SWB 1.6 115ps

Good but not perfect

Bought this to run alongside a 2008 Trafic and 2012 Movano, great value for money and superb to drive but there are some issues, I am ignoring the Sportive here, the old Vivaro came with an alarm as standard, this one doesn't, there doesn't appear to be any deadlocking either and the two button remote on the standard van means you cannot lock the cab if the back doors are open, this is unforgiveable, it is available as an optional extra although it is standard on the Sportive.
The dasboard drinks holders will not accept a 500ml drinks bottle - unbelievably careless.
On the plus side, it is quiet and smooth, far better than the Transit Custome I test drove, it still has the straightest sides and best loading floor I have ever found on a van of this size, so far (less than 1000 miles) it is pretty good on diesel, the build quality appears to be superb and it is pretty quick, very, very good seats, it feels solid. Sixth is quite a high ratio and unlike the 2 litre Trafic we run alongside it it is not a gear that gets much use on ordinary roads, despite all the technical jargon the 1.6 turbo 115 just does not have the same grunt as the 2.0 115 but I guess that goes with emission regs and hopefully better fuel economy.
Super van but the poor security and ill thought out dashboard design show a lack of consultation or interest from the designers and here comes a rant - when are van manufacturers going to be forced to fit passenger air bags? I know what their argument is but we all know that it is t***, if you fit passenger seats you accept that there will be passengers - fit air bags!

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