NEWS ANALYSIS: Vauxhall sets sights on PSA-driven sales bounce

Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2019

July arrival: the new Vivaro

(continued from previous page) Standard equipment with Edition trim includes hill-start assist, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, cruise control, and digital radio with Bluetooth.

Sportive adds kit including a 7in touchscreen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, air-conditioning, rear parking sensors, a load-through bulkhead, six-way driver’s seat adjustment, LED daytime running lights, driver drowsiness alert, automatic headlights, and automatic windscreen wipers.

Further equipment with Elite includes satnav, front parking sensors, lane departure warning, speed limit-recognition, intelligent speed adaption, high-beam assist and blind-spot alert.

The van has a maximum load volume of 6.6m³, a top payload of 1,458kg – 200kg more than the previous model – and a maximum towing capacity of 2,500kg, which is 500kg more than the outgoing Vivaro.

Engine options – all approved to Euro6.2 standard – are 1.5-litre diesels with 100hp or 120hp outputs, and 2.0-litre diesels with 120hp, 150hp and 180hp. Vauxhall expects the 120hp 2.0 engine to be the biggest seller.

All powertrains come with a six-speed manual gearbox, except for the 180hp unit, which gets an eight-speed automatic from launch. The auto box will then be added to the 120hp 2.0 version in 2020.

Vauxhall’s CV product manager Brad Miller says the ambition is for the Vivaro to regain its position as the UK’s second best-selling medium van, behind the Ford Transit Custom.

PSA instigated an overhaul of Vauxhall’s light commercial retail operation at the start of the year and the brand now has a 62-strong Van Business Centre network.

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