokka-e is, at $69,990, $4000 cheaper than the Peugeot. Both attract a $625 Clean Car rebate. The Opel’s range is cited at 363km, however, which is 10kms’ less than Peugeot suggests is possible from the e-2008.

Opel representation is less expansive than Peugeot’s, being limited to five dealerships, all in the North Island, though announcements for Wellington and Christchurch are coming soon, according to Opel NZ commercial manager Noah Robertson.

Opel had originally intended to be in operation from June, but that schedule appears to have been disrupted by the same build and supply issues affecting the motor industry in general.

Mokka was chosen as the first because it is the embodiment of Opel’s claimed status as the most efficient German car brand in NZ, Robertson said.

“The Mokka has been chosen to lead the charge for Opel’s launch, as it looks like it is cut from the future in terms of its styling, and feels like it is with its driving experience. With low emission or fully electric options, dynamic handling and high impact German design inside and out.

“Mokka are priced aggressively and accessibly, so more Kiwis can get into lower emission vehicles sooner.”

Mokka won’t be on its own for long. There’s potential the Corsa (which relates to the Peugeot 208) might also yet be on the same boat as the crossover – it’s not absolutely certain as the models come from different plants. The Astra, a sister ship to the Peugeot 308, might also be here by Noveember. Grandland, the only model still on a GM platform, is planned for December in traditional fossil-fuelled form, with a plug-in hybrid coming in early 2023.

PSA has funding allowed Opel to push ahead with a different styling language to that seen on the marque’s models when they previously came to NZ, either with the German branding or – as was more often the case – as Holdens.

The frontal look is called the Opel Vizor, in which the vehicle grille, assistance systems, LED headlights and Opel’s lightning bolt emblem all integrate into a modern element.

All Mokka variants have electric parking brake as well as traffic sign recognition and recommendation, front and rear parking sensors and a 180-degree rear view camera, park assist, flank guard and side blind spot alert, heated front seats and heated steering wheel – which don’t come with Peugeot - plus active safety brake and active lane departure warning. Mokka has a more advanced headlight, being LED matrix. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go and active lane positioning for level two semi-autonomous driving also feature on the SRi.