Vauxhall Vivaro van review (2023)

• Exceptionally quiet 1.5-litre engine impresses for light duty
• But 2.0-litre offers more muscle and payload capacity
• Tidy handling, good comfort – except for poor driving position

The Vivaro is a front-wheel drive (FWD) van only, and engine choice is divided between 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines, both badged Turbo D.

There are four power outputs in total:

• 1.5 Turbo D – 100hp / 270Nm
• 1.5 Turbo D – 120hp / 300Nm
• 2.0 Turbo D – 145hp / 340Nm
• 2.0 Turbo D – 180hp / 400Nm

We have so far driven only the 120hp variants of each engine size – although we have also experienced the more powerful engines in the Vauxhall’s sister vans from Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota, and can tell you you’re unlikely to be disappointed by these other motors.

Why buy a 1.5-litre Vauxhall Vivaro?

This is the newer of the two engines – though the 2.0-litre is hardly ancient by any means – and it is impressive from the moment you turn the key.

Not only because it provides more than adequate performance for a medium van in 120hp specification, with plenty of immediate response and smooth acceleration right through the rev range, but also because it is stupendously quiet.

So much so that you’re more likely to be bothered by road noise from the tyres rumbling over poor surfaces than the engine.

Tested with a 400kg weight in the back, we would have no issue recommending this motor for medium-duty work, and its on-paper fuel economy is usefully better than the 2.0-litre’s as well.

Why buy a 2.0-litre Vauxhall Vivaro?

The big advantage the 2.0-litre engine has over the 1.5 is torque. The 2.0-litre’s additional muscle makes for more relaxed progress in every respect except for engine noise.

For the 2.0-litre is also noticeably louder – though still hardly shouty – with a much more pronounced diesel sound as well.

This aside, the mightier response makes the bigger engine better suited to heavier duty work, and indeed, only this 145hp version is rated to carry the full 1.4 tonnes that headlines the Vivaro’s payload ratings.

What’s the Vivaro like to drive?

Pretty good. It still relies on hydraulically-assisted steering, rather than the newer electrically-assisted system some modern vans employ, so there’s a good meaty feel to the wheel that helps you place the van confidently without it becoming overly tiring.

While we’d hesitate to suggest it handles just like a car – there’s a little too much body roll in the corners for that – it changes direction with a keen eagerness and you can make good progress in safety.

Ride comfort is similarly a strong point, with little sign of the niggling pogoing you get from lightly laden Transit Customs, for example. The set-up is clearly quite soft, however, explaining the slightly wallowy feel over off-set bumps, the roll in the corners, and the amount the rear suspension appears to compress with even a modest 400kg load.

What’s the gearbox like?

The change mechanism of the standard six-speed manual gearbox is vague and rather soft-feeling – especially in the 2.0-litre – and it’s easy to imagine mis-selecting gears if driving tired or hurriedly.

What’s more, for some utterly bonkers reason, Vauxhall has kept the awful square gearknob from that Peugeot and Citroen use. But that’s perhaps the least offensive ergonomic problem with these vans – as we’ll detail in the interior section below.

The eight-speed auto, however - which is standard on 180hp models and optional on the 120hp 2.0-litre engine - is one of the best automatic transmissions available on any van.

• Poor driving position
• Cramped and claustrophobic
• Lots of high-tech kit

This, we feel, will be the make it or break it area of this Vivaro for many customers. If you can accept the compromises that the cabin may demand in exchange for the high payload ratings, good fuel economy and pleasant engines, then you’ll likely get along with this Vauxhall just fine.

What’s the problem with the Vivaro’s cab?

Compared with the previous version, and many other mid-size vans on sale, the Vivaro’s cab feels instantly compact and enclosed.

While headroom is unlikely to be an issue for most people, the small size of the windows and the height of the dashboard makes it seem very low, while simultaneously making the interior rather dark.

The closeness of the bulkhead may enforce a more upright driving position than some people would prefer, too, and if you regularly need to travel three-up in the cab do check that you can all fit comfortably – there is noticeable less shoulder room than in the previous Vivaro, and knee room for the centre passenger is severely restricted by the gearlever pod.

The driving ergonomics are the real killer here, though.

What’s wrong with the driving position?

While there are plenty of vans guilty of not completely aligning the steering wheel, pedals and driver, the extent to which the Vivaro and its sister vans suffer with this is enough to put us right off them.

The steering wheel in particular is so noticeably off-set to the left (in right-hand drive vehicles) that it’s hard to fathom in such a modern vehicle. That the pedals are then set to the right leaves you sitting in a twisted position, which although not immediately problematic is not something we would be happy about if we were faced with regularly covering long distances.

In other words, if you do mostly short journeys in your van, this probably isn’t a problem. But high mileage drivers should think very carefully about choosing one of these.

Is there much storage in the cab?

The lower door bins are large, there’s a proper glovebox, a couple of cubbies and a covered dash-top storage area. But no option of overhead storage bins, and the area below the radio that should be suitable for holding a phone (so you can plug it into the infotainment – see below) is too small for modern smartphones.

Models fitted with the FlexCargo load-through bulkhead (which is most Vivaros) get an outer passenger seat that folds up and out of the way, leaving additional in-cab storage for boxes if required when you’re not taking advantage of the extended load length this also makes possible; a cargo net can be fixed in place for safety in this situation.

Modern infotainment systems, high-tech options

All versions of the Vivaro get DAB radio and Bluetooth, with the Sportive model – expected to be the bestseller – adding a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Top-spec Elite adds built-in sat-nav.

The Vivaro is available with a host of modern safety systems and some unusual gadgets for a van. These include a head-up display (a little screen ahead of the windscreen in front of the driver that shows key info, so you don’t have to glance away from the road to see sat-nav directions and speed, for example), plus electrically operated side doors that you can activate by swinging your foot under the rear bumper.

Handy, so to speak, if you’ve got your hands full.

All Vivaro vans get twin sliding side loading doors as standard, regardless.

Are entry-level models noisier than higher spec ones?

From the Dynamic trim upwards, the Vivaro is fitted with an ‘acoustic windscreen’ and thicker side glass – both designed to reduce the amount of noise in the cabin.

This means the entry-level Edition is going to be a noisier and less pleasant place to spend time, even before you consider the lack of air-conditioning standard on the rest of the range) and other creature comforts.

• 60mpg claim (under out-going regulations)
• Service intervals up to 30,000 miles
• Lots of standard equipment

With lengthy service intervals combined with impressive on-paper fuel economy, the Vivaro should prove inexpensive to run.

Standard equipment levels are such that you won’t feel short-changed, either, especially given competitive dealer pricing.

Vauxhall Vivaro mpg

This third-generation Vivaro launched in June 2019, just ahead of the introduction of a new set of emissions regulations in September 2019 (known as Euro 6D Temp or Euro 6.2), which change the way fuel economy is measured. As such, two sets of figures are available: NEDC and WLTP.

WLTP is the newer version, and you’ll see that fuel economy doesn't look as impressive as under NEDC, as WLTP is supposed to better reflect real-world driving.

As such, under the NEDC regulations, the most efficient Vivaro variant – the 120hp 1.5-litre – claims 60.1mpg. This falls to 47.0mpg under the WLTP Combined High test or 40.9mpg under WLTP Combined Low.

Still, even with the newer WLTP regs, every Vivaro claims over 40mpg for the High test, and at least mid-30s for Low.

Taking the most efficient versions, the 2.0-litre engine is said to return around seven or eight mpg less than the 1.5, though this situation may reverse in real-world situations where you’re regularly carrying very heavy loads, as the 2.0-litre will be less stressed in those circumstances.

Vauxhall Vivaro servicing

The 1.5-litre engine requires servicing every 25,000 miles, while the service intervals for the 2.0-litre engine are every 30,000 miles – both should be seen at least every two years.

Not bad, but the Ford Transit Custom has 36,000-mile service intervals (unless prompted early by the on-board computer).

In 2019, Vauxhall launched its new Van Business Centres programme. These new business hubs not only offer a complete range of demo vans for test driving and dedicated sales staff, they also have extended servicing hours to better suit business customers.

While the exact hours vary between centres, all of them must give you the option to drop a van off by 5pm and collect it with routine servicing completed before 10am the next day. Failing that you should be able to get a loan van so you can carry on working.

At the time of writing there are already 62 hubs in operation, and their performance is being monitored on a quarterly basis, all in the name of minimising downtime for van owners and operators. Good news.

Vauxhall Vivaro warranty

The Vivaro is covered by a three-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

Pretty standard, so no complaints – although you can get essentially the same van with a Toyota badge, and said Proace comes with a five-year warranty. Which may be worth thinking about.

Vauxhall Vivaro standard equipment

These are the standard equipment highlights for the three Vivaro trim levels – note that details of safety and security kit are covered in that section of this review, below.

Vauxhall Vivaro Edition standard equipment highlights:

• DAB radio
• Bluetooth
• 12v socket
• USB connection
• Remote locking
• Electric windows
• Electric, heated door mirrors
• Twin sliding side load doors
• Cruise control
• Speed limiter
• 16-inch steel wheels
• Full-size spare wheels

Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive standard equipment highlights (in addition to Edition):

• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Air-conditioning
• Rear parking sensors
• FlexCargo load-through bulkhead
• Six-way adjustable driver’s seat with centre armrest
• Dual passenger bench seat with fold flat centre
• Metallic paint
• Body-coloured front and rear bumpers
• Body-coloured door mirrors, door handles and side mouldings
• Front foglights
• LED daytime running lights
• Automatic lights and wipers
• Acoustic windscreen and thickened side glass for increased refinement
• 16-inch steel wheels with full trims

Vauxhall Vivaro Elite standard equipment highlights (in addition to Sportive):

• Connected 3D Navi sat-nav
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Electric folding door mirrors
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Vast increase in standard safety equipment (see below)

• Early safety recalls are slightly concerning

While this Vivaro only launched in 2019, it’s based on vans that have been on sale since 2016, and there are no significant reports of major reliability issues. Besides which, the 1.5-litre engine is new for 2019, so that one is difficult to judge at this stage, regardless.

However, there are signs that build quality and engineering of the Citroen and Peugeot versions haven’t been everything they could have been, as there have been a large number of safety related recalls since they were launched – something you can easily check via the UK government’s Vehicle Recalls website.

These issues range from potential over-heating issues to suspension and steering problems, in other words, they really are quite serious.

The good news for Vauxhall buyers is that the Vivaro’s comparatively late launch means most such issues should have already been worked out by now.

It may also be worth remembering that the Vivaro isn’t built in the same factory as the French equivalents sold in the UK prior to its arrival – instead it’s made in Luton at a plant with a strong reputation for quality work.

Safety recalls

However, while there hasn't been repeats of the Peugeot Citroen problems, this Vivaro has already faced safety recalls for water getting in through the wheelarches - and potentially causing the airbags to malfunction - and problems with 'several' of the rear axle bolts.

Only relatively small numbers of vans have been recalled for these issues, though.

• Plenty of safety kit available
• Shame more of it isn’t standard

The Vivaro is based on a platform that’s also used for cars, and this is good news for the availability of safety equipment.

What safety equipment is fitted as standard?

All Vivaros get two airbags, electronic stability control and hill-start assist as standard, plus cruise control and speed limiter.

Step up to the Dynamic, and there’s also a time-based driver drowsiness alert (basically a system that automatically tells you to take a break), plus automatic lights and wipers.

Range-topping Elite goes way further, however, including lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, Intelligent Speed Adaptation (which automatically adjust the cruise control to the legal limit), a Driver Attention Alert system (which monitors for signs of sleepiness), automatic high beam assist and blind spot monitors.

Is the Vauxhall Vivaro available with autonomous emergency braking?

It is, but it’s only optional – which is a shame.

Similarly, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and a head-up display are all available as extra safety items, if you’re prepared to pay the extra cost.

What is the Vauxhall Vivaro Intelligrip option?

This is an enhanced traction control system that, together with rugged all-season tyres and a few other modifications, is designed to make the Vivaro easier to drip in low-grip situations.

A dial located on the dashboard allows you to easily select settings for different kinds of slippery surface, from snow right through to moderate off-road work.

We’re yet to test it in the Vauxhall, but experience with the same system in other vans tells us it should work surprisingly well.

Euro NCAP Silver award

The Vivaro was awarded a Silver rating in the first round of van safety checks published by Euro NCAP in December 2020, as part of a van safety campaign that intends to highlight and improve the best vans for safety.

How secure is the Vauxhall Vivaro?

All models come with remote locking and deadlocks, and the ability to unlock the cab and load area separately.

But the entry-level Edition trim misses out on an alarm, which is only standard from Dynamic upwards.