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VAUXHALL BRAVA - TOUGH AND FRUGAL
00:00 25 Aug 1994
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Unlike the good ol' US of A, this country has never taken to the
pickup truck. Which is a pity because there are some nice ones
available. I know there've been lemons like the Morris Marina
pickup but really things have improved since then!
The Vauxhall Brava 4x4 pickup we've just been using is a case in point. It's really an Isuzu but badged for the UK market it passes for a Vauxhall - and a couple of years ago it'd have been a Bedford! But that's by the by and we're in the here and now.
The Brava is tough-looking and stands tall but it isn't so high off the ground that you need a ladder to climb in. Once in it feels all of a piece and the non-turbocharged (but direct injection) diesel fires up with a muted clatter that soon settles to a quiet tickover. The diesel now has 30% more torque and 43% more power than its 2.2 litre predecessor - and it shows.
Into first gear and away, the biggish (2.5 litre) diesel gets rolling fast enough to stay with the traffic. You become aware that the power steering is a little overpowered at lower speeds but it becomes better once higher speeds are reached. It's standard on 4x4 Bravas (and diesel 4x2s) and you'd be wise to specify it on petrol 4x2 models too!
The diesel Brava is no fireball but it manages to keep pace if at the expense of economy when loaded. The 30mpg-plus unladen soon drops to around 20 to 24mpg when driven fast with a load up.
Having said that, the Brava copes easily with a 70mph cruising gait where possible. Braking initially seems a little over-servoed but you soon get used to it and there's no doubting the system's effectiveness.
The load however is respectable at around 1t. Most pickups in the UK seem to run around half-empty and in that state there's no reason to doubt that a diesel Brava should average 30mpg overall. Which is good for a vehicle capable of some heavyish work.
Couple it with a useful 75 litre capacity fuel tank and visits to the pumps should be rare.
The load-bed is a respectable 2295mm long and 1530mm wide, but it does drop to just 1070mm between wheelarches. There are fixtures for fastening a tilt and a ladder tie bar with retaining ears is standard.
We didn't try mud-plugging, but loaded to around three-quarters capacity, the Brava made light work of a muddy quarry's steep rutted tracks and haul roads.
Four wheel drive can be engaged on the move and the front freewheeling hubs lock-in automatically (you do have to reverse for a metre or so to unlock them). The low-ratio transfer box is easily engaged via the same short lever next to the gear lever. In low ratio the Brava felt as if it would climb up a house wall. Certainly it climbed everything we tried.
The cab is well set up, comfortable and quiet. There's tinted glass, cloth trimmed seats and a powerful radio. Electric headlamp levelling removes the laden/unladen dazzle nightmare.
It's tough enough to work but nice enough to pose in when the job's finished.
Engine: 2.5 litre DI diesel 55kW at 4,000rpm
Torque: 160Nm at 2,300rpm.
Wheelbase: 3,025mm
Track: 1395mm front
1400mm rear
Brakes: power assisted ventilated discs front, drums rear
Gross vehicle weight: 2650kg
Unladen (kerb) weight: 1580kg
Gross train mass (towing): 3495kg
The Vauxhall Brava 4x4 pickup we've just been using is a case in point. It's really an Isuzu but badged for the UK market it passes for a Vauxhall - and a couple of years ago it'd have been a Bedford! But that's by the by and we're in the here and now.
The Brava is tough-looking and stands tall but it isn't so high off the ground that you need a ladder to climb in. Once in it feels all of a piece and the non-turbocharged (but direct injection) diesel fires up with a muted clatter that soon settles to a quiet tickover. The diesel now has 30% more torque and 43% more power than its 2.2 litre predecessor - and it shows.
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Into first gear and away, the biggish (2.5 litre) diesel gets rolling fast enough to stay with the traffic. You become aware that the power steering is a little overpowered at lower speeds but it becomes better once higher speeds are reached. It's standard on 4x4 Bravas (and diesel 4x2s) and you'd be wise to specify it on petrol 4x2 models too!
The diesel Brava is no fireball but it manages to keep pace if at the expense of economy when loaded. The 30mpg-plus unladen soon drops to around 20 to 24mpg when driven fast with a load up.
Having said that, the Brava copes easily with a 70mph cruising gait where possible. Braking initially seems a little over-servoed but you soon get used to it and there's no doubting the system's effectiveness.
The load however is respectable at around 1t. Most pickups in the UK seem to run around half-empty and in that state there's no reason to doubt that a diesel Brava should average 30mpg overall. Which is good for a vehicle capable of some heavyish work.
Couple it with a useful 75 litre capacity fuel tank and visits to the pumps should be rare.
The load-bed is a respectable 2295mm long and 1530mm wide, but it does drop to just 1070mm between wheelarches. There are fixtures for fastening a tilt and a ladder tie bar with retaining ears is standard.
We didn't try mud-plugging, but loaded to around three-quarters capacity, the Brava made light work of a muddy quarry's steep rutted tracks and haul roads.
Four wheel drive can be engaged on the move and the front freewheeling hubs lock-in automatically (you do have to reverse for a metre or so to unlock them). The low-ratio transfer box is easily engaged via the same short lever next to the gear lever. In low ratio the Brava felt as if it would climb up a house wall. Certainly it climbed everything we tried.
The cab is well set up, comfortable and quiet. There's tinted glass, cloth trimmed seats and a powerful radio. Electric headlamp levelling removes the laden/unladen dazzle nightmare.
It's tough enough to work but nice enough to pose in when the job's finished.
Engine: 2.5 litre DI diesel 55kW at 4,000rpm
Torque: 160Nm at 2,300rpm.
Wheelbase: 3,025mm
Track: 1395mm front
1400mm rear
Brakes: power assisted ventilated discs front, drums rear
Gross vehicle weight: 2650kg
Unladen (kerb) weight: 1580kg
Gross train mass (towing): 3495kg
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