Vauxhall Vivaro Electric van review (2023)

• Quiet, refined and comfortable
• Easy to drive with automatic transmission
• Plenty of performance, reliable range estimates

Whether you’ve been diesel all your life or are already used to electric vans, we think you’re going to be impressed with the driving experience of the Vivaro Electric.

It probably helps that the Vivaro platform has been designed for electric power since day one, but this is a really smooth integration of this modern drivetrain technology, which shows up the limitations of some less well-adapted vehicles.

What powers the Vivaro Electric?

Whichever battery size you choose, the Vivaro Electric is powered by a 100kW electric motor, which drives the front wheels. That’s equivalent to 136hp, which puts in roughly in the middle of the diesel options Vauxhall also offers, and comes with an accompanying 260Nm of torque.

That doesn’t sound like much muscle, but as with all electric vehicles, this punch arrives basically instantly, getting the van moving swiftly and easily. In fact, it feels pretty quick.

A choice of three driving modes – Normal, Eco and Sport – help you balance performance against range, though in practice we found you’ll still go a good distance even in the most powerful setting.

What’s the Vivaro Electric like to drive?

Around town the electric drive makes the Vivaro Electric nippy, accelerating with an almost rocket-like whoosh. And as with all versions of this van, the ride is comfortable and the steering well judged. You’ll be slinging it about in no time, until you remember you’ve got fragile gear in the back.

Top speed is limited to 81 mph, but it will get up to those speeds more than swiftly enough. It makes a variety of electrical noises in the process, but is much quieter than any diesel, even the impressively hushed Vivaro variants. There’s no vibration of any kind to worry about, either.

The electric motor requires only a single-speed transmission, so there are no gears to change or clutches to wear out in traffic here – adding to the relaxed nature of the Vivaro Electric’s progress. You simply select Drive and go; you might need to check it’s switched on first, since it’s that quiet.

What do the driving modes do?

Unlike the driving mode selector in some conventional vehicles, we know exactly what each of the Vivaro Electric’s three driving modes do.

It always starts in Normal mode, which makes sense as it’s the most-rounded blend of performance and efficiency. This setting restricts the motor to 80kW, equivalent to 109hp – the sort of power many regular diesel van drivers typically suffer with. Initial response is still strong, so you’ll only really notice the difference between this and Sport if you’ve really got your foot down.

The Eco setting goes further, and cuts the motor back to 60kW (81.5hp) while reducing the power consumption of things like the air-conditioning system, which will also help extend the driving range. Switching to this you should instantly see the remaining driving range display in the instrument cluster gain a few miles. Useful if things are looking tight, and still with enough performance to be perfectly driveable if you aren’t carrying too much weight onboard.

As you’ve probably guessed, it’s only the Sport mode that gives you the full 100kW or 136hp. The most obvious practical repercussion of this – aside from a slight reduction in the predicted remaining range – is that the electric motor feels stronger for longer when accelerating hard. A useful option to have if you’ve got a heavy payload (or are late for that next job), but for the most part we were more than satisfied cruising about in the Normal setting.

What’s the driving range really like?

Initially we were very impressed with how accurate the Vivaro Electric's range prediction appeared to be. And indeed, if you drive it sensibly, this will still be the case.

However, if you put your foot down, especially after the van has been in the hands of a more considered driver, you will see the driving range plummet almost alarmingly.

Having said that, the van does seem to recalibrate itself to different driving styles very quickly (much more so than in many other electric vehicles), making the driving range more accurate again. It also doesn't take much modification to the way you drive to improve the efficiency, either.

There is a boosted energy regeneration setting, activated by a B (for Brake) button on the centre console. This increases the amount of energy the electric motor turns back into electricity when you slow down, increasing the speed with which it comes to a stop in the process.

Use it, and you’ll be gently recharging the batteries every time you release the accelerator – which works very well around town. At higher speeds it’s better left off, though, as allowing the van to coast is more efficient than slowing too much and having to speed up again.

As with all electric vehicles, you will find that driving range in winter is much lower than in summer. Something you need to take into account, as recharging isn't as simple and quick as putting in more fuel.

• Limited interior makeover covers electric van essentials
• Push-button gear selector
• Same small cab and poor driving position

There are no real surprises in the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric’s cab interior. This will be good or bad, depending on how much you like the diesel models.

What is different inside?

The instrument cluster is slightly different, showing remaining range and giving you a power meter in place of the usual rev counter. This shows you not only how much more energy you’re using whenever you accelerate hard but also the amount you’re gaining whenever you slow down. Surprisingly fascinating stuff.

Look closer still and you'll find there's also a dedicated gauge to show you how much energy the heating and ventilation system is consuming. This is genuinely useful for maximising your driving range and not a gimmick.

Elsewhere you’ll find there’s a dedicated energy-flow display on the central touchscreen, while the usual gearlever or rotary gear selector has been banished from the centre console. Replaced by push-buttons for Drive, Reverse, Park and Brake, and a rocker switch for the driving modes.

So what’s the bad news?

Turning the Vivaro into a planet-saving electric van can’t fix the size of the cab – which some may find cramped, and certainly isn’t very roomy for three – nor the offset driving position. The mirrors are relatively small as well.

Just things to consider while you work out just how much you don’t want to drive a diesel van any more.

• Low cost per mile balances-out higher asking price
• Eight-year battery warranty (but just three for the rest of the van)
• Lots of standard equipment

Electricity costs less per mile than diesel, so although the Vivaro Electric is more expensive to buy than its conventional siblings, it should also prove cheaper to run.

This does depend somewhat on your electricity tariff, and where you charge it, though. The fastest public chargers can be very expensive – but that’s the price you pay for necessity and convenience.

Best operating practice for one of these will be to plug it into nice and cheap off-peak electricity every night, supplied by an energy that offers a special electric vehicle tariff. And then driving it within its range capability during your working day. Simples – as long as you have got somewhere you can charge it this way.

Tax costs are also less for electric vehicles, reducing your annual expenses.

Vauxhall Vivaro Electric service intervals

The Vivaro Electric should be cheaper to maintain than the diesel models, since there are fewer moving parts, fluids and filters to change. Use the motor’s B (for Brake) setting, and you could be even easier on your mechanical discs and pads.

Actual servicing intervals are 25,000 miles or two years, whichever is sooner – though the first service should be completed after one year or 12,500 miles.

Vauxhall Vivaro Electric warranty

While most of the van is covered by Vauxhall’s standard three-year / 100,000-mile warranty, the battery components get extra reassurance in the form of an eight-year / 100,000-mile warranty.

A battery certification programme will be used to reassure secondhand buyers that used vans can still do the big range business, which should help keep values strong. That said, it isn't very likely you will need to replace the battery anyway.

Standard equipment

The Vivaro Electric comes in a choice of three trim levels: Prime, Pro and GS. It was launched in 2020 with Dynamic and Elite trims, but these were replaced in late 2022, at which point the GS was added to the line up.

Vauxhall Vivaro Electric Prime standard equipment highlights:

• Twin sliding side doors
• Full metal bulkhead
• Air conditioning
• Cruise control and speed limiter
• Hill-start assist
• Six-way adjustable driver’s seat
• Dual front passenger seat with under-seat storage
• Automatic lights and wipers
• Rear parking sensors
• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Electric, heated door mirrors
• Alarm
• Rear parking sensors
• Vauxhall Connect system

Vauxhall Vivaro Electric Pro standard equipment highlights (in addition to Prime):

• FlexCargo load-through bulkhead
• Satellite-navigation
• Voice control
• Second USB socket
• Front parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Metallic paint

Vauxhall Vivaro Electric GS standard equipment highlights (in addition to Pro)

• GS styling with bespoke front bumper, side skirts, rear spoiler and chrome-effect front grille
• 18-inch black alloy wheels
• GS badging
• Leather seats with red stitching
• Leather-covered steering wheel
• Head-up display
• Lane-departure warning
• Blindspot monitors
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Semi-adaptive cruise control

The standard Vivaro – and its cousins – already have a long trail of official recalls behind them, which you can either consider highly worrying or the sign of a conscientious van maker that doesn’t brush problems under the carpet.

The Vivaro Electric is still relatively new as a standalone model and there are no specific recalls for the EV version, although it will still be subject to some of the wider Vivaro recalls so be sure to check the work has been done. However, the drivetrain is less mechanically complicated than a diesel engine, which is promising.

• Lots of safety kit available, if you’re prepared to pay for it
• Euro NCAP Silver award
• Alarm fitted as standard

If it’s safety kit you’re after, go for the GS trim level.

The standard Vivaro Electric Prime covers the basics – driver’s airbag, electronic stability control (ESC) – but only GS comes as standard with modern active safety aids such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blindspot monitors and lane-departure warning.

This is all the stuff that Euro NCAP has tested in the standard Vivaro when evaluating van safety, earning it a reasonable Silver award.

The head-up display fitted to Pro models is also useful, since it helps you keep your eyes on the road while checking your speed and other functions.

As for security, all versions of the Vivaro Electric come with a standard-fit alarm. Good show.