Vauxhall Viva Rocks
FIRST DRIVE We take to the road in jacked-up city car
Crossover-style makeover gives city car some rugged appeal
THE appeal of the crossover knows no bounds. Latest in line is the Vauxhall Viva Rocks, an Suv-inspired version of the city car, intended to inject a bit of youthful appeal into the firm’s smallest model.
Lining up as a rival for the Suzuki Ignis and the Dacia Sandero Stepway, it boasts little in the way of revisions under the skin: the sole mechanical change is an 18mm boost in ride height. The suspension components are carried over unchanged, while under the bonnet it uses the same 74bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.
The Rocks gets a tougher look thanks to new black plastic bumpers at the rear, black plastic wheelarches, plus new, brushed aluminium-look door sills and roof rails. There are also unique 15-inch alloy wheels and, inside, bespoke upholstery.
You’re paying for those looks, too, because the cheaper £11,195 Viva SE Nav features more in the way of standard kit. For example, Vauxhall’s Intellilink 4.0 sat-nav and infotainment system is suspiciously missing from the kit list; it costs an extra £935 on all Rocks models. It’s included in the normal car’s equipment tally.
A six-way adjustable driver’s seat, airconditioning, cruise control and electrically adjustable mirrors, plus USB and Bluetooth connectivity, are all fitted as standard.
From behind the wheel the Rocks is a predictably well behaved city car, feeling manoeuvrable with light, but vague, steering. It’s easy to drive and simple to park, and it rides well, too, with the raised ride height helping in this regard.
The 74bhp engine is fine for nipping around town, but is quickly out of its depth on faster roads. It loses out to the Suzuki’s more powerful, perkier 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, and it’s not as economical. The taller body means the Rocks isn’t as frugal as the standard Viva, claiming 60.1mpg against that model’s 62.8mpg figure.