Picture Key
1. Switch on dashboard console engages drive
2. Touchscreen on dashboard gives access to sat nav
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3. Leather seat trim is an upmarket touch
4. Driver’s seat and steering wheel are height-adjustable
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deploying the transmission lever’s B setting whenever appropriate. It can potentially extend your range by several miles and does so smoothly.
power from a 75kWh battery pack that employs a 7.4kW onboard charger; an 11kW charger is up for grabs as an option.
Plug the van into a 100kW DC charger and it should take no more than 45 minutes to take the battery pack from 0% to 80% of its maximum charge, says Vauxhall. Use a 7kW AC charging point instead, the manufacturer adds, and it will take 11 hours 20 minutes to trudge from 0% to 100%. Maximum range between recharges is said to be 205 miles, according to Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) combined figures, with the van consuming roughly 26.8kWh to 28.4kWh for every 60 miles or so it travels. Vivaro Electric comes with a Mode 3 charging cable and the socket it uses is under a flap on the vehicle’s nearside above the front wheel arch. A delayed charging function allows the user to enter a start time to allow the van to be charged overnight at off-peak rates.
Driving
No matter whether it is laden or empty, Vivaro Electric rides as well as can be expected on the UK’s pot-hole-pitted excuses for roads.
@whatvan The handling is impressively-sharp,
too, with steering that responds rapidly to inputs from the driver and makes the van easy to position on the highway. Nor did we have any complaints about the vehicle’s low-speed manoeuvrability, and in-cab noise levels were not especially intrusive. On-highway performance depends heavily on which drive mode you select. Go for Eco and you will get a bit more range, but your ability to accelerate is pretty much strangled as the motor’s output is cut to 59kW/80hp.
The Final Verdict Design
Cabin Ride Refinement Load area Handling/performance Engine/transmission Standard equipment Operating costs
The power setting (100kW/136hp) delivers all the wallop you are likely to need, especially if you are overtaking slower-moving traffic, but drains the battery. Net result? We left Vivaro Electric
in Normal (79kW/107hp) most of the time, which offers the best of both worlds; enough puff to allow you to keep up with other drivers, but without having to worry that your store of on- board energy is depleting too quickly. While you are wondering which drive mode to use, don’t forget about
Operating Service intervals are set at 25,000 miles/two years, although the first service comes at 12,500 miles/ one year. A three-year/100,000- mile warranty protects the vehicle, with the battery covered for eight years/100,000 miles.
The daytime running lights use LEDs, which last a remarkably long time, and the provision of a proper spare wheel – albeit at additional cost – is another reason to be cheerful. Two-coat metallic paint was the only other option on our demonstrator – and should really be included in its steep price – and side protection mouldings should help defend it against minor damage.
8/10 7/10
A stylish but practical package. The stress on safety can only be applauded A comfortable working environment but needs a bigger touchscreen 8/10 Copes well with the UK’s dilapidated highways, no matter if it is laden or unladen 8/10 8/10 7/10 In-cab noise isn’t an issue, and it is without doubt a well-put-together vehicle Easy to access, but needs better protection against minor damage Performance is impressive in Normal or Power mode – but Eco slows you down 8/10 Well-matched and user-friendly, able to pump energy that would otherwise be lost 8/10 Plenty of goodies including SatNav and a reversing camera with a bird’s-eye view 8/10 Decent warranty package and sensible service intervals help keep costs down What Van? subjective rating 7/10
An attractive zero-emission van for local work, but painfully expensive Overall Rating 77/100
October 2023 WhatVan?
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