Crossover "Opel Mokka", the clearance of which did not live up to expectations

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

It seems that not only we in Russia, but also Americans and even Europeans have lost hope for maintaining roads in good condition. And how else can you explain the ever-increasing number of crossovers with ever-deteriorating off-road functions? There is, however, another significant reason - traffic jams and parking in the modern urban jungle. In order to get out of the “stuck” stream through curbs or park on the sidewalk, off-road properties are not needed, sufficient clearance is needed. And the victory of modern crossovers over city cars in sales is the victory of high ground clearance over low fuel consumption.

The Opel company resisted the crossover fashion for a long time: the Germans off-road, as historical experience shows, love to ride tanks. But the American-Korean lobby, which manages the company from the parent concern General Motors, won: the crossover appeared, and it is called the Mokka coffee name. Its appearance was facilitated by the development and implementation of a “classmate” and “brother” on the platform, another hatchback raisedto crossover height - "Chevrolet Trucks". From the point of view that the appearance of the car is now the main sales factor, these "brothers" differ in appearance. But "Opel Mokka", the technical characteristics of which are very close to the characteristics of the Korean-American "brother", is called "Traks, who visited the beauty salon." The smoothness of its lines betrays a relationship with other cars in the Opel line.

If you pay attention not to the aesthetic details of the new Opel crossover, but to the ability to solve urban off-road problems, then the Opel Mokka, whose clearance is declared by the manufacturer at 190 mm, may well cope with this. Here, however, a conflict of technical interests arises: with a high road clearance, the car's speed aerodynamic qualities decrease, which leads to a deterioration in handling and an increase in fuel consumption. To meet these requirements, the Opel Mokka car decided to partially sacrifice the clearance, an aerodynamic rubber “lip” was installed on the front bumper. Opel engineers claim that it is soft and does not lose elasticity even in the cold.

Everything would be fine, but, like other cars, the Opel Mokka's clearance really depends on the width of the wheelbase and on the geometry of the body. An increase in the front overhang due to the “lip” on the bumper significantly reduces the geometric cross-country ability of the car, especially in the case of narrow but deep obstacles. The other side of the coin - moving over towering obstaclesso as not to damage vital systems, especially those located under the bottom between the wheel axles. Here, the Opel Mokka development engineers reinforced the ground clearance with protective iron arcs that protect the bottom of the gas tank; and the car engine is protected by regular "protection". All these measures add up to a model approach angle of 13 degrees, which is extremely small compared to competitors in this area (for example, the Volkswagen Tiguan has 28 degrees).

Summing up the exorbitant topic of clearance at the Opel Mokka, whose characteristics in terms of handling and fuel consumption are very impressive, I would like to say the following: if you are going to jump curbs - be careful, you are going to drive economically and with a breeze - buy an Astra … or Insignia, given the need to accommodate all relatives.