Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Vauxhall Viva (2015-2019) review - MPG, CO2 and Running Costs

The Viva is almost as cheap to run as it is to buy, with a fuel-sipping engine and rock-bottom insurance

MPG, CO2 and Running Costs rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Vauxhall Viva
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

One of the most important reasons for buying a city car is that it’s inexpensive to buy and run. The Vauxhall Viva nails the former and it’s pretty good at the latter – but not the best in its class.

The 1.0-litre petrol engine has undertaken the most recent WLTP economy test, and it returns up to 46.3mpg. That's the same figure recorded for the Viva Rocks, and you should be able to easily match that in everyday driving.

Advertisement - Article continues below

If you want to find the most efficient Viva, then seek out SE cars with the ecoFLEX pack. Tweaked spoilers and low rolling-resistance tyres, plus the removal of the air-conditioning, means a return of 65.7mpg on the older NEDC cycle, up from 61.4mpg for the standard model.

It’s not as frugal as some eco-specials, however - the Dualjet version of the Suzuki Celerio manages an impressive 78.4mpg, for example. It’s a shame that Vauxhall didn’t choose to offer stop/start on the ecoFLEX, too, which would have made the savings more noticeable. 

Insurance

The Viva starts at insurance group 3 – not as low as the Skoda Citigo but about average for the class. SL spec only raises that to group 4, too, so there will be little difference in cost. 

Depreciation

Because city cars cost so little to buy, depreciation isn’t as big a concern as with more expensive models - there’s just a lot less cash to shed. It’s still something else to factor in when you look at running costs, though, and the Vauxhall Viva fares pretty well. It’s expected to retain between 39 and 42 per cent of its value after three years of ownership, which is on a par with the best in the class and better than the Toyota Aygo. That means even the cheapest version will be worth just over £3,500 after all that time.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Our latest car deals

Vauxhall Corsa
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £18,395Avg. savings £2,695 off RRP*Compare Offers
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £21,210Avg. savings £1,862 off RRP*Compare Offers
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,080Avg. savings £3,600 off RRP*Compare Offers
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Cheap electric car finance could be on the cards as government aims to boost sales
Omoda E5 - front tracking

Cheap electric car finance could be on the cards as government aims to boost sales

A newspaper column and whispers suggest that government-backed cheap EV loans could be coming to stimulate market
News
2 Dec 2024
Nissan Qashqai alternatives: cars you could buy instead of Nissan’s big-selling SUV
Nissan Qashqai alternatives - header image

Nissan Qashqai alternatives: cars you could buy instead of Nissan’s big-selling SUV

Nissan’s Qashqai has been a hit since the first generation launched in 2006, but if it’s not quite your cup of tea, we’ve rounded up the best of the r…
Features
1 Dec 2024
I wonder if there are enough buyers for £100k+ luxury Jaguar EVs
Opinion - Jaguar logo

I wonder if there are enough buyers for £100k+ luxury Jaguar EVs

Mike Rutherford gives his view on Jaguar's controversial rebrand
Opinion
1 Dec 2024