THE Vauxhall Vivaro has, over the years become a reliable workhorse of the British delivery logistics map.

Its no-nonsense approach to getting the job done with ease and economy has endeared it to a whole generation of drivers and operators.

The latest incarnation of the Vivaro has become one of the front-runners in van design and this is demonstrated to great effect in the L2H1 2900 Sportive version I drove recently.

Powered by a 140ps bi-turbo 1.6 CDTi engine this load-lugger proved that it has the grace and pace to stand head and shoulders above some rivals.

Sister van to the Renault Trafic, the Vivaro has a very British way of going about things with DNA stretching back to some of the company classic Bedford vans of the 1960s.

The latest version is carrying the standard of the previous model which was only just short of a million units sold, but it has moved comfortably with the times to ensure that it offers all the qualities that the drivers love combined with great ease of operation.

All Vivaros are powered by 1.6 CDTi diesels and the test van boasted the top of the range 140ps bi-turbo version. With cracking torque of 340Nm, this unit gives consistent performance and a long range from its 80 litres fuel capacity, thanks to a combined fuel economy of 46.3mpg.

It was loaded with standard features such as USB digital radio, electronic stability programme, electrically operated windows and door mirrors, multi-function trip computer and much more.

As with many modern vans there were steering wheel mounted audio and phone cntrols to make life just that bit easier.

One of the Vivaro's crowning glories is its commanding driving position and the car-like driving qualities which make modern van life a pleasure rather than the chore it once was.

One of the more interesting features fitted to the vehicle was Vauxhall OnStar, a mobile 4G WiFi hotspot which can be used by up to seven devices simultaneously.

OnStar will take you through to an adviser at any time, it will detect that you require an English-speaking operator and connect your call. Operators will then be able to help with various requests such as a destination download e.g. the nearest petrol station and the nearest supermarket etc. OnStar also offers roadside if you have a flat tyre or run out of fuel.

If an airbag deploys, OnStar will be alerted automatically and an adviser will then contact the vehicle to determine whether help is required. If there is no response, emergency services are immediately sent to the vehicle.

You can also use the SOS button in the event of an emergency and go straight through to an adviser who can immediately detect your location and see what parts of the car have been impacted. They can then immediately send emergency services to your location.