For too long, Nissan Juke has had its own way. Now Vauxhall Mokka is out to stir up the stylish crossover market.

I was surprised that no-one else took on the smashing little Nissan at its own game. This cute, compact but stylishly rugged SUV-cum-hatchback was in a league of its own for ages.

But Vauxhall, realising that our love affair with such models is more than a passing infatuation, has stepped in. Mokka is slightly bigger all round but offers the same look-at-me style.

Perhaps Juke just edges it in terms of looks, but Mokka is close. And with demand rising for smaller crossovers rather than blundering big off-roaders, Mokka seems to have timed its entry nicely.

It doesn’t mean that the basic 4x4 concept such as looks and high driving position has lost favour, just that the fashion for more car-like qualities has come to the fore.

In fact, the crossover is beginning to rival the hatchback for family versatility.

In fact, Mokka, together with the neat Adam, restyled Astra and reinvigorated Insignia has added a real punch to the Vauxhall line-up. Once pedestrian and tame, it’s now one of the sleekest mid-market line-ups.

It is positioned close to Juke. The lifestyle SUV is pitched as the fun-loving foil to the sensible Corsa and Astra.

From the outside the Mokka is identifiable as a Vauxhall. The car’s grille and profile is very much in keeping with the rest of the range. In Vauxhall style this is a conservative lifestyle look.

Step inside and Vauxhall drivers will feel at home, thanks to the familiar fascia design and cabin. From the look and feel of the cabin materials and switchgear, there’s little here that will confuse an Astra owner. That’s where the similarities end, as the Mokka’s lofty seating position is something the family hatch can’t match.

Mokka’s rear load lip is a result of the raised ride height. Factor in the car’s split-fold rear seating, a very useful 1,372 litres of load space with the rear seats folded, and it’s clear why many people are trading up from hatchbacks.

The cliche of many 4x4s never getting their wheels dirty might still be true, but Vauxhall would like you to think of the Mokka as more than just a town car.

By assembling familiar engines and offering the Mokka with the option of both front and four-wheel drive, it’ll do more than trundle town streets.

Maintaining its approach, Vauxhall is offering the Mokka with two petrol engines (1.4 turbo, 1.6) and one diesel (1.7). There are manual gearboxes all round, with the option of an automatic for the 1.4 petrol and 1.7 diesel. Outputs range from 115 to 140 horsepower, and there’s the promise of 60-plus mpg from the front-wheel-drive diesel variant and a tax-friendly 120g/km CO2 rating. If you opt for all-wheel drive, the potential to keep you on the asphalt when the roads are slippery is there, along with the ability to tow loads. With the focus on economy the system directs all the power to the front wheels, with up to 50 per cent going to the rear wheels if it detects a loss of grip.

Vauxhall stresses that such a system can also help maintain composure and traction during hard on-road cornering.

Boasting UK-specific handling and steering adjustments, the Mokka acquits itself well to the challenges of city life. Steering is accurate and there’s enough weight to inspire confidence, while the suspension copes well with most of what the urban environment can throw at it.

I must say a sixth gear would have been welcome. It would have made it even smoother and quieter. Of the petrol pairing the 1.4 turbo motor delivers the more satisfying experience and, although in this guise the Mokka is no rocketship, it will can keep up with the traffic and maintain a relaxed motorway pace without breaking into a sweat.

With a generous level of standard kit offered across the range to tempt buyers into the Mokka fold, it’s good to see Vauxhall resisting the urge to cut corners. From the basic but useful Hill Start Assist to plenty of safety kit plus Bluetooth, high-end audio and sat-nav on high spec cars, the lifestyle boxes have been ticked.

Mokka: it’s not a car to be under-estimated