Drive with us: Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life Review

Join us as we take a closer look at the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life — van-like practicality, zero tailpipe emissions

Forget a seven-seater. The Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life has up to nine seats. This is an MPV that means business.

It's one of the most practical electric vehicles on the market, based on the Vivaro-e van — Vauxhall's Van of the Year 2021 — so the foundations are rock solid. As well as nine seats, it comes with electric sliding doors (no chance of the kids knocking the car parked next to you) and zero tailpipe emissions. Practical, family-friendly and green; quite the combination.

Competing with the Mercedes EQV and Citroën e-SpaceTourer, the Vivaro-e Life undercuts both on price — a significant advantage in a class where running costs matter. Sister models from Citroën and Peugeot share the same platform, so differences between them are minimal. The Vivaro-e Life's trump card is value.

Since we drove it, the model has been updated — now coming with a 75kWh battery only, an increased range and revised trim levels.

And there's another challenger in the mix. The Volkswagen ID. Buzz brings nostalgia, style and the spirit of the classic VW campervan to the electric people carrier class. It's more expensive and offers fewer seats, but it's a very different emotional proposition altogether.

The Vivaro-e Life's case is simple: maximum people, maximum practicality, zero emissions. Let's face it, this isn't a car for everyone. But if you need nine seats and zero emissions, your options are very limited.

Is it the right electric MPV for you? Let's find out.

What we drove:

Model: Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life Elite (L)

Fuel type: Electric

Battery: 50kWh lithium-ion

Range: 143 miles (WLTP Comb)

Power: 136PS / 260Nm

Colour: Diamond Black

Wheels: 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels

Big, bold and built for purpose

There's no denying the Vivaro-e Life looks like a van. And that's because it was derived from one — Vauxhall's own award-winning Vivaro-e, no less.

The design maximises space within its dimensions, with flat sides, a level roof and an upright rear end.

It may not be the most exciting thing on the roads, but it has an imposing presence; big, commanding and impossible to miss. We have it in Diamond Black, which we think looks smart and purposeful, and in Elite trim the 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels add a welcome touch of polish to what is otherwise a deliberately workmanlike exterior.

Electric sliding doors on either side are a genuinely practical touch — no wrestling with heavy doors in tight car parks, and no chance of the kids swinging them into the car next door.

The long tailgate is hinged from the top though, so make sure you leave plenty of room behind you when parking.

The Vivaro-e Life is available in two body lengths (standard and the longer XL) giving you even more flexibility depending on your needs. And while it's clearly built for practicality first, it's smart enough to work in a professional setting too: an executive shuttle, airport transfer vehicle or school run workhorse all feel entirely within its remit.

If it's style and character you're after, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a more emotionally compelling choice — and plays brilliantly on the nostalgia of the classic VW campervan.

But it carries fewer passengers and costs considerably more. The Vivaro-e Life's position is clear: if you need nine seats and zero emissions, you're not buying it for the looks. But as vans go, it's a pretty good looker.

Van roots, executive ambitions

Step inside and it feels much more premium than you'd think.

The Elite trim's Carla Black leather gives the cabin a genuinely premium feel that borders on executive.

The interior design is spacious, airy and welcoming, and the heated power driver's seat and heated front passenger seat with massage facility only add to that sense of occasion. This is not what you'd expect from a van-derived MPV.

The electric sliding doors can be operated from the keyfob, by rear passengers or by the driver up front. This is a genuinely useful feature that makes loading and unloading a large group of people considerably less stressful.

The driving position is set high, giving excellent visibility ahead thanks to thin windscreen pillars. The nose does drop out of sight though, making it tricky to judge exactly where the front of the car is. But the front parking sensors on Elite trim help considerably.

The seven-inch touchscreen is a touch laggy, but physical shortcut buttons on either side of the screen mean you're rarely reliant on it alone. The e-INFO instrument panel is crisp, easy to follow and genuinely informative, and the head-up display on Elite projects speed directly into your eyeline; a welcome addition in a vehicle of this size.

Four 12V sockets are dotted throughout the cabin, though only one USB port is available on the model we drive. For a vehicle designed to carry up to nine people, another USB or two wouldn't go amiss. A 220V three-pin plug beneath the driver's seat offers an alternative, but it isn't a substitute for proper connectivity throughout.

Hard plastics feature on most surfaces — practical and easy to clean, but not particularly premium on lower trims.

The panoramic glass roof on Elite models floods the rear cabin with light and prevents the dark interior from feeling enclosed.

Storage is generous throughout, with large door bins, cubby holes and up to six ISOFIX mounting points across the cabin.

The updated model addresses one of the original's biggest weaknesses: a new 10-inch touchscreen replaces the laggy seven-inch unit, a significant improvement that brings the Vivaro-e Life much closer to its rivals on the tech front.

Solid, dependable, sorted

Let's be honest — this is not the vehicle you're going to lease if you're after speed and performance. After all, it's derived from a van.

But the instant torque is oddly satisfying.

It makes the Vivaro-e Life feel less heavy and van-like than expected, giving it a surprising bit of oomph off the mark that puts a smile on your face.

It won't trouble any sports cars at the traffic lights, but it pulls away well with two or three on board and has no trouble keeping pace with motorway traffic.

The steering feels noticeably weighty at first. But once you get going, that same weight becomes reassuring rather than cumbersome, offering a greater sense of control in a vehicle of this size.

You feel the weight and presence of the Vivaro-e Life from behind the wheel, but once up to speed it's incredibly smooth and surprisingly easy to handle despite its considerable dimensions.

Regenerative braking is available throughout, recapturing energy under braking and extending the range in urban driving. B-Mode maximises this further, making it ideal for fans of one-pedal driving and a genuinely refined experience on city streets.

It's not designed for agility.

Body lean through faster corners is noticeable, and the slow steering requires more input through tight turns and car parks than you might be used to.

Bigger bumps resonate through the cabin too — the ride isn't the smoothest we've experienced.

But get it onto the motorway and it settles down beautifully; stable, comfortable and genuinely easy to cover miles in.

And practically speaking, it stands at less than two metres tall, meaning it fits in most multi-storey car parks, and it's not especially wide either, so most width restrictions aren't a problem.

For a van-derived MPV carrying up to nine people? That's a solid result.

Charge it, fill it, go

When we drive the Vivaro-e Life, it has a claimed range of just 143 miles (WLTP Comb). Fast forward to the updated model and that figure has risen to 216 miles (WLTP Comb).

This is a meaningful improvement that makes it a considerably more practical proposition for everyday use.

It's not the best range on the market, but for a vehicle of this size carrying this many people? That's pretty good going.

The real-world range holds up well with minimal load and passengers on board. Add more people into the mix though and the extra weight will eat into that figure, something worth bearing in mind if you're regularly carrying a full complement of passengers.

Motorway driving in particular zaps the range quickly, so longer journeys need a little more planning.

When it comes to charging, the 100kW rapid charger takes the battery from 0-80% in just 30 minutes — quick and convenient if you're stopping at a motorway services. At home via a 7kW wallbox, a full charge takes around 7.5 hours — plug it in overnight and it's ready to go by morning.

Eco mode softens the acceleration and limits the air conditioning to help preserve range, though its impact is minimal. B-Mode maximises the regenerative braking, which helps claw back some energy on longer runs.

If you're regularly carrying large groups, there's a good chance a service station stop is already built into your journey. In that context, the range becomes considerably less of a concern.

And with zero tailpipe emissions throughout, the Vivaro-e Life is an ideal choice for city driving and low emission zones.

What's good, and what's not

The good bits:

• Genuinely spacious — room for up to nine passengers with space to spare
• Electric sliding doors — no door-bashing in tight car parks
• Instant torque makes it feel surprisingly lively despite its size
• Updated model pushes range to 216 miles (WLTP Comb)
• Zero tailpipe emissions — ideal for low emission zones and city driving
• Less than two metres tall — fits in most multi-storey car parks
• Up to six ISOFIX mounting points — brilliant for families

The not-so-good bits:

• 143-mile range on the car we drove — limited for longer motorway journeys with a full load
• Only one USB port on the original model — not enough for nine passengers
• Hard plastics on most surfaces — disappointing on lower trims
• 7-inch touchscreen was laggy — physical buttons saved the day

What's the verdict?

The Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life does exactly what it sets out to do — maximum people, maximum practicality, zero emissions.

It's not the most exciting drive, the most refined cabin, or the longest-ranging EV on the market. But for those who need nine seats and zero tailpipe emissions, the options are genuinely limited.

The Elite trim elevates it well beyond what you'd expect from a van-derived MPV, and the updated model addresses the biggest weaknesses with more range and better tech throughout.

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is more characterful and emotionally compelling, but it's more expensive and carries fewer passengers.

The Vivaro-e Life's case is simple. If you need the space, nothing else quite does it.

Top five reasons to lease the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life:

1. Up to nine seats and electric sliding doors — unmatched practicality in the EV class
2. Instant torque makes it feel surprisingly lively — don't let the van roots fool you
3. Updated model pushes range to 216 miles (WLTP Comb)
4. Zero tailpipe emissions and under two metres tall
5. Up to six ISOFIX mounting points

Would we recommend leasing a Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life?

Absolutely. The Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life is ideal for large families, airport transfer services and anyone who needs serious passenger capacity without the serious emissions.

The updated model with the 75kWh battery is the one to go for: more range, better tech and a stronger overall package.

It's not a car for everyone. But if nine seats and zero emissions are on your must-have list, the Vivaro-e Life deserves to be at the top of yours.