The Opel Vivaro-e is big in size and carrying capacity, but not big at all when it matters.

And the ‘matters’ here refers to its pricing. Why? Well, that’s because the Vivaro-e is the best priced European van currently on sale in Singapore. In this period of COE prices going increasingly stratospheric, the Vivaro-e’s affordable price is much welcomed. 

What’s the “e” in Vivaro-e?

Opel plans to have a fully electric lineup by 2028. The Vivaro-e is one of two electrified commerical vehicles that the German automaker currently sells in Singapore. No diesel variant of either the Vivaro-e or the smaller Combo-e are available for sale in Singapore currently.

For the majority of van users, going electric might introduce a set of range-related concerns that they’ve never had to deal with. Thankfully, the Vivaro-e comes with a large 75 kWh battery pack, which is good for a claimed 330 kilometres. We managed to eke out slightly over 300 kilometres on a single charge.

For most, that’s more than sufficient for an entire day’s worth of driving. Charging times are decent too, with a maximum charging rate of DC 50kW, or AC 11kW. From near empty, it would take about 90 minutes to fully recharge the battery using DC charging. But for best battery longevity, charge it overnight with an AC charger.

Power is sent to an electric motor driving the front wheels, producing 134 bhp and 260 Nm of torque. It may not sound like much, especially with its two-ton kerb weight, but the instant electric torque allows the Vivaro-e to have effortless pickup from traffic stops, even when carrying heavy loads. 

No Lack of Space

Its 5,800 litres of cargo space is extremely generous. For visualisation’s sake, two washing machine sized boxes would fit with no issue. And you’d still have some space leftover for smaller boxes.

Loading large items into the Vivaro-e couldn’t be simpler, with sliding doors on both sides and a large tailgate at the rear. Since the batteries are all mounted low down in the chassis, this makes for a low load floor.

And that’s not all. Up front in the cabin, there are storage spaces aplenty too. The door bins are very generously sized, being able to fully fit multiple 1.5 litre bottles. If not, store other knick-knacks in the door, like snacks or towels, all within easy reach should you need it. 

There’s also a cutout in the dashboard for smaller or looser items like documents or stationery, together with strategically positioned cupholders too. And if that still isn’t enough, pull a tab on the passenger seat to reveal concealed storage bins under the passenger seat!

Looks Aren’t e-verything

To be frank, the Vivaro-e isn’t going to win any beauty contests for its looks. That’s not criticism, but its design has been deliberately kept simple and functional. Commercial van users aren’t typically concerned with aesthetics, after all.

All round visibility is good, with the large mirrors making it easy to check for what’s beind you. This particular unit is also the “Sliding Door Window” variant, which replaces some metal panels in the back with glass, allowing for visual checks of the cargo hold without opening the doors. 

With most vans, you would typically expect a bumpier ride as the rear suspension setup typically consists of leaf springs. That isn’t the case here, as the Vivaro-e is fitted with coil springs and dampers all around. Excluding the harshest road imperfections, we daresay this van rode better than some other cars we’ve tested.

Making It Matter Where It Counts

Fitted as standard from the factory, the Vivaro-e has stalks behind the steering wheel for cruise control, as well as track and volume adjustability. Manoeuvring this van around was made easy with the heavily assisted steering that made lock-to-lock turns a cinch, even at carpark speeds.

Big and bright, information was easily gathered from a quick glance at the gauge cluster, with a small LCD screen in the middle to display additional information. Like the Volkswagen Caddy with its small shift knob, the Vivaro-e elects to have its gear shifter recessed into the centre console, providing a flushed and overall smoother look to the cabin.   

A 7-inch infotainment screen has Android Auto and Apple Carplay installed, and is easily connected via USB. Having access to Android Auto at my fingertips made driving the Vivaro-e all the more enjoyable, especially when coupled with the air-conditioning which always blew strong and cold. 

Most of the cabin materials are hard plastics, but these are durable and easy to clean. Commercial vehicles tend to be built to a cost, so this wasn’t unexpected.

What is unique about the Vivaro-e, however, is how three people can sit abreast in the cabin. Being rather wide, there is space for 2 passengers, instead of just 1, like in most other vans. And no, it wasn’t uncomfortable, and visibility in the rear-view mirror wasn’t affected either.

Is It e-nough?

Starting at $60,000 before COE, the Opel Vivaro-e presents a compelling argument should you be thinking of switching over to an electric van, especially one of this size. We acknowledge that switching to an electric one will take some getting used to.

If that still doesn’t convince you, do remember that the government is still incentivising the adoption of electric vehicles, which can help to offset at least some of the costs that comes with switching over to an electric van.

Besides, there aren’t many vans out there that are as comfortable as the Vivaro-e, while also managing to haul this much cargo. Best of both worlds, if we do say so ourselves. Plus, with the ever increasing amount of charging facilities available locally, finding a charger to give your van’s battery a quick juice up only gets easier. 

The only question remains, are you ready to play your part and switch over to greener mobility?

You May Be Interested In: 2023 Volkswagen Caddy Review – The Van Man Can