The new Vauxhall Mokka is a very different car to the one it replaces. The gentle curves and soft edges of the old model have gone, to be replaced with sharper creases and an edgier, all the more contemporary design that’s been heavily influenced by Vauxhall’s stunning GT X Experimental Concept car.

It isn’t just on the outside where everything has changed, oh no, the interior has a much more modern look and feel to it thanks, in particular, to the Pure Panel dashboard where you'll find a digital instrument binnacle alongside the infotainment touch screen display.

That the new Mokka looks better both inside and out is beyond question – you only need a pair of functioning eyes to see that –but that's not the whole of the story. It’s barely even a chapter, in fact, because while the first generation model proved to be a significant sales success it was let down by a uninspiring interior and poor ride.

The question is: Does the second incarnation also improve on the previous car’s less obvious weaknesses? Let’s take a look.

Before we set things in motion I’ll just explore the passenger space with you in a little more detail. The Mokka is a compact SUV and, as such, shares the same footprint (it’s metaphorical) as a small hatch and, in fact, is only a smidgeon taller. It does, however, boast a raised seating position so you can enjoy the kind of commanding view of the road that’s commonly associated, and expected, of this type of car.

You look out over a flat, broad, bonnet that further enhances the impression that you’re behind the wheel of a full-fat SUV.

There’s ample adjustment in the seat and steering wheel (reach and rake) to help you find a comfortable driving position. There’s no lumbar support other than on the range-topping launch edition which includes it as part of a package that also adds leather seat trim and, unusually in this class, driver’s seat massage function.

The dashboard looks nice and classy thanks to a 12in digital instrument display (standard on SRi Nav Premium trim and above otherwise it’s a seven-inch screen) that’s crisp and clear but a little short of functionality and a 10in infotainment touchscreen. Again that screen is a seven-inch display on SE and SRi models.

You get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard which is probably just as well because the supplied software is fiddly to use and not especially responsive. There are some physical shortcut buttons and a volume dial sited just below the display that help make using it while you’re on the move a lot less distracting than some systems that require you to faff around with the touchscreen to perform even basic tasks.

And… speaking of performing basic tasks there are, too, actual buttons and dials for the air conditioning. Yes!

Overall the interior offers a little something different to the rest of the Vauxhall range. There’s an attractive blend of materials and textures and an interesting fusion of gentle curves and straight lines that certainly improve the perceived quality. Sadly, though, the Mokka can’t quite deliver on its promise and, if you do have a bit of a poke around you’ll find some of the plastics are on the cheap side. The same is true of much of the switchgear which can feel a little flimsy and imprecise when you use it.

There’s plenty of space up front for you to relax in and admire the attractive fascia. Head and leg room in generous and it’s wide enough to ensure that you’re not constantly brushing shoulders or banging elbows with the person sitting next to you.

Unless you’re particularly tall – well over six feet – then you should be reasonably comfortable in the back where, again, head and leg room is quite generous but the high window line can make it feel a little claustrophobic. The middle seat is quite narrow and slightly raised, too, which might make it unpleasant on longer journeys for whoever is the filling in the rear-seat passenger sandwich.

There’s lots of storage in the front, including a decent-sized glovebox and reasonably large door bins. A large storage tray that can hold a wallet or a ‘phablet’, as the gigantic mobile phones most of us are now using were once mockingly referred to. On Ultimate Nav models this is, in fact, where the wireless charging tray is located so being large enough for a mobile is rather important.

Boot space struggles to match its rivals (350 litres with the 60/40 split folding rear seats in place 1,105 litres with them stowed) but you do, at least, get a height-adjustable floor that, in its highest setting, not only helps reduce the size of the lip that you have to hoist your luggage over but also creates a second, secret, compartment beneath. The rear bench splits 60/40.

Now we’ve had a proper look around inside let’s get this show on the road and find out what the Mokka’s like on the move.

The engine line-up is a simple one: There’s a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with either 100 or 130PS or a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel with 110PS.

The car reviewed here came with the more powerful petrol unit and it proved to be an amiable companion. It’s a flexible unit with plenty of low-down grunt that can, reasonably quickly, have you travelling at motorway speeds. Both petrol-engined models are fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard but the 130 Turbo is available with an eight-speed automatic. The auto box goes about its business in a “you barely notice it’s there” way which is precisely how it should be.

The Mokka’s suspension is quite soft and, as a result, it handles low-frequency undulations like the kind you experience on motorways and A-roads really well, proving both comfortable and relaxing. Around town, though, it struggles to dissipate the effects of sharper-edged imperfections and broken surfaces leaving occupants rocking around in their seats. It is, however, a long way from being intolerable.

Refinement is a strong point in the Mokka. Tyre roar is well suppressed and the three-cylinder engine only really makes itself heard while you’re accelerating, fading away into the background when you reach cruising speed. It is at those speeds that you might notice a little wind noise around the A-pillars but it’s far from intrusive.

The Mokka isn’t the funnest car in its class – that particular accolade lies elsewhere – thanks to a body that leans a little too willingly in corners, even at moderate speeds, and a centre of gravity that feels noticeably high when you’re trying to change direction quickly.

There is, however, a decent balance to the chassis while the steering has a natural feel with predictable, linear, responses to inputs which makes it easier to place the car accurately on narrow country lanes.

I’ll begin summing up by answering my own questions: The interior is a significant step up over the first generation car but, while both the ride and handling has been improved, if you want a car that can be fun as well as comfortable then this probably isn’t for you.

That said, both comfort and refinement are excellent and the 130 Turbo petrol engine reviewed here offers a good compromise of decent grunt and frugality. Equipment levels are also impressive.

Vauxhall Mokka Elite Nav Premium 1.2 (130PS) Turbo Auto

Price: £27,100

As tested: £27,650

Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Max power: 130PS

Max torque: 230Nm @1,750rpm

Max speed: 124mph

0-60mph: 9.2sec

Combined: 47.1 – 47.9mpg

Emissions (CO2): 137g/km

For more information visit www.vauxhall.co.uk

Gallery1