Vauxhall Movano Electric Review 2024

Up until the latest generation, the Vauxhall Movano Electric has been a van with limited appeal – desirable for its size and versatility, but hampered by steep pricing and a limited range. But for the latest model the battery range has increased by over 100 miles and the price has been slashed by over 20%. Does it now make sense? Read our full Vauxhall Movano Electric review to find out. 

The original Vauxhall Movano Electric had a difficult gestation – based on the 2021-on Movano that shared its bodywork and engines with the Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and Fiat Ducato. As a large van, it was a capable machine, but it lacked the versatility of its predecessor, which was a joint venture van built alongside the ultra-versatile Renault Master.

The electric variant debuted soon after launch, but in electric van terms was always a bit of an also-ran, initially with a range of 139 miles from its 70kWh battery and then 154 miles thanks to a 75kWh unit. Both drove well but represented a compromise thanks to their limited range and high list price.

Today, it’s a more convincing option. As well as being over £12,000 less expensive to buy, the latest Vauxhall Movano Electric is powered by an electric motor producing 272PS and 400Nm of torque – increases of 150PS and 140Nm over its predecessor. Thanks to the new 110kWh battery, it can now cover up to 261 miles (WLTP) on a single charge and is equipped as standard with a three-phase 11kW onboard charger. It is also the first Vauxhall capable of charging at 150kW from a DC rapid charger, enabling a 0-80% charge in just 55 minutes. For most van drivers, that makes it eminently more usable.

Just one trim level is available – Prime – and there’s a wide range of body styles, with a choice of three vehicle lengths, two wheelbases and three heights, as well as Panel Van, Window Van, chassis Double Cab, platform and back-to-back versions ideal for converters. At its largest, the Vauxhall Movano Electric has a cargo volume of 17 cubic metres and a payload of up to two tonnes.

Additional practicality is provided by an optional 230V socket, positioned in the centre of the dashboard. This helps to easily charge electrical devices such as laptops, electric tool batteries, tablets and other low power appliances that require electricity up to 150 Watts.

An extensive array of safety systems is included, with a rear-view parking camera, rear parking sensors, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed assist as standard.

It also gets a new 10-inch touchscreen with TomTom sat nav, keyless entry, an electronic parking brake, automatic air conditioning and a new seven-inch digital instrument cluster.

In essence, then, the Vauxhall Movano is a huge forward leap over its predecessor – of that, make no mistake. But there are still many areas in which the basic van really shows its age, and for some buyers the improvements won’t be enough to disguise the fact that the Vauxhall Movano Electric is based on an aged design that can trace its roots back to 2006.

As well as improvements to its electric range, the latest Vauxhall Movano Electric has more than double the payload of its predecessor – up from 710kg to 1500kg. That’s still not as much as the 2.2-litre diesel model, but it’s a vast improvement.

In panel van form it can be chosen in two lengths and two roof heights, all of which are pretty vast. In its maximum capacity it has a load volume of 17 cubic metres, while load lengths vary from 2.58 metres in medium double cab layout to 4.38m in long wheelbase format.

The cabin is reasonably well-trimmed and the passenger seat includes a drop-down desk unit, with up to 10 additional in-cab storage areas including a huge glovebox, document clip and multiple lidded compartments on the dash.

Inside, there have been substantial improvements, too – a new digital instrument display showing range and battery percentage and a 10-inch touchscreen covering all major controls, as well as inductive smartphone charging, TomTom navigation and speech recognition. A mains socket in the dash is a useful option, ideal for powering items such as laptops with up to 150w charging requirements.

The optional folding bench-seat turns the cockpit into a movable, practical work surface or a small table with a cup holder, while keyless entry is a further benefit. It’s a thorough modernisation, at odds with the van itself, which shows its age in other areas.

Only one battery option is offered on the Vauxhall Movano Electric – a 110kWh unit with a 272PS electric motor – a huge increase of 150PS over its predecessor. It also has 410Nm of instant torque, so it’s quick off the mark even when fully laden.

Its 261-mile claimed range is excellent for a large electric van and puts it right at the top of the class. Depending on preferences, drivers of the Vauxhall Movano Electric can choose from three driving modes to make optimal use of the performance and range: “Normal” (limited to 160 kW power output), “Eco” for range optimisation (120 kW) and “Power” for maximum performance (200 kW). Irrespective of the driving mode, the full performance is always available with the kick-down function. Drivers can also set four levels of regenerative braking using paddles behind the steering wheel.

The Vauxhall Movano Electric is equipped as standard with a three-phase 11 kW onboard charger for AC charging. It is also the first Vauxhall model to offer the option of charging with up to 150 kW DC. At a public fast charging station, it will recharge to 80 per cent of the battery capacity in 55 minutes, again adding to its viability as a functional long-distance large van.

There are also over 20 driver assistance systems. The electric power steering automatically adjusts the assistance to the speed of the vehicle, adding to stability at speed and manoeuvrability around town.

In addition to traffic sign recognition, forward collision alert with emergency braking and side blind-spot alert, there are new systems such as drowsiness alert, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with “Stop & Go” function, 360-degree parking sensors, parking assist and a digital rear view mirror that further improves all-round visibility, albeit a little confusing as it makes following vehicles appear much closer than they are.

All of this is of course welcome and useful, but the systems can’t disguise the Vauxhall Movano’s inherent age. The basic van can trace its roots back to 2006 and while the latest generation is laden with tech features, the harsh truth is that it has weaknesses that can’t be papered over. The ride is crashy and bouncy, especially on broken road surfaces, and there’s a lot of road noise transmitted into the cabin. Other large vans are much sharper to drive – but if you want a useful and practical electric load carrier with a good payload and impressive range, you may well be happy to overlook this.