Used Vauxhall Viva cars for sale

The Vauxhall Viva is a small city car rivalling the Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen up!. The name Viva was first used in the 1960s. Back then it was a family saloon car competing against legends of the day like the Ford Anglia and the Morris Minor.

Vauxhall Viva updates and facelifts

Since its release at the Geneva International Car Show in 2015, the Vauxhall Viva – sold internationally as the Opel Karl – is a practical and affordable supermini. The Viva shared parts with other models in the Vauxhall lineup, taking technology and bodywork inspiration from larger siblings like the Corsa and Zafira. Vauxhall discontinued the model in 2019, but there are still plenty of used Vauxhall Viva cars on the market.

The Viva is the ideal car for anyone needing a city runaround or everyday vehicle. Thanks to its small size and tight turning circle of just 10.4m, it’s just at home on busy streets as it is on winding country lanes.

The single generation of Vauxhall Viva was produced between 2015 and 2019. The Vauxhall Viva comes in three trim levels: the SE, the SE Nav and the SL. With a choice of two 1.0-litre engines and a single generation, finding the right Vauxhall Viva is straightforward.

The model is available with a 1.0-litre petrol engine in two configurations. It comes with the option to specify an ecoFLEX variant, saving you money on fuel and road tax thanks to the lower CO2 emissions. The Vauxhall Viva is a five-door supermini hatchback with five seats. With strong fuel economy, the Viva is an attractive choice for economically and environmentally conscientious owners.

Practicality and style of the car

The Viva measures in at 3.68m long, 1.49m tall and 1.6m wide with a 2.39m wheelbase, making it similar in size to the Hyundai i10 and slightly larger than the Volkswagen up!, which is 8cm shorter and 5cm narrower. Inside, there are plenty of storage solutions with door cubbies to easily house occupants’ personal items. The Vauxhall Viva utilises space well, inside and outside, making slotting into tight parking spaces easy and storing your belongings even easier.

The Viva has 206 litres of boot space, enough for the weekly shop, work or school bags. Folding the 60/40 rear seats down opens up 1,013 litres of space, making the Viva a good option for transporting larger items. This capacity exceeds the Volkswagen up! which offers around 951 litres of boot space with the seats down.

Running costs

The Viva is in insurance group 3 (out of 50), making it extremely cost effective overall. This makes the Viva strong among its competitors. For comparison, the Hyundai i10 reaches insurance group 7, while the Volkswagen up! reaches as high as group 17.

In terms of road tax, most of the Vauxhall Vivas from 2015 onwards are taxed at the standard rate of £180 annually, but the ecoFLEX engines make certain Vivas exempt from paying road tax.

How a used Vauxhall Viva drives

The Vauxhall Viva comes with the choice of a single 1.0-litre engine available in two configurations, keeping the lineup simple. They come with either a five-speed manual or an automatic gearbox.

The 1.0-litre petrol engine produces 75bhp, taking the car from 0-62mph in 13.9 seconds. With a top speed of 106mph, the Viva can handle motorway driving. It returns 55.4mpg and produces 104g/km of CO2, making it an economical car that’s perfect for eco-conscious owners.

For customers looking to save some money in the long run, opting for the ecoFLEX engine configuration brings the CO2 output down to 99g/km, making the Viva exempt from paying road tax under the 2023 regulations. Not only does it save your wallet but it also means you can drive guilt-free, knowing your Vauxhall Viva is producing low carbon emissions. This variant is also more fuel efficient, offering 65.7mpg.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official MPG figures.

2015 - 2019

Features you can expect in a Vauxhall Viva

Interior

Inside a Vauxhall Viva, you will find a thoughtfully equipped cabin. The Viva has a spacious cabin that easily fits four adults. With top-spec trim levels including air conditioning, leather-effect seat trims, leather steering wheel and climate control, all occupants can ride in comfort and luxury. Thanks to a low transmission tunnel, there’s plenty of foot space for rear-seat passengers.

The dashboard is made of durable, low-maintenance plastics. They are easy to wipe down and keep clean. Meanwhile, with the glove compartment and front door bins nearby, you can keep all your items conveniently close at hand.

Mounted on the centre console is an AM/FM radio with an AUX input. As you climb through the trims, the radio gains Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming and phone calls, keeping all occupants entertained no matter the length of the journey. Higher level trim Vivas also have air conditioning and climate control. On the SE Nav trim and above, or if the original owner specified it on a lower-level trim, you get a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers.

Technology

The Viva is well equipped, even in the entry-level trim. All trims come with electrically adjustable and heated mirrors for convenience even in bad weather as well as cornering fog lights that maintain clarity in low-visibility conditions. If specified originally, your Viva may even come with heated seats, for comfort when the weather turns cold.

All Vauxhall Vivas feature cruise control and a speed limiter as standard. This takes the strain off journeys on A-roads and motorways or urban areas with rigorous speed restrictions. These features are easily controlled from buttons on the steering wheel, letting you keep your eyes on the road.

Stability control also helps prevent loss of control if making an emergency manoeuvre or if the car veers off your intended path when going around a tight curve.

City mode makes low-speed turns easier by lightening the steering, making the Viva easier to park and drive around town. And if pulling away on a hill or slope, hill start assist helps you drive away smoothly without rolling backwards.

Safety

Six airbags ensure the safety of all occupants, with both side and curtain airbags present throughout You will also find seat belt pre-tensioners and load limiters as standard across all trims. Various standard equipment has been integrated to assist the driver in keeping everybody safe. Stability control, tyre-pressure monitoring, lane-assist and lane-departure warnings enable the driver to monitor their car thoroughly and be aware of upcoming hazards. To keep your Viva secure, the model also includes a perimeter alarm system and electronic engine deadlock immobiliser.

The Vauxhall Viva scored three out of five stars in its 2017 Euro NCAP safety test. This puts it in the same league as the Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen up!, which also achieved three-star ratings. With ISOFIX anchors in the outer rear seats, children's car seats can also be fitted quickly and securely.

Trims available on the Vauxhall Viva

Vauxhall Viva SE

The Vauxhall Viva SE is the entry-level trim. Sitting on 15-inch steel wheels, the SE comes with an AM/FM radio and AUX input for entertainment on the go. Heated door mirrors help them stay clear in bad weather ensuring you always get a clear rear view. The Viva also comes with cruise control as standard, helping take the strain off longer journeys.

Vauxhall Viva SE Nav

The SE Nav builds on the Viva SE, adding extra comfort and functionality to the Viva. The SE Nav adds sat nav and a seven-inch infotainment display, making sure you can always find your way. The DAB radio also displays on the screen, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too. For added comfort, air conditioning keeps the cabin comfortable on hot days.

Vauxhall Viva SL

The Vauxhall Viva SL is the top-spec trim, giving the car a premium finish. Riding on 15-inch alloy wheels, the SL gains a leather steering wheel for added comfort and style, as well as tinted rear windows. These provide some privacy and help keep the sun off the rear seat passengers. The addition of climate control helps keep things more comfortable, adjusting automatically to ensure the cabin stays at the ideal temperature.

Search our stock of used Vauxhall Viva cars for sale.