Vauxhall Vivaro Electric Review 2024

Already the market leader for mid-size plug-in vans in the UK, the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric has been given a facelift and – more importantly – a much improved electric range. If you’re ready to make the switch to electric power it could very well be the van for you – read our full Vauxhall Vivaro Electric review to find out.

The Vauxhall Vivaro Electric has seen almost 5,000 new registrations up to 2024 and is heavily marketed to fleet users with Vauxhall currently holding an impressive 29% of the UK electric van market across its three electric models – the Vauxhall Combo Electric, Vauxhall Vivaro Electric and Vauxhall Movano Electric. But with a raft of recent revisions and a new, bigger battery and a longer range it now has greater appeal to private and small business users.

The latest version now benefits from a range of up to 217 miles (WLTP), an increase of 12 miles over the outgoing model. Its 75kWh battery can be charged using the standard 7.4kW onboard charger (an 11kW charger is optional), while a 5-80% charge takes a very competitive 45 minutes at a 100kW public charger. A unique feature in the market is its ‘e-Power Take-off Unit’, which can be used to supply smaller tools or fridge units for cooled vans with power from the main battery.

It has the same load space as the standard diesel Vauxhall Vivaro because the batteries are neatly installed under the floor and the electric motor is under the bonnet, where the engine would be on a diesel model.

Total power output is 134bhp, with a top speed of 84mph. There are two trim levels: Prime and Pro and GS.

As standard, the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric is equipped with a 10-inch HD touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring and Vauxhall Connect data services. The infotainment can also be operated through voice recognition and the steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Key driving information is displayed in a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, while paddle shifters now allow drivers to choose from three levels of regenerative braking, the most powerful of which will restore kinetic energy to the battery while slowing the van to walking pace.

Prime trim includes a wide range of safety and driver assist features, such as a full-height steel bulkhead, rear parking sensors, intelligent speed assistance, lane keep assist and driver attention alert. Pro trim adds Vauxhall’s new Dynamic Surround View, which includes a digital rear view mirror and passenger side camera, blind spot detection, flank guard detection of fixed obstacles, a 180-degree rear parking camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Other additions on Pro trim include an upgraded infotainment system with satellite navigation, ECO LED “Intellilux” self-dipping headlights and front fog lights. Visual enhancements include 17-inch steel wheels with full-diameter wheel trims (or optional 17-inch alloy wheels), body-colour front and rear bumpers, side-mouldings and door handles. A FlexCargo load-through bulkhead, power-folding door mirrors and fold-flat centre seat backrest provide a flat work surface, tool.

The van comes with a three-year 100,000-mile warranty, with an eight-year 100,000-mile warranty on the battery pack. Three years roadside assistance is also included. 

There are two body lengths offered on the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric – the standard L1 or the longer and more capacious L2.

The cargo volume is impressive for the van’s modest dimensions, matching the diesel Vauxhall Vivaro at 5.3 cubic metres in the L1 and 6.1 cubic metres in the L2, with a spacious and easily accessible load bay and several options for securing loads. The payload is 1226kg - less than the diesel model due to the additional weight of the electric van’s batteries, but still impressive for an electric model. Similarly, it is only rated to tow 1,000kg as opposed to the 2,500kg of the non-electric model.

The Vauxhall Vivaro Electric gets =twin side loading doors and a choice of a tailgate or twin rear barn doors. Load lengths for L1 and L2 versions are 2.51 and 2.86m respectively, extendable by another 1.16m on models with the optional load-through hatch.

In terms of charging, it’ll take around 11 hours to recharge the 75kWh battery using a 7.4kW wallbox, but 100kW DC rapid-charging capability means a 5-80% charge can be completed in 45 minutes with a fast-charger.

Compared with the outgoing model, the new Vauxhall Vivaro Electric has a much more modern cockpit with a new digital instrument binnacle showing remaining range, charge level and battery regeneration alongside a digital speedometer.

Drive is selected via a toggle switch on the centre console and the three levels of regenerative braking assistance are selectable via a paddle shifter by the steering wheel. The stronger assistance takes some getting used to as it slows the van quite rapidly when you lift off the throttle, but it’s easy to become accustomed with after a few miles.

There are three driving models – Eco, Normal and Power. You’ll only hit maximum range in Eco, which dulls the throttle response but is fine for urban use. Normal is the default all-round setting but reduces range by about 10-15% and Power gives the van a surprising turn of pace but will eat the battery fairly quickly, meaning it should only be used for overtaking manoeuvres or slip roads.

Otherwise, the cabin is comfortable, well-trimmed and practical with lots of well thought-out storage points on top of the dash and a flip-up passenger seat with further storage options beneath.

On the road, it’s pleasantly refined with very little in the way of road noise, while the steering is light and the ride well-composed.

Visibility is good all-round and the new Dynamic Surround View package aids this further, though the camera-operated rear-view mirror does give the impression of objects being closer than they are – it’s easier to rely on the mirrors and parking sensors to complete reverse parking manoeuvres, for example.

Overall, though, it’s an impressive van to drive – usable, functional and with the increased range it’s a viable proposition for those who don’t cover hundreds of miles a day. As electric vans go, it’s a very good proposition.