Vauxhall Movano (10 on) - Review

With a wide range of 29 body styles, the availability of rear-wheel-drive models and increased gross vehicle weights and payloads, the Movano is part of Vauxhall's plans to significantly improve its commercial vehicle line-up, allowing it to rival alternatives like the Ford Transit and Volkswagen Crafter. If it looks familiar, that's because it's the sister van to the Renault Master and is powered by the same excellent 2.3-litre diesel engine available in varying power outputs from 100bhp to 146bhp. On the road it's impressively comfortable and refined to drive, even with a full load on board. It also offers low running costs, good fuel economy and an easy-to-access cargo area.

Thanks to a cabin that is longer than the previous Movano, this model is far more comfortable, especially on longer journeys. It comes with multi-adjustable seats and a height-adjustable steering column, so finding the right driving position is simple, whatever your size and shape. It's well built and finished to a good standard, but some of the plastics used are a little scratchy and the stereo is quite fiddly to use. It's not quite up to the standards of alternatives like the Volkswagen Crafter. But where the Movano does excel is in terms of storage. There are almost endless numbers of compartments and holders including a useful overhead cubby hold, bottle holders and twin level door pockets. There is also a clever pull-out map holder in the centre of the dash, a lidded dash top storage box and a glovebox that can swallow two 1.5-litre drinks bottles.

This Movano may not look too different from the previous model, but it's a vast improvement on the road. Its key strength is refinement and it makes s superb long distance van with the engine barely at 2,000rpm at 70mph. Both wind and road noise levels are low and it feels secure thanks to precise steering which weights up at speed. It's easy to manoeuvre though, as you'd expect, helped by the large door mirrors which feature electrical adjustment as standard. On twisting road the Movano is surprisingly agile, even when loaded and tackles corners reassuringly, while the gearbox has a click action. For the first time, the Movano is available with rear-wheel-drive variants that give added traction and increased towing ability. The engine that powers all models is a 2.3-litre CDTi but it comes in different outputs of 100bhp, 125bhp and 146bhp. It has plenty of torque and pulls strongly while delivering good pace. It's also refined and doesn't sound coarse, even when revved.