Vauxhall Vivaro triumphs at MPG Marathon

The Vauxhall Vivaro has won this year's MPG Marathon in the commercial vehicle category with a figure of 55mpg.

The 114hp 2-litre CDTi Vivaro, driven by MPG Marathon regular Andrew Duerden and co-driver Jim Smith, bettered Vauxhall's claimed combined mpg figure of 34.4mpg by just over 60%, making it the overall winner.

Duerdan says: "To achieve a 60% improvement really shows that van drivers can achieve superb results by applying a responsible approach to their driving."

The British-built van was competing against the Mercedes-Benz Eco-Start and Citroën Nemo 1.4HDI sensodrive. The compact French van beat the Vivaro in terms of outright fuel consumption (75.8mpg versus the Vauxhall's 55mpg), however, it could only better it's own claimed fuel figure by 20%.

The MPG Marathon is an annual two-day event that sees vehicles competing in different categories across a 350-mile route to beat manufacturers' claimed combined fuel-consumption figures.