Vauxhall Movano review (2010-2021)

• Powerful engines throughout the range
• Latest models are more refined
• Nimble handling but not as nice to drive as newer rivals

Prior to the 2019 facelift, we’d have summed-up the Movano’s driving experience as capable but a little crude. For such large vans, these are surprisingly nimble machines that tackle corners with composure and well control body roll, but they were also always noisy inside and firm on the behind, with rather choppy ride quality.

The introduction of the revised BiTurbo 2.3-litre engine range in combination with changes to the cab interior as part of the facelift seems to have brought a good improvement in refinement. You’re more likely to be bothered by wind and road noise than engine noise when cruising along, and there isn’t even very much of that to speak of.

By modern standards, the steering, handling and ride comfort lags behind the best rivals – particularly the Crafter and Sprinter – but it’s likely to be less of a chore to tackle a long journey in one of these than in a Boxer or a Relay.

The only proviso we have to this is that we have so far only driven front-wheel drive versions of the updated Movano – typically rear-wheel drive versions of large vans suffer with more vibration and noise issues than their front-wheel drive family members.

What are the Movano’s BiTurbo engines like?

Again, we can only speak for the versions fitted in the FWD facelift models at the moment – and these do have more power than the equivalent RWD versions – but whether you go for the entry-level 135hp model, the popular and efficient 150hp variant or the top-of-the-range 180hp motor, you should find more than acceptable performance.

The 150hp is unsurprisingly the pick of the bunch. It has 385Nm of torque to the 135’s 360Nm and will shift heavier loads more easily with the promise of good fuel economy. The 135hp will struggle that bit more with the same weight, likely causing it to use more fuel.

The 180hp Movano is an impressively rapid beast, thanks in part to 400Nm, but not so much so that opting for either of the others will really leave you feeling short-changed. As such, it feels like something of an indulgence, and we believe that for most users the 150hp model should be well up to the job.

To get some idea of how the latest RWD Movanos perform, check out our Renault Master review, as this van not only features the same underpinnings it uses the same engine as well.

What’s the Movano’s gearbox like?

Much improved for the 2019 facelift, the standard-fit six-speed manual transmission now has an almost car-like action, and is less notchy to use.

Vauxhall plans to add a semi-automatic gearbox option on some models in 2020; again this is the same transmission already deployed in the Renault Master, so you can get a sense of how that’s likely to perform from that review. Hint: it’s not brilliant.

• Much improved interior for 2019 facelift
• Driving position could be better
• Rear-view camera worth considering

The original dashboard design (below) was functional, but had become increasingly tired and out-dated compared with modern rivals – but although it suffered with some cheap-feeling plastics it always gave the impression that it had been built to last.

For the 2019 facelift, however, things inside the cab are substantially improved. The dashboard design (below) is neater and more modern, with higher-quality materials, but retains a useful amount on-board storage.

Feature such as the split door bins and the wide-angle mirror in the passenger sun visor, intended to help with blindspots, seem very well thought out.

Shame, then, that the steering wheel still only adjusts for height and not for reach, meaning you may have to compromise you preferred driving position a little to safely hold on to it. There is plenty of adjustment in the seats to help with this, but the wheel’s position is fundamentally rather flat and bus-like, which comes across as very old-fashioned compared with more modern rivals.

Technology upgrades for the Movano

The touchscreen for the fancier infotainment system options is now part of the dashboard – on previous models it was sometimes located in a ceiling pod where the rear view mirror would be in a regular car.

That space is now optionally occupied by a permanent rear view camera, if you’re prepared to pay the extra for it. A very useful feature in a large van which otherwise has rear visibility limited to the door mirrors, this has reasonable screen resolution and we found it easy to get used to – unlike the blindspot cameras now available on some small vans.

Left-hand drive models also benefit from a new sandwich shelf and drawer-like glovebox. Sadly these are incompatible with right-hand drive, so we have to make do with a rather compact conventional glovebox instead.

• Fuel economy acceptable but not outstanding
• Warranty and servicing intervals starting to look average

Vauxhall is in the midst of switching between the pre- and post- facelift models at the time of writing (September 2019), so some we’ll return to this with full standard equipment details later. The situation with the official claimed fuel economy is also slightly confusing at the moment, as we’ll explain.

Vauxhall Movano mpg

The revised 2.3-litre BiTurbo engines in the 2019 facelift Movano are up to 17% more fuel efficient than the models they replace. Leading the way is the 150hp front-wheel drive model, which where start-stop is fitted (it’s not standard across the range), claims up to 48.4mpg.

Least efficient at the time of writing is the 145hp rear-wheel drive model, which has a claimed figure of 31.4mpg – though we’re still waiting on details of the 165hp versions, which will probably be worse.

As for the confusion noted above, well in addition to change in emissions standards, September 2019 brings a change to the way that some van fuel economy figures are measured.

So called ‘light duty’ models – which includes front-wheel drive Movanos – now have to be tested using a new WLTP process, which is supposed to better reflect real-world driving.

However, ‘heavy duty’ models – including rear-wheel drive Movanos – can still use the older NEDC test, which gives less realistic figures that appear higher on paper.

Because of this mix of figures, some van makers – including Vauxhall – are choosing to still provide NEDC-equivalent figures for light duty vehicles for the sake of comparison.

All of which means you should continue to take the official fuel economy figures with a large pinch of salt.

Vauxhall Movano warranty

All Vauxhall vans are covered by a three-year, 100,000-mile warranty; some older Movanos were offered with a four-year warranty, but the current range is back to three.

That’s a pretty average offering by modern standards – the more premium large van rivals from Mercedes and VW now have unlimited mileage coverage over three years.

Vauxhall Movano servicing intervals

The Movano’s service intervals are every two years or 25,000 miles.

Not bad, but some large vans now claims to go beyond 30,000 miles between dealer visits.

Vauxhall Movano standard equipment

As of the model year 2020 facelift (on sale from September 2019) these are the highlight items of standard equipment:

• Height-adjustable driver's seat with single armrest
• USB and Bluetooth connectivity
• Steering column-mounted audio controls
• Driver's airbag
• Hill-start assist
• Crosswind assist
• Automatic lights and wipers
• Remote locking
• Immobiliser
• ECO gearshift indicator
• Full bulkhed
• Sliding side door on passenger side
• Illuminated load area

As you can see, it's not a huge amount of cutting-edge stuff, which helps keep the basic price down. There is an extensive options list to help you build a suitable van.

• Strong engines, should last well
• Impressively few recalls speaks of good build quality

The Movano has a good reputation for reliability – the 2.3-litre engines are chain driven and generally considered to be pretty tough, and the vehicle has been engineered for a 250,000-mile service life.

Oil change intervals are 25,000 miles, while coolant should last 100,000 miles. Brakes and clutches tend to be tough and long-lasting, too.

There have, however, been reports of gearbox faults. Listen hard for whining noises if buying used. As with most vans, emissions control technology can be troublesome, as can injectors. Keep up with the proper service intervals, though, and this is a van that should last a long while.

Vauxhall Movano official recalls

For a van that’s been around since 2010, it’s impressive to note there have been very few official recalls.

Manufacturing problems that have required fixing including issues with the on-board diagnostics system, a problem with the fuel filter strap and an incorrectly tightened rear suspension component (only 20 Movanos had this issue).

Most serious was a problem with the steering column, which caused Vauxhall to issue an advisory to not drive the vans involved. There were only 160 of these, and they should have all been fixed by now.

If buying used, do make sure all the recall work on any vehicle you’re considering has been properly carried out (there is no charge for recall work).

• Safety kit improved for model year 2020
• Crosswind assist, auto lights, auto wipers as standard
• Most active driver aids are still optional, however

At launch in 2010, the Movano didn’t even have electronic stability control (ESC) as standard across the entire range. This changed in 2014 when it was finally added to front-wheel drive models, but one of the major points of the 2019 facelift was to upgrade this big van’s safety credentials.

Vauxhall Movano safety

All model year 2020 facelift panel van models feature not only ESC but side-wind assistance, which automatically counteracts crosswinds to help the vehicle continue to go where the driver is pointing it, even in blustery conditions.

As you’d expect, you also get a driver’s airbag (a passenger airbag is optional), while automatic light and wipers, hill-start assist, a full bulkhead, large blindspot mirror in the passenger sunvisor, and advanced braking electronics are also part of the standard spec.

Autonomous emergency braking is only standard on vehicles at the higher 4.5-tonne (4,500kg) gross vehicle weight, however, which is a shame.

Optional safety equipment includes automatic high-beam assist, lane-departure warning (not terribly consistent in our experience), blindspot monitors, parking sensors, parking cameras and the innovative permanent rear-view camera.

Cruise control and an adjustable speed limiter are available as well.

NOT recommended by Euro NCAP

The Movano is one of five vans that Euro NCAP is not recommending to buyers following the launch of the crash-testing body's van safety campaign in December 2020.

To be clear, this is not because it performs poorly when crashed, but rather based on the lack availability of modern active safety aids.

Vauxhall Movano security

All Movanos get remote locking with selectable door opening (meaning you can unlock the cab without unlocking the load area, and vice versa) and a immobiliser.

An alarm system is an optional extra, however.