New Vauxhall Vivaro Electric is cheaper, yet has more range and tech

The facelifted version of the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric van has been unveiled. The new Vivaro gets a new face pulled straight from the top-selling Vauxhall Corsa, as well as the latest tech, more range and, crucially, a starting price that’s roughly £2,500 cheaper than the outgoing model.

Yes, you heard that right; the new Vauxhall Vivaro Electric starts from £42,055 (without VAT), which is £2,580 less than the pre-facelift version. This makes the zero-emissions Vauxhall van – available in both Prime and Pro trim levels – significantly cheaper than the likes of the circa-£50,000 Peugeot E-Expert (with which the Vivaro shares most of its parts) and the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo.

A more tempting price tag isn’t the only feature of this new facelifted Vivaro; thanks to improvements in efficiency, the Vivaro Electric’s 75kWh battery pack is now enough for a range of up to 217 miles – an increase of 12 miles over the outgoing car. While it’s unknown whether the Vivaro Electric will retain the option of a smaller 50kWh battery, it’s been confirmed that the plug-in van will still be powered by a 134bhp electric motor, while 100kW DC rapid charging allows for a 10-80% top-up in around 45 minutes.

Even if you see one in the street, it’s easy to tell the difference between the old and new Vivaro; the refreshed model gets the same ‘Vizor’ front end design which made its debut in the Vauxhall Mokka Electric, and has since made its way to the likes of the Corsa and Astra. 

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More changes have also occurred inside as the electrified Vivaro now gets as standard the Astra’s PurePanel infotainment setup which comprises a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. Vauxhall has also enlarged the cubbyholes in Vivaro’s cabin, making it easier to store all your bits and pieces.

As mentioned, there are two trim levels available: Prime and Pro. Stepping up to the latter adds things like adaptive LED headlights, front parking sensors (rear parking sensors come as standard on Prime vans), a reversing camera and power-folding mirrors.

The facelifted Vauxhall Vivaro Electric will go on sale towards the end of this year, with full pricing and spec details to be revealed closer to that time.