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VANS VAUXHALL VIVARO 1.911112700 SWB
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0 ur Vivaro is generously specced, with nearly three grand's worth of extras on board. Some goodies we would be more likely to spend our own money on than others— probably our first tick on the "driver's treat" options list would go against the most expensive: a E75o radio/CD/sat-nay system. Like real home-made tiramisu, once you've tried it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it, and Vauxhall is to be commended for making it available at a sensible cost. Second choice would have to be boo for ABS, then £125 for the remote central locking and alarm.
Given the restricted rear vision thanks to the central headrest and the door frame, we'd be tempted to forgo the glazed rear doors. In
itself this would save nothing, but it would remove the temptation to spend p5o on heating and wiping the window. At £75, the full steel bulkhead, with or without glazed panel, is a "must-have" bargain, for driver and load security and for noise suppression.
But the biggest bargain must be the uprated engine. For just £600 over the cost of the 1.9DT, the I.9DTI gives you an extra i8hp, 5oNm and a sixth gear, which combine to give better potential economy, better performance and an altogether more civilised environment.
PRODUCTIVITY
We've just carried out our first fuel check on the long-term Vivaro. With 4,000 miles behind it, it's some way from being fully loosened up, but it still achieved 34.mpg laden, almost 3mpg better than on our original Vivaro road test. It's also getting closer to the 36.2mpg we squeezed out the 8ohp Renault Trafic, which scuppered our belief that a more powerful engine doing the same job should be more economical, especially with a gearbox with an extra overdrive gear ratio.
Journey times are not an issue. Even fully laden the Vivaro will keep going well after your conscience has cried enough (we hope). On our Kent test route, it maintained the speed limit up the M20 climb past Wrotham with hardly any extra pressure on the
throttle pedal and climbed the punishing Titsey Hill, laden, in a better time than some similar sized vehides managed empty The Vivaro 2700's 942kg net payload is competitive within its class; and if more is needed, another 200kg is available at a cost of LI per kg (see box). Access to the 5.orn5 load space is easy. As long as you mind your head, the wide side door and 538mm floor height at the rear doors make jumping in and out no problem, even for older knees. Not that there's much need, as there's only a little bit of the loadspace (at the driver's side front) that can't be reached with a gentle stretch from the doors. If that's still too much, £250 will buy another side door.
ON THE ROAD
No-one who has sampled the Vivaro dynamic experience has failed to enthuse over its refinement, which hides the true extent of its performance. Its power is delivered so softly that it's easy to underestimate how much momentum you've gained. Mid-range acceleration is strong, even in sixth, although if you're really in a hurry, fifth will cover most eventualities,
The engine noise level from cold is impressively low thanks to the carefully controlled common-rail injection. On the move, the ride is smooth and noise levels are still low, apart from some wind noise at high speed.
It really is possible to substitute the Vivaro for a car on any journey. The only dissenting voice has come from CM'S lankiest tester, who complained of sore knees after a long drive with splayed legs pressed against the door and the gear lever plinth, and a stiff neck from trying to sec beneath the screen header.
For everyone else, the cab has proved a pleasant place lobe. Access is easy, the seats are comfy and everything is to hand (a coat hook would be nice, though). The pale bluegrey trim, especially on the doors, has already shown itself to be vulnerable to attracting dirty marks, but fortunately is just as easy to clean. The only change we've made is to invest 112 in one of Dashmount's excellent non-damaging phone brackets.
Vivaro life hasn't been totally without incident a number of minor niggles include the "airbag failure" and "service due" warning lights staying lit on half a dozen occasions, but this seems to have fixed itself. Other minor glitches are a vanishing retainer for the plastic engine cover, a slightly short-of-grip sun visor clip and an occasional smell of diesel outside the van (although no leak is visible). Mind you, none of these has been serious enough for a visit to a dealer.
SUMMARY
The first time we drove a Vivaro, we believed that Vauxhall (and Renault) had a winner on their hands. But ultimately, what we write in our notebooks is of little importance compared with what buyers write in their cheque books. judging by the numbers appearing on the roads, backed up by the sales figures, the van buying public also seems convinced. We've been mildly disappointed by the handful of very minor problems encountered on this example, but none of them have affected the Vivaro's ability to do the job. When the full range is in place (see box) the Vivaro is certain to be the success story its makers intended.
• By Colin Barnett