WITH its bold design, a raft of technical improvements, plus a wide choice of engine and trim options, Vauxhall has really upped the ante with its all-new second-generation Mokka.

In fact, it would be fair to say the new five-door Mokka bears virtually no resemblance to the outgoing model (which isn't a bad thing) and shows lots of influential design cues from siblings Peugeot and Citroen in the Stellantis stable.

We tried the three-cylinder, 1.2-litre turbo petrol model delivering 130ps with 230Nm of torque matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

This Mokka, in high-end Elite Nav Premium specification, was priced at £27,095 and could complete the 0-60mph sprint in a respectable 9.2 seconds, maxing out at 124mph while delivering a combined 47.9mpg with carbon emissions of 137g/km.

The new Mokka is very modern and athletic in its styling and is the second vehicle after the Crossland to feature Vauxhall's new Vizor front end design. This involves a single dark module that stretches across the front of the car encompassing the LED headlights and new company Griffin logo. At the rear, the Mokka name sits proudly across the tailgate with a shorter rear overhang complemented by LED lights.

Our car also featured a black painted rear spoiler, a black roof, matt chrome skid plates, chrome window trims and 17-inch black alloy wheels.

Move inside and the interior is thoroughly modern with a clutter-free layout and lots of kit to explore. There is Vauxhall's new Pure Panel layout with fewer switches and two screens - a 12-inch digital display screen and 10-inch touchscreen, along with a separate panel for the climate control.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include a multi-media navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth, a six-speaker sound system, DAB radio and heated front seats.

When it comes to performance, new Mokka is up for the challenge. The car is shorter, wider and has also shed a considerable amount of weight and that is beneficial to both its handling and fuel efficiency.

The three-pot engine delivers ample power on motorways, although it does get a little raspy under heavier acceleration, and the eight-speed auto gearbox is nicely timed. There are steering wheel-mounted paddles for added driver engagement and drive modes called Eco, Normal and Sport alter the behaviour and reactions of the car.

The road holding is confident and there is minimal body movement into tighter bends. One area of vast improvement is the ride quality. You no longer feel all the bumps and dips along the way or need a chiropractor on speed dial.

Comfort levels are good up front, but leg room is restricted in the back and the small windows may cause issues for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia.

The boot can accommodate350 litres of kit - increasing to 1,105 litres with the split-folding rear seats folded flat. And there are door bins with a space for a bottle, a tiny glovebox, seat back pockets, a compact central cubby box and front cup holders.

Although the Mokka has not yet been tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, it is packed with technology to keep occupants and other road users as safe as possible.

Our car was fitted as standard with anActive Drive Assist Plus package that featured forward collision alert, automatic emergency city braking, adaptive cruise control, lane positioning assist, driver drowsiness alert and Vauxhall Connect with e-Call. In addition, the car has hill-start assist, blind spot alert, speed sign recognition and a full suite of airbags.