Vauxhall Vivaro Life Review 2024

Make no mistake, the Vauxhall Vivaro Life is a very important vehicle for Vauxhall. Not since the Midi-based Albany has the company produced such a passenger-focused version of its medium size van. 

Gone, then, is the old Vivaro, the last van to be developed as part of a successful 18-year collaboration with Renault, and to replace it comes a van that shares its running gear, engines and most of its bodywork with the Peugeot Expert and Citroen Dispatch, both of which were launched in 2016.

Unlike the French-branded vans, though, the Vivaro is manufactured in the UK at the former GM plant in Luton, which was thrown a substantial lifeline when PSA decided that the plant would become one of its leading van production facilities in Europe.

The Vivaro Life, which is little different from the Peugeot Traveller or Citroen Space Tourer, ticks that box perfectly, especially in high-spec ‘Elite’ trim. There’s also a less salubrious ‘Edition’ specification, which is more aimed at the taxi and wheelchair conversions market.

The Elite, though, is the more appealing of the two, although some will find the price tag of more than £40,000 a little hard to swallow. But then, as vans go, the Vivaro Life is one of the least van-like there is, not least because it’s based on the same mechanical platform that underpins the likes of the Citroen C4 Picasso, Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall’s own Grandland X Crossover.

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Even the most basic models get five seats and a massive load bay, though a third row of (with an extra three seats) is a no-cost option and we’d wonder why you wouldn’t want them, as they’re removable for when they’re not required.

As a five-seater, it’s possible to get a couple of bikes in the boot without having to fold anything out of the way, especially if you opt for the long bodied variant, which adds an extra 350mm behind the rear axle. Nine-seat variants improve the Vivaro's usability for taxi firms, but cut boot space dramatically to just 1.2 cubic metres.

 
Standard equipment is high across the range with entry-level models getting Bluetooth, steering column mounted audio and phone controls, cruise control, electric door mirrors and a pair of side sliding doors.

 
Range-topping Elite models get the option of premium seats, which replace the middle bench with two captain’s chairs that can be rotated to face the rearmost row in conference style, with a fold-up table in the middle - ideal for VIP transfers or for picnics with the family.

 
A further boon comes in the form of power-operated sliding doors, which can be operated from the key fob, while the tailgate comes with a separate opening window for ease of access.

 
Elite models also get temperature-controlled privacy glass in the rear, as well as heated passenger seats and individual climate control switches. Leg, shoulder and headroom is excellent for all, even when travelling with a full complement of passengers.

 
Things are good upfront, too, with an extremely comfortable driver’s seat and intuitive, unfussy controls, along with an excellent (if slightly lofty) driving position. The Vivaro Life’s van origins mean it also gets loads of cabin stowage - deep cup holders, a centre cubby large enough for a flask of tea and useful storage slots for paperwork and maps all add to its incredible practicality.

The ride comfort is a bit bouncy on broken road surfaces and the steering a little numb, with no real feedback, but it’s pleasant enough to trundle along in. And the unsettled ride quality quickly settles down when carrying five passengers and luggage. 

On faster roads, it holds its own - motorway cruising is a cinch, and despite its van origins the Vivaro is remarkably refined, certainly in the 2.0-litre 180PS form with the smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox. 

There’s also a 150PS version of the 2.0-litre engine, which lacks the punch of the 180PS, but delivers sufficient low-gear pull and motorway speed refinement. Vauxhal also offers 100PS and 120PS versions of the 2.0-litre diesel. 

At launch, the 1.6-litre units found in some of the Citroen SpaceTourer and Peugeot Traveller won’t be offered. What’s definitely on the horizon, though, is an electric model in 2020. 

In 180PS form, an eight-speed automatic is standard. Performance is decent, though, with a top speed well in excess of the legal limit at 108mph and 0-60mph in 10.8 seconds, though with 400Nm of torque and the trick eight-speed auto, it’s the in-gear performance that really stands out. It also has an impressive two-tonne towing capacity.

Manoeuvrability is good, too, with an excellent reverse parking camera, huge mirrors and an impressively tight turning circle. A head-up display and touch-screen infotainment system further add to its ease of use.

Vauxhall gives a fuel consumption figure of 37mpg for the 150PS model with a manual gearbox

Stylish, highly-equipped shuttles are in great demand in this market segment. Vauxhall offers leather seats on aluminium rails that allow full and easy adjustment for all versions of the Vivaro Life. Four, seven or eight leather-seat configurations are available. Five, six, eight or nine cloth-seat configurations are also available.

The folding back of the front passenger seat allows the transportation of objects up to 3.50m in length. The removal of the rear seats (which are equally easy to reinstall) raises the total cargo capacity to as much as 3,397 litres.

Luxurious “Lounge” trim is available for the Large versions – in front, seats with massage and electric heating, two movable leather chairs behind, each with a 48cm wide seat cushion. VIP passengers can thus also sit facing each other and enjoy the legroom. The movable table also folds away to provide additional storage space for small objects. Passengers can charge their mobile devices using the 230V plug socket.

All versions of the Vivaro Life are less than 1.90m high and can access typical underground garages – important for use as hotel shuttle. And for the best traction on loose surfaces, the Vivaro Life is equipped with the advanced IntelliGrip traction control.

The Vauxhall MPV features numerous driver assistance systems. A camera and radar monitor the area in front of the vehicle. The system even recognises pedestrians crossing the road and can initiate an emergency braking manoeuver at speeds up to 18mph. 

The intelligent cruise control adjusts the speed to that of the vehicle in front, automatically decelerates and can reduce the speed to 12mph if necessary. Lane-keep assist and drowsiness alert warn drivers if they have spent too much time at the wheel and need a break. High-beam assist, which automatically switches to high or low beam, is activated above 16mph. Also available is the colour head-up display that shows speed, distance to the preceding vehicle and navigation.

The Vivaro Life also offers the Vauxhall Connect telematics service as standard. Helpful functions, such as Live Navigation with real-time traffic information, direct connection with roadside assistance and emergency call, give the driver and passenger’s additional peace of mind. Help can be reached within seconds via the red button. If the seatbelt tensioners or the airbags are deployed, the emergency call is activated automatically.

The large 7.0-inch touchscreen comes with Multimedia and Multimedia Navi infotainment. Both systems feature phone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Multimedia Navi additionally features European navigation with 3D view. Points of interest in large towns are displayed in “Full HD” quality.

As an option, the geography along the route on cross-country journeys is shown very realistically. Thanks to Vauxhall Connect, the navigation system includes real time traffic information for the latest status on the roads. A powerful sound system is available with all trim levels. In the top-of-the-line version, passengers enjoy first class acoustics thanks to ten loudspeakers.