Motoring with Joe Rayfus: The new Opel Movano is a big van that’s all business

It’s not often a van surprises you – they’re tools first and foremost, designed for purpose rather than pleasure. But after a full week behind the wheel of the new Opel Movano 2.2-litre turbo diesel in L3 H2 spec, I came away genuinely impressed by how well Opel has balanced refinement, practicality, and old-fashioned get-the-job-done ability.

This long-wheelbase, medium-roof version which I tested, offers a very usable blend of space and manoeuvrability, and it’s priced competitively too, retailing from €40,495 + VAT (plus delivery). That undercuts some of its more high-profile rivals while offering serious capability.

Visually, the new Movano has a confident, squared-off stance. It doesn’t shout for attention, but it looks like a van that knows what it’s doing. The body-coloured grille is a nice touch on this spec, and the overall shape is clearly designed around maximising internal volume. The 15-inch steel wheels are unremarkable, but perfectly suited to a working van.

Open the big rear barn doors (which swing open wide enough to make life easy in tight yards), and the space inside is impressive: over 13 cubic metres of load volume, with a low floor height and wide aperture. During the week, I loaded it up with everything from fence panels and concrete ‘H’ posts to tonne bags of stone – not once did I find it lacking in space or usability.

Under the bonnet, the Movano is powered by Opel’s 2.2-litre turbo diesel with 140bhp and 340Nm of torque. That mightn’t sound like a powerhouse on paper, but in the real world, it’s plenty for a van of this size. Even with a decent load in the back, it pulled strongly through the six-speed manual gearbox and never felt laboured whether driven empty or with a load.

What really stood out, though, was the refinement. It’s not silent, of course, but road and engine noise are well managed, and the ride quality is surprisingly smooth – especially on the motorway. Around town, it’s easy to place despite the size, and visibility is excellent thanks to the large mirrors and relatively upright driving position.

Fuel economy for the week worked out at just under 9.4 litres per 100km, and that included everything from urban runs to longer motorway hauls. For a van this size, that’s very respectable.

Inside, the cabin is honest and no-frills, but it’s thoughtfully laid out. The Darko Black cloth seats are firm but supportive, and there's decent adjustment in the driver's seat – six-way manual in this trim. The layout is ergonomic, and all the major controls fall to hand easily.

The 5" colour screen is basic by today’s standards, but it does the job for radio and Bluetooth phone streaming. There's no touchscreen or built-in navigation in this spec, but with DAB, Bluetooth and steering wheel controls, you're not exactly slumming it. Plus, let’s be honest – most van drivers these days rely on their phone’s sat nav anyway.

Manual air-conditioning kept the cabin cool even during a rare spell of Irish spring sunshine, and small touches like the steering wheel-mounted controls and decent cubby space made day-to-day life more pleasant. One of the big leaps forward for the Movano comes in terms of standard safety tech. The GSVR2 Safety Pack brings with it Auto Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent Speed Assist and even Driver Attention Alert. That’s a seriously strong safety suite for a van at this price point.

Hill start assist, cruise control and traffic sign recognition are also included, and while some systems are a bit eager (the Lane Keep Assist, in particular, can be intrusive), it’s reassuring to know they’re there.

The Movano also comes with a full-size spare – a must-have for anyone doing serious mileage on mixed road surfaces.

The new Opel Movano in L3 H2 diesel form is a deeply competent van. It doesn’t chase gimmicks or overload you with gadgets – instead, it nails the basics: a strong engine, a big and useful load space, decent driving dynamics, a comfortable cabin and real-world running costs that won’t break the bank.