New Vauxhall Vivaro van review

The new Vauxhall Vivaro van has been based on the PSA platform for the very first time, parting ways with the Renault Trafic with which it shared underpinnings since early years of the 21st century. Vansdirect takes a closer look at the new Vauxhall Vivaro van!

New Vauxhall Vivaro van

The Vauxhall Vivaro has been an incredibly popular medium van since joining the new van market in 2001, particularly as it is British built, something that Vauxhall vans are keen to promote. The third generation Vivaro van may still be built in Luton like those before it, however it has undergone a significant overhaul.

Goodbye Renault Trafic

Previous versions of the Vauxhall Vivaro van have been built as part of a joint venture with Renault vans, as a result sharing large amounts with the Renault Trafic van. The acquisition of Vauxhall vans by the PSA Group in 2017 means that the latest Vivaro van has seen wholesale changes under the skin, with the new van sharing underpinnings with the Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace vans.

Still Best of British

As mentioned previously, the Vauxhall Vivaro van is still built in Britain, with the Luton factory which built predecessors having a multi-million pound refit so that manufacturing could continue there. The new Vauxhall Vivaro van is available in two lengths L1 and L2, however unlike the model it has replaced, the extra length is behind the rear axle so both models have the same wheelbase.

Single Roof Height

Like the Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace sister vans, the new Vauxhall Vivaro van will be available with a single roof height, with Vauxhall vans doing away with a high-roof model on the new van. The Vauxhall Vivaro Double Cab continues as part of the line-up, with a second row of seating to create a van with five seats, it is available in the same L1 and L2 lengths as the Vauxhall Vivaro panel van.

How do the dimensions compare to the previous Vauxhall Vivaro?

Overall, the new Vauxhall Vivaro van is narrower and shorter than the model it is replacing in the range and slightly less wide between the wheelarches. Load volumes are however slightly bigger than previously, with a slightly higher roof and less intrusion from the wheelarches. Vauxhall vans are also offering a load-through facility for the standard-fit steel bulkhead which allows you to load long, narrow items into the passenger side footwell. There's also improved payloads on the new van.

Engines

The new medium van is available with a choice of two engines, 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbo diesel units. The 1.5-litre option is available in 100ps and 120ps outputs, whilst the 2.0-litre is available in 120ps, 150ps and 180ps models. All models are front-wheel drive and come with a 6-speed manual transmission, however the 180ps model has an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard. The best performing engine in the range for economy under the latest WLTP tests is the 1.5-litre 120ps engine, delivering up to 47mpg on the test cycle. Economy is helped by all models in the range coming with stop-start technology.

What models are available?

There are three trim levels available with the new Vauxhall Vivaro van: Edition, Sportive and Elite, whilst the naming structure of Vauxhall vans means that every model gets a number that reflects its gross vehicle weight. All Vauxhall Vivaro vans now come with twin sliding side doors, driver and passenger airbags and cruise control. DAB radio with Bluetooth, separate cab and load area locking, electric windows, 12 volt and USB connections are all included as well.

Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive vans add to all of those features with: a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, through-loading bulkhead, plastic wheel trims, metallic paint, automatic lights and wipers and an alarm.

At the top of the range is the Vauxhall Vivaro Elite, which is aimed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed van drivers. These models add a host of luxury features such as: alloy wheels, satellite navigation, front and rear parking sensors and the Vauxhall vans suite of safety kit including lane assist, adaptive cruise control and blind spot alert to name a few.

Interior

If you're replacing your previous Vauxhall Vivaro van with a brand new model, you'll instantly recognise the lower seating position behind the wheel of the new medium van. The new running gear means that the driving position is very car-like and whilst it's still taller than the majority of SUVs, it doesn't quite offer the same commanding driving position of its predecessor. There is however an abundance of seat and wheel adjustment so it is easy to get comfortable in the new van and the seats themselves also offer good levels of support.

The dashboard of the new Vauxhall Vivaro van is identical to one you will find in the Citroen Dispatch and Peugeot Expert vans, meaning most functions are found on the central touchscreen, although the climate controls are separate. Build quality is impressive, with hard wearing plastics featuring which feel solid and robust, whilst there's also useful levels of storage.

The middle passenger seat folds down to offer a table, whilst seat bases open for under-floor storage, this is also where loads come through if you're using the load-through hatch in the bulkhead. Dashboard storage and deep door bins are also offered.

The Verdict

The new Vivaro van is more user friendly than the previous model and should prove very appealing to medium van buyers. The Vauxhall vans badge may also prove more popular in the British market than its Citroen vans and Peugeot vans counterparts. Overall, the new Vauxhall Vivaro appears a very attractive proposition.

New Vauxhall Vivaro offers

Looking for a new medium van? You've come to the right place! Vansdirect have a massive range of brand new medium vans in stock and ready to go, available with cheap van finance options including van leasing, contract hire and hire purchase. Simply fill in a contact form or call us on 0800 169 69 95 to get the ball rolling today!

Want to hear more from Vansdirect? We're also on Facebook and Twitter!