Vauxhall Viva car review: 10 things you need to know

[@oddities-whatnot]

Every time I see a review of a small engined car, I hear the same negative comments by the reviewer regarding speed and quality. Two points - its a SMALL engine, so it wont go as fast as a Ferrari, and complaints about cheap interiors? Its a CHEAP car. You wont get Bentley quality for low money. People expect far too much from 1 litre cars. None of these little engined cars are underpowered. They have enough power for NORMAL driving. You simply have to adapt your driving style to maintain progress, and use your own ability (thats if you have any) in order to keep to the speed limit (yes, we have those in the UK, although most dont seem to realise that).

[@ge8165]

You posted this 2 years ago, but ive just read this now. Fair point!

[@KiranTaker270]

I have had my Vauxhall viva for a year in May and I am so happy with my little car saving me so much money than my old astra

[@ctrlaltdelboy]

I've just bought a Viva, the same one in the review, and one of the main reason I picked viva over say, the UP or the Aygo. Is the viva has proper back windows for the kids, proper DIY wind down windows. Not the stupid pop out (80's 3 door fiesta style) windows. For me a car needs to do two things. 1. Gets me where I'm going 2. Let me carry my shopping home. If it does both of these, then it is built for its purpose. I don't care about HP, 0-60 times (I drive like a granny, and I'm only in my thirties). A car is a tool, just like a hammer is a tool for hitting nails.

[@briansaiditsoitmustbetrue4206]

I HATE it when people review a cheap car and they "Pull the car to bits" It is a CHEAP car.... If you want a car that drives like a BMW M4 Then buy a BMW M4 I bought a Brand New Vauxhall Viva 2 Years ago to use as a budget car to get me to work and back (A 50 Mile round trip 5 times a Week Monday to Friday) I also own a Nissan 350z which is my "Weekend toy" .. When I bought the Vauxhall Viva 2 Years ago I did not think for ONE SECOND that it would be as nice and as fun to drive as my Nissan 350z ... I though ... This will save me loads of money on petrol and running costs as a no frills A to B car to get to work and back in, And a car to drive to the supermarket and back in twice a Week... BAD REVIEW of a lovely little BUDGET car. EDIT..In the 2 Years I have owned the car I have clocked up 31,500 Miles in the car with NO major problems to report.

[@HonestJohncouk2000]

Congratulations on your cars. I'm glad you like them both. You appear to be saying that a cheap car should be beyond criticism by virtue of being cheap, but I could name you a dozen budget cars that are better than the Viva. You've also set up a straw man by suggesting that we've compared the Viva to a sports car. We haven't. Again though, congratulations on your Viva and your "weekend toy". Love, Mark. x

[@briansaiditsoitmustbetrue4206]

@ HonestJohn.co.uk ... I did look at other small cheap cars to buy at the time... There was the Dacia Sandero .. It did not even have a radio fitted as standard... Then there was the Suzuki Celerio 1.0 the interior is so flimsy Then there is the VW Up ... A VW it MUST be a good car... NO sadly not, My friend at the gym bought one brand new and he said it was the worst car he has ever owned... The clutch went on his and the engine started to get very "Tappety" all before the car was 3 Years old.. Then there is the Toyota Aygo... Do NOT confuse this with a "Proper" Toyota like the 1999-2006 Toyota Yaris which was a gem of a car.. The Toyota Aygo is just a C1/ 108 in drag.. When you are looking at the choice of cars at the bottom end of the market it is SO tempting to say... Well I can stretch another £2000 and before you know where you are you are looking at £20,000 Cars... ALL of the budget cars on the market have pluses and minuses ... However one thing I do not agree with on the Vauxhall Viva is a 20,000 Mile oil change on the car ... Or a 20,000 Mile oil change on ANY car.. I believe this is a TOTAL CON for the engine to be knackered once the warranty runs out... The key to an long life on a car engine is regular oil changes... I have changed the oil/filter TWICE a Year on my Vauxhall Viva from brand new ..I do not care what it says in the handbook... There is NO engine oil that lasts 20,000 Miles... Not even Mobil long life... I would not trust ANY engine oil to last more than 10,000 Miles, Regardless of how much money it cost. The additives in the oil "Break down" and stop protecting the engine... It is the reason why SO many Nissan Micra K12 cars suffered stretched timing chains... The owners NOT changing the oil often enough... I paid £8,000 for my Vauxhall Viva brand new and I am hoping it will last 125,000 Miles (About 8 Years) Remember it gets TWO oil/filter changes a Year, Not one.. Using premium Oil. It returns an average of 58 MPG (Where my Nissan 350z returns an average of 23 MPG) If I get 8 Years out of it, It will have paid for itself in cheaper running costs 3-4 times over. Kind regards and please remember, When something is budget price ..Corners have to be cut to get the price down. True bargains in life are VERY rare.

[@rebeccajackson3037]

This Mark guy is an arse. I agree, great little car and I picked it over all its rivals. Get so much for your money.

[@jusb1066]

@@briansaiditsoitmustbetrue4206 the aygo is a toyota engine, the same 1kr-fe as in the yaris of old, the car is designed by toyota for the psa group, and even the factory, which is now reverting to toyota as they are doing something different from 2020. in all its very much a toyota in quality, your own terrible reviews are arguably worse than the guy you are complaining about, the UP, you didnt drive but took someones potentially ruined example by bad driving as a review.

[@jonstride4616]

Missed one key plus point - the Viva has opening windows on the rear doors. If you carry rear seat passengers this is essential in a small car. The rear windows do not open on most five door rivals - for example the Aygo, C1, Peugeot 108, Skoda Up, Seat Mia - or the white VW Up! that featured in this report. This was a deal breaker when we looked for a small car with all six of those.

[@wally-walman]

I never open rear Windows, my car has airco. Better A good driving car then rear rolling down Windows.

[@sevesellors2831]

Bought the Viva as our second car, great value,roomy and fun to drive. Most car prices are now obscene.

[@stevenboocock2847]

The girl needs to take some driving lessons. The clutch is fine if you drive the car correctly. If its biting at the top then it must be wearing out. I have driven Audis, Volkswagens and Seats and am delighted with this car.

[@harry4319]

Steven Boocock Well you must like downgrades Vauxhall’s are a piece of shit

[@YourLocalGP]

It was his point about the clutch, not the woman's

[@jusb1066]

Every car in this segment, including the fiat 500 takes over 13 seconds 0-60, or the vw up, they ALL do

[@DetoxYourSoul]

I've driven both the UP and Viva, personaly i think the UP is a bit dull and slow. The Viva felt more nippy

[@ccooper8785]

Must have been something wrong with the clutch on that particular car as my 2015 Viva se does not have that problem. Clutch is probably the easiest to use of all the cars I have owned in 32 years of driving. Road noise is huge ! You barely hear the engine at low speeds and the road noise drowns out everything above 20mph. Non-bluetooth radio is infuriating. How much would it have cost to fit an mp3/cd player.? I would much rather have had that the most of the goodies it comes with. At 6ft 4in I fit in the car and can comfortably drive 250 miles - not that anyone could fit behind me.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

Not a bad little motor, room for 4 and 5 (at a pinch), reasonable boot, good economy.

[@STEVE33437]

Where is the man that wears the hat? I thought he was Honest John.

[@tim234mumba]

+honestjohncouk is that the same car like Opel Karl???

[@context_required]

If the pedals were stiff it would be viva le resistance

[@stuartbines5643]

Lovely little car this guy needs a slap ...can he drive ....this is a modern mine !

[@ericgeorge5483]

Its a hideous little pile of garbage.

[@mdluk199]

Eric George It isn't actually. I bet you've never even drove one.

[@rebeccajackson3037]

I love mine! 😍

[@patrickhealy4750]

Or a pair socks his sister looked nice

[@123Ryanist]

Or maybe HJ got a bad demo car, plus a reporter that got negative as soon he got his eyes on the car. It's weird that if I look on reviews about the Opel Karl, 95% of them are positive, but if I look on reviews from the UK about the Vauxhall Viva it's 95% negative. Starting to wonder if people in the UK are getting the same car as the rest of EU??

[@MrTophalf1999]

123Ryanist people just see the badge and assume it's a bad car. Don't realise Vauxhalls are actually reliable, good driving cars now. 'Badge snobs' is the name ,bit pathetic if you ask me.

[@ewouthonig371]

No. They just see "Vauxhall" and don;'t even know that these cars are sold as Chevrolet, Buick, Opel and Vauxhall, depending on the country you're in. (Opel Karl / Vauxhall Viva and Chevrolet Spark are technically the same, just different bodywork. Opel Mokka / Vauxhall Mokka is the same car as Buick Encore, is the same as Chevrolet Trax (different bodywork) or Holden Trax (same as the Chevrolet version). But these jokers don't have a clue. So I'll stop. Find your real reviews elsewhere, I'd suggest,. Kids who need to bring their little sister to demonstrate - what WAS she demonstrating anyway? Bad driving skills? - are not to be taken seriously.

[@HonestJohncouk2000]

^^^LOL.

[@pamandrobtrust7624]

I Like this guys review. Down to earth and covered all the points/facts we need to know. Great review with His own sense of humor. Enjoyed it more than some others. Cheers

[@rebeccajackson3037]

Don't trust all you hear.

[@Juice82]

Nice review style.

[@rebeccajackson3037]

Yeh yeh, it's a great car - clearly you should stick to reviewing Porches if you want a faster car.

[@HonestJohncouk2000]

Hey Rebecca. Sorry I didn’t think the car you bought was the best thing ever, but do you really think that’s good reason to call me an “arse” and such like throughout the comments? Pretty shameful really. But hey, you have a lovely day. And maybe say something nice to another stranger, for balance. It’ll make you and the other person feel good. Peace. Mark. :-)

[@sebbiechu]

I drove this car and I have to disagree.

[@danton8302]

I was expecting willNE when u started to speak... Similar dialect

[@evilmario6061]

I'd go with the Sandero over this

[@lansdowne10]

Nice review of a not so great car.

[@JirenthaGray]

Car manufactures just love to cut corners

[@StephenButlerOne]

Got one today as a loaner, as my gtc is in the garage. I've averaged 43mpg over 60miles of 50/50 city/motorway driving. The car is a joke. And terrifying at 60mph, on swooping county lanes , lanes that other days would happily do 70 and ive heard the gtc will do 90 happily without feeling pushed. The viva at 60 on the same roads feels like life is about to end. In town the 'town steering' isn't needed, as it's light enough to. To light for my tastes, the steering wheel give zero feedback, in 'normal' mode. In 'city mode' it feels like a cheap playstation steering wheel. It's that light and shrap I'd say dangerous.

[@brianrennie133]

People like you are dangerous

[@matUKlondon]

I am so disappointed with the viva. Been to the dealers and the moment I sat inside I thought to myself, WTF! it is so small, and I kept banging my left knee into the dashboard shell, and I am only 5.7'! I adjusted the seat to my driving position, and there was no space in the back! And the boot! Nah, picked up the suzuki celerio and I am so happy!

[@davidhardy9346]

+matUKlondon You have posted the same information about this car on may sites, you have shrunk, you were 5ft 8 ins. It actually has the biggest interior in its class. Do you work for Suzuki???????

[@joaofarinha7953]

It is a small car were you expecting limosine space??

[@Martin-wz2ie]

this car is pretty nippy but as soon as you have 1 or more passengers its 0-60 in never

[@Martin-wz2ie]

the city mode in this car is the best i probably use it to much

[@ericgeorge5483]

Awful rot box, I bought an Up which by comparison is excellent.