New compact Vauxhall shows lots of promise, but sluggish performance and intrusive road noise leave it trailing its rivals “It is entirely new, and although there is little that is unconventional in its specification, it is refreshingly different to drive.” That, at least, is what we said of the original Vauxhall Viva, following its launch in 1963.Some 52 years down the line and the Viva nameplate is back once again, on a car that appears to have the potential to emulate the reception of its forebear. Much like the original Viva, the new iteration is a small car that’s claimed to be competitively priced, well equipped and practical.An initial glance at the facts and figures bears those claims out; the new Viva costs upwards of £7995, includes a decent amount of equipment as standard, and it has five doors, five seats and a fairly big boot. It’s about 14cm longer than, say, a Volkswagen Up, but about 3cm narrower across the mirrors - and it's smaller than the likes of a Ford Fiesta. Compact, then, whichever way you cut it.The new Viva range is simple, effectively consisting of two distinct versions. The entry-level SE comes with features including cruise control, an aux-in, heated electric mirrors and front fog lights; air-con is available at a cost of £495.Opt for the flagship £9495 SL and you'll benefit further from climate control, USB and Bluetooth connectivity and some trim upgrades. There's a good range of options, too, including an electric glass sunroof, rear parking sensors and some gratifyingly vibrant colours. You do only get a tyre repair kit as standard, which might irk some, but a physical spare tyre is available for £110. In any specification, power comes from a naturally aspirated 999cc three-cylinder petrol engine. It's effectively a non-turbocharged version of the boosted triple you'll find in the Adam and Corsa and has been developed specifically for the Viva. It produces 74bhp and 70lb ft, is claimed to average 72.4mpg and emits 104g/km of CO2, meaning it'll set you back £20 a year in VED. There is an 'ecoFLEX' edition of the SE, however, which gets ultra-low rolling resistance tyres and some aerodynamic tweaks, slightly boosting its economy and cutting its emissions to 99g/km of CO2, making it VED-exempt.Drive in all versions is transmitted to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. An automated manual will be available in January next year, should you desire or need it, but pricing for that version is yet to be confirmed.
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