Last Updated: 16/06/2008
Too good to be forgotten
It’s been a while since we’ve had the chance to get behind the wheel of Vauxhall’s popular Vivaro mid-weight van. We’d forgotten just how good this van is, and how big a step forward it represented when it was originally launched back in 2002.The van has had a bit of a mid-life facelift recently, with a new V grille and revised light clusters at the front and clear lenses at the back, along with new bumpers and wheel covers. However the bigger news is what’s happened under the skin, with Euro IV 2.0 litre engines replacing the most popular 1.9 litre CDTi motors and the option of the TecShift automated manual transmission on the smaller engines for the first time.
Originally TecShift was only a possibility with the larger 2.5 litre engine, which limited its appeal somewhat. But now that you can have it on the more run of the mill 2.0 litre motor, at least in 115hp guise, we thought that the time might be right to have another look.
The 2.0 litre CDTi engine is available with 90hp or 115hp, up from 82hp and 100hp on the old 1.9 litre. The engine also boasts up to 26 per cent more pulling power, with torque up to 240Nm and 290Nm for the 90hp and 115hp motors respectively.
Despite all that, Vauxhall claims no additional fuel consumption with the Euro IV engine. It says that you should be achieving a combined figure of around 40.5mpg for either of the 2.0 litre engines and we can certainly confirm that this is one frugal van. On one run we got well above 550 miles on the clock before the fuel light came on, but then the van does have a 90 litre fuel tank.
Our short wheelbase model was equipped with the 115hp engine and the six-speed TecShift gearbox, which is a winning combination from the driver’s seat. I’ve always been a fan of TecShift and it’s been a great shame that only those people buying the more expensive 2.5 litre engined van had the chance to try it. Perhaps now the percentage opting for this cracking transmission will rise out of single figures at last.
For those who haven’t tried it, TecShift is a standard six-speed manual transmission with an automated gear changing system. To all intents and purposes it can be driven as an automatic, or as a clutchless manual if you want to push the lever forward for upshifts and back for down changes.
As with so many automated manuals, most people tend to try the manual option for a few minutes, realise that they are not as smooth as the automated function and leave it in auto from then on. Certainly the TecShift control is very good at slurring through the gears, and very quick to change down if it thinks you need to.
With some of these boxes I tend to use the manual functions when approaching roundabouts, to get a bit more engine braking, but TecShift seems to be ahead of you here too. In short, it works. Very well. All of which leaves the driver free to steer and manoeuvre the van, and to maintain concentration on the road ahead.
Certainly the 2.0 litre engine has plenty of pulling power and will push the Vivaro along at a fair pace. Our van came with a full steel bulkhead, resulting in a very quiet cab environment, and with the short gear selection lever sprouting from the dash there is even room for a third person to put their legs if you opt for the double passenger seat.
With a low 4E/5E insurance rating, 3 year/100,000 mile warranty and that low fuel consumption, it’s easy to see why Vivaro has become such a popular sight on UK roads. Now with the addition of the 115hp, 2.0 litre engine and the TecShift transmission, the van has quite simply got even better.
