Opel Mokka LPG ecoFlex - hell of a crossover

© OpelSmart and thrifty - the Mokka LPG

Custom autogas systems aren't new for Opel – they've been available for quite a while now, and the company's current line-up features a broad range of models (excluding commercial vans and some less popular offerings, like the Antara) that can be optionally powered with LPG instead of petrol. Or maybe aside with petrol, as the original fuel can still be used at any moment, particularly when the cheaper counterpart runs out. It's all the easier since many of the Opels running on autogas use the same engines, so introducing a new model with LPG conversion is often just a matter of time. And so the debut of the Mokka, sporting a turbocharged 1,4-litre, 140 PS unit comes as little surprise, since the Astra, the Insignia and the Zafira Tourer have already been using the motor for saving money with autogas.

According to the manufacturer's data, the Mokka's combined fuel consumption (in LPG mode) is 7,7 l/100 km, which translates into CO₂ emissions of 124 g/km (i. e. 13% less then when running on petrol). The converted engine is Euro 6 compliant, but – unlike modern diesel engines – it's free of all the extra emission-curbing equipment, like particulate matter filter or SCR technology. So, if you are a prospective buyer of the Mokka, think twice before choosing an oil burner and seriously consider the ecoFlex LPG version in its stead.

© OpelWondering whose tank it is? Wonder no more - unsurprisingly enough, it's STAKO's

Still not convinced? Well, consider this, too: the spare wheel well-mounted autogas tank holds 34 l of the fuel, which – given Opel's economy figures for the Mokka are reliable – should be sufficient for approx. 400 km od driving between fill-ups. Boot capacity or functionality are in no way limited, as the spare wheel has been displaced altogether and its function has been taken over by a tyre repair kit. Need more arguments still? No problem! The LPG switch has been smoothly integrated into the dashboard – once the system is on, a diode lights up to signal it, while autogas level in the tank and average consumption indication have been integrated into the trip computer. That's what every factory-converted car should look like!

Now, can the Mokka LPG succeed on the market? Judging by the success of the conventionally powered versions, of which 145 thousand examples have been sold to date, forcing Opel to seek extra manufacturing capacity, the newcomer's prospects are good. And even if the autogas-fueled crossover fails to attract new customers to Opel, it could at least divert some from buying a diesel. In fact, given the Mokka is a city car, bound to tackle terrain obstacles as difficult as curbs and potholes, it hardly needs a diesel anyway. If the pricing is right (i. e. if the autogas version is cheaper than an oil-burning counterpart), it's got all it takes to become popular.