Used Vauxhall Viva 2015-2019 review

Although Vauxhall’s fortunes have fluctuated over the years, the brand still has a place in people’s affections in the UK. For many years, the firm’s most popular cars have earned regular places in the best-seller list, especially the practical Astra hatchback and Insignia executive mile-muncher, and many are those who have learned to drive in a humble Corsa.

With the launch of the Viva in 2015, Vauxhall entered the city car class, taking the fight directly to such strong tiny-tot competitors as the Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto and Suzuki Celerio. Its name revived memories of the firm’s popular small saloon of the 1960s, and the car came with cheeky styling and room for five. It initially sold well, but went off sale in 2019, soon after the firm's purchase by the French PSA Group.

The only engine on offer under its compact bonnet is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit, and it does without the turbocharger that is de rigueur on most small engines of its type these days. However, this helps keep the car light, with the Viva tipping the scales at just 950kg – this should promise reasonable performance and efficiency.

Trim levels are kept simple – SE, SE Nav and SL. Entry-level models come with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, heated wing mirrors and cruise control. Upgrade to SL and you will find 15in alloy wheels, a leather-clad steering wheel, climate control and Vauxhall’s OnStar concierge system complete with a wi-fi hotspot. SE Nav adds sat-nav and a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system to everything you get with SE trim. It also adds all-important air conditioning.

In addition, there’s a Rocks model that brings a light off-road-style makeover and a ride height that's 18mm higher for a more 'SUV' look.

On the road, the Viva’s engine is very smooth and delivers its power progressively, so it's perfectly acceptable around town. Get onto faster roads, though, and you’ll need to change down a couple of gears and rev it hard if you want even a moderate burst of acceleration. In terms of top speed and acceleration, its figures, while unimpressive on paper, actually match those of most of its main rivals. The car comes with a five-speed manual gearbox that's nice to use, with a pleasingly smooth action. However, unlike many of its rivals, there's no automatic option, so you'll need to look elsewhere if that's a deal breaker.

The Viva rides rough roads pretty well, too, with a soft and supple touch over town irregularities. It’s not the most spirited of cars to drive overall, unsurprisingly, but it handles tidily and grips well, despite a lot of body lean in bends taken quickly. Its steering is a bit vague, too, so this won’t inspire keener drivers, but it’s at least light and easy to use around town.

Despite being short and quite tall, the Viva is fairly refined on motorways, with not much in the way of wind noise to disturb things and the engine note is fairly subdued. The only blot is a fair dollop of road noise, but this is much the same for its rivals.

Inside is a solid-feeling but rather straightforward interior that lacks a little sparkle and can also feel a bit cheap in places. The driver's seat is adjustable in height, while the steering wheel is adjustable in height but, alas, not in reach. All the dials and controls are logically placed and easy to read.

Space-wise, there’s plenty of room up front and access to the rear is good, thanks to the five-door layout. Rear space is a little limited, however, especially for those six-foot or above, and the boot is one of the smallest in this class. Safety could also be better, because the Viva scored just three stars out of five when tested by Euro NCAP.

You might pick up a high-mileage or Category D Viva for around £3000, but we’d recommend spending around £4000 on one of the early 2015 cars bought from a dealer and with an average mileage for the year and a full service history. Spend between £5000 and £6000 to get a 2016 car with the same criteria, or a little more for one bought from a franchised dealer, while £7000 should secure you a good-condition 2017 or 2018 model. Add around £500 to those prices if you go for one of the Rocks models.

All Vivas have the same claimed average fuel consumption figures, irrespective of trim (including Rocks), at 54.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 117g/km.

Annual car tax for Vivas registered before April 2017 will be £120, while those registered after that will be charged VED at the current standard flat rate of £145 a year.

Insurance groupings are all pretty similar, too, with most of them being in group 4.

Servicing costs are very competitive. Vauxhall operates a number of servicing plans that allow you to plan ahead and spread the cost via direct debit payments.

Your choice of engine is limited to one, the 1.0-litre unit. We’d try to find an SE Nav car; as the name suggests, this adds sat-nav as well as a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system to everything you get with SE trim. It also adds all-important air conditioning.

Our favourite Vauxhall Viva 1.0 SE Nav

The Kia Picanto is one of our favourites in this class. You get plenty of kit as standard and a choice of a 1.0-litre or 1.25-litre petrol engine, the larger of which is our choice, if you can find one. The car handles well and has comfortable seats as well as a long and transferable warranty.

The Skoda Citigo is great to drive, with a comfy ride and agile handling. Its interior is well thought out, too. It’s also quite economical, and is even classy inside. There are plenty of used examples at temptingly low prices.

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