Installing a 2020 vivaro rear camera is one of those upgrades that you'll wonder how you ever lived without once it's finally in place. Let's be real for a second: the 2020 Vauxhall Vivaro is a fantastic van—it's smooth, it's efficient, and it looks pretty sharp for a workhorse—but visibility isn't exactly its strongest suit. If you're driving the panel version without rear windows, you're basically flying blind whenever you put it in reverse. Relying on side mirrors is fine for the open road, but when you're trying to squeeze into a tight spot at a job site or a supermarket, that extra set of "eyes" at the back is a total lifesaver.
Why You Actually Need a Camera in This Van
You might think you're a pro at maneuvering large vehicles, and maybe you are, but the 2020 Vivaro has a few specific blind spots that can be tricky. Because the 2020 model moved to the EMP2 platform (the same one used by Peugeot and Citroen), the body shape is a bit more streamlined, but those rear pillars are still thick. One stray low-level bollard or a bicycle left on the ground is all it takes to ruin your day and your bumper.
Adding a camera doesn't just prevent accidents; it also takes the stress out of the daily grind. There's a certain kind of "parking anxiety" that comes with driving a van this size in busy cities. Having a clear view of exactly how many inches you have left before you tap the car behind you makes a world of difference. Plus, if you do a lot of towing, a camera makes hitching up a trailer a one-person job instead of a "shout-at-your-mate-to-tell-you-when-to-stop" job.
Choosing the Right Setup for Your 2020 Vivaro
When you start looking for a 2020 vivaro rear camera, you'll realize there are a few different ways to go about it. You don't necessarily have to spend a fortune at a dealership to get a factory-style finish. In fact, many aftermarket options are actually better than the original equipment because they offer higher resolution or wider viewing angles.
The Brake Light Camera Option
This is probably the most popular choice for Vivaro owners. Instead of drilling a hole in the metal of your van (which nobody likes doing because of rust concerns), you replace the high-level third brake light with a new unit that has a camera built right into the housing. It looks completely stock, it's high enough up to give you a "bird's eye" view of the ground, and it keeps the lens relatively clean from road spray. It's a neat, tidy solution that fits perfectly into the existing recess.
The License Plate Frame Camera
If you're on a budget or want something even simpler, there are cameras that mount directly onto the license plate or the handle of the rear door. While these are easier to install, they sit much lower to the ground. This is fine for seeing walls, but you might lose some of that perspective you get from a higher mounting point. Also, being lower down means the lens gets dirty much faster when it rains.
Dealing with the Screen and Display
Once you've picked the camera, you have to decide where the image is going to show up. This is where things get interesting for the 2020 model.
If your Vivaro came with the factory touchscreen infotainment system, you might be able to get an interface kit that allows the camera feed to pop up right on the dash when you hit reverse. This is the cleanest look, but it can be a bit more technical to wire up.
If you don't have the fancy screen, or you don't want to mess with the factory wiring, a rearview mirror monitor is a brilliant alternative. These clip over your existing mirror (or replace it entirely) and look like a normal mirror until you put the van in reverse. Then, a screen "appears" behind the glass. It's intuitive because you're already used to looking at the mirror when you're backing up.
The Installation Process: A Real-World Perspective
I won't sugarcoat it: running wires from the back of a van to the front can be a bit of a project. It's not necessarily hard, but it requires some patience. If you're doing it yourself, you'll want to set aside a Saturday morning and grab a few basic tools.
The biggest challenge is usually getting the cable through the rubber grommets between the rear doors and the main body. A little bit of silicone spray or even some soapy water can help the wire slide through without tearing anything. Once you're inside the van, you can usually tuck the wire along the edge of the headliner or behind the plastic trim panels along the floor.
Running the Wires Without Losing Your Mind
One tip that saves a lot of swearing: use a "fish tape" or even an old wire coat hanger to pull the cables through the tight spots. And when you're tapping into power, the easiest place is usually the reverse light wiring. This way, the camera only turns on when the van is actually in reverse. Most 2020 vivaro rear camera kits come with a long trigger wire that handles this for you, so when your reverse lights get power, the screen in the front knows to wake up.
Wireless vs. Wired: The Great Debate
You'll see plenty of "wireless" camera kits online, and they sound tempting. No long cables to run? Sounds great! But there's a catch. Vans are basically big metal boxes, and metal is great at blocking wireless signals.
While modern digital wireless kits are much better than the old analog ones (which used to flicker whenever you drove past a microwave), a wired connection is still the king of reliability. If you use your van for work and you need it to work every single time without lag or interference, spend the extra hour running the wire. You'll thank yourself later when you aren't staring at a "No Signal" screen while trying to park in a hurry.
Features That Are Actually Worth the Money
When you're shopping around, you'll see a lot of specs thrown at you. Here's what actually matters for a 2020 vivaro rear camera:
- IP Rating: You want at least IP67 or IP68. This means the camera is waterproof and won't fog up the first time you hit it with a pressure washer.
- Night Vision: Most cameras have "infra-red" LEDs. Even if they don't look bright to the eye, they light up the area behind you like a flashlight on the screen. Since most van work happens in the dark during winter, this is essential.
- Viewing Angle: Look for something around 120 to 170 degrees. Anything less and you won't see the corners of your bumper. Anything more and the "fisheye" effect makes it hard to judge distances.
- Parking Guidelines: Having those little green, yellow, and red lines on the screen helps immensely with gauging how much space you have left.
Keeping Your Camera Working Long-Term
Once it's installed, there isn't much maintenance to do, but a little care goes a long way. Van rear ends are magnets for dirt and road grime. Get into the habit of giving the camera lens a quick wipe with your thumb or a cloth when you're loading up in the morning. If you want to get fancy, you can apply a tiny bit of rain-repellent spray (like Rain-X) to the lens. It helps water bead off so you don't get that "blurry underwater" look when it's pouring outside.
At the end of the day, a 2020 vivaro rear camera is a small investment that pays for itself the first time it stops you from backing into a post. Whether you go for a DIY kit or get a pro to tuck the wires away, it's easily one of the best quality-of-life upgrades you can make for your van. It makes the vehicle feel smaller, safer, and a whole lot easier to live with.