Summary
The Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric is a battery-powered van-based people carrier that arrived in the UK in late 2020. Originally called the Vivaro-e Life, van was given a mid-life facelift in 2024, which improved the car’s battery range.
Offering up to nine seats as standard, reviewers generally agree that the people carrier’s cabin is both practical and spacious, but many outlets also find the Vauxhall hard to recommend.
The Independent’s Richard Aucock describes the Vivaro Life Electric as “brilliantly roomy and practical” and “surprisingly refined”, also praising the “much-needed” 2024 addition of a more powerful powertrain which offers more travel range per charge, but concludes that “the suspension is a bit clattery” and the people carrier’s price tag is rather expensive.
As of September 2026, the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 58%.
Vivaro Life Electric highlights
- Spacious cabin with flexible seating
- More pleasant to drive than diesel version
- Prompt acceleration from standstill
Vivaro Life Electric lowlights
- Entry-level model’s short battery range
- Rivals offer better interior quality
- Bumpy ride on rougher roads
Key specifications
Body style: People carrier
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £35,925
Launched: Winter 2020/21
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Carwow
Model reviewed:
“Vauxhall’s big electric people carrier is massively practical, and massive, but the electric range is a bit off-putting for anyone that covers decent mileage.”
Read review
Discover EV
Model reviewed: Elite
Score: 7 / 10
“If you’re after a van-based car to carry people and belongings around efficiently then the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life is an attractive proposition. It’s more pleasant to drive and cheaper to run than its diesel sibling, however, its 100-mile range feels compromised in a vehicle designed for either large families or those in the taxi or shuttle market.”
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5.6 / 10
“The Vivaro Life Electric is smoother, more pleasant to drive and cheaper to run than its diesel twin, but it’s heavily compromised powertrain makes it difficult to recommend.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson
Read review
RAC
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5.8 / 10
“There’s clearly a market for really large full-electric people carriers, but it’s not going to really take off until they can travel a great deal further than this. If you can live with the 143 mile range though – as some city based families and business users might be able to – there’s potentially a lot to like here”
Read review
The Independent
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The idea of an electric people carrier, based on a cavernous van, is a great one. It allows the maximum number of people and their luggage to travel in zero-emissions silence. However, the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric shows there’s still a bit of work to be done on range before it’s fully realised.”
Author: Richard Aucock
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of September 2026, the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of September 2026, the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Vivaro Life Electric is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing if and when it takes place. Check back again soon.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 204 miles | C |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 2.9 m/KWh | E |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 40 | D |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £130 | A |
| Year 2 | £336 | A |
| Year 3 | £522 | A |
| Year 4 | £701 | A |
| Year 5 | £962 | A |
| Overall | £2,651 | A |
The Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric is a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The Vauxhall’s insurance grouping on the higher side of the market average and, while broadly competitive with other van-based people carriers of this size, the car’s average battery range of 204 miles per charge is bested by many mid-sized and large electric SUVs in this price bracket.
On the other hand, the people carrier’s estimated first five years servicing and maintenance costs are excellent, reaching around £2,700 after five years of ownership.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 133
Average repair cost: £554.49
Last updated: July 2025
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
As of July 2025 (our most recent data point), the Vauxhall Vivaro has a reliability score of 48%, which is slightly lower than average according to workshop and warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, MotorEasy.
Keep in mind that this score applies to both the current Vivaro and also to previous generations, and stands for both the Vivaro panel van and Vivaro Life people carrier.
The average overall repair costs are quite low for the Vivaro family, with an average repair bill of around £550. That said, the average cost of gearbox repairs exceeds £1,400, and these repairs aren’t entirely uncommon.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
| Overall rating | C | 47% |
| New car warranty duration | 3 years |
| New car warranty mileage | 60,000 miles |
| Battery warranty duration | 8 years |
| Battery warranty mileage | 100,000 miles |
Vauxhall’s new car warranty is fairly boilerplate, matching a number of rival brands in a similar price bracket as the Vivaro Life.
The duration is three years, with a limit of 60,000 miles. In addition to the standard new car warranty, the Vivaro Electric has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
Warranty on a used Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
- If you are buying an ‘Approved Used’ Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric from an official Vauxhall dealership, you will get a minimum one-year warranty included.
- If you are buying a used Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
- If you are buying a used Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.
If you’re looking to buy any used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
As of September 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric. However, recall information is updated regularly, so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Vauxhall dealer.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at a new or used Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën ë-Berlingo | Citroën ë-SpaceTourer | Kia PV5 Passenger | Mercedes-Benz EQV | Nissan e-NV200 Combi | Nissan Townstar | Peugeot e-Rifter | Peugeot e-Traveller | Tesla Model X | Vauxhall Combo Life Electric | Volkswagen ID. Buzz
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Vauxhall range at The Car Expert
Buy a Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
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Lease a Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
If you’re looking to lease a new Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Car subscriptions from Just Vehicle Solutions.
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Car subscriptions from Flexible Vehicle Contracts.
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