Vauxhall Combo Life Energy 1.5 Turbo D 2018 UK review

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Tom Morgan - Autocar deputy digital editor

27 August 2018

What is it?

With our ever-growing appetite for SUVs having left a big dent in the demand for traditional people carriers, van-based MPVs are some of the last bastions of practicality.

The recipe (five or seven spacious seats, sliding doors for easy access, ample room in the back for almost anything you’d care to transport) was established almost two decades ago by the Citroen Berlingo, and now Vauxhall is following suit with the Combo Life.

Unlike the last-generation Combo, which only ever made it to the UK in van form, the Combo Life was designed from the ground up as a car first. That’s important, because it also needs to appeal to Zafira tourer customers, now that model has been retired.

It follows the Grandland X SUV as only the second Vauxhall to be based on new owner PSA Group’s EMP2 architecture, and shares its platform with the new Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot’s crossover-inspired Rifter.

The Combo shares many of its underpinnings with the Grandland X, including a MacPherson strut and torsion beam rear suspension setup. It will be offered in 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo petrol and 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel forms, but only the highest-powered 128bhp diesel can be optioned with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

This most practical of MPVs will also arrive as a long wheelbase variant, and with space for an extra two passengers in the rear. A hybrid version should follow at some point, too.

The Combo is tested here in short wheelbase, five-seater guise, with power from the entry-level 99bhp diesel sent through a five-speed manual gearbox.

Our car’s top-spec Energy trim includes 16in alloy wheels, body-coloured exterior trim, front and rear parking sensors, and an 8in touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

What's it like?

There’s only so much the design department could do with the Combo’s appearance, which eschews any semblance of sporty styling for a focus on practicality.

Even so, the clean lines and oversized grille up front give it a refined (if utilitarian) look. Short front and rear overhangs and a higher bonnet make it look less boxy than rivals, too.

It’s from within the cabin you begin to see where the Combo started life as a car first, rather than a van: it is roomy, with ample space for every passenger and a general fit and finish that’s very good considering the price.

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There are a few telltale signs, like the abundance of hard plastics and the in-dash gear stick, but it’s an otherwise pleasant enough place to be.

Practical, too. Throw those sliding doors open and there’s both space and the required ISOFIX mounts to install a child seat in every one of the back row seats. This tester was still finding cargo bins and hidden storage after three days behind the wheel.

There’s 597 litres of boot space with those seats in place (not quite as much as the new Citroen Berlingo) but fold them down and you’ll have a cavernous 2126 litres of storage.

Overall cabin refinement is very good, with little road noise creeping into the spacious interior. Driver and front passenger are well catered for by the responsive 8in touchscreen, and while navigation is a £450 option, anyone with a modern smartphone can probably forego it seeing how Android and Apple CarPlay are included as standard. The £400 parking pack add a panoramic reversing camera, which is well worth ticking on the options list.

By making few concessions in the name of dynamism, the Combo Life has a rather comfortable ride. Only the most craterous of road imperfections are enough to unsettle the car, which is quiet, refined and suitably un-van-like at a cruise.

Large wing mirrors and an upright windscreen mean wind noise is more noticable, and a six-speed gearbox may be better suited to motorway speeds than the five-speed of our test model, but longer journeys shouldn’t leave you exhausted. As it is, the gear stick has a long throw and feels a little vague.

It hardly delivers and engaging driving experience, but steering is assured and accurate. Body roll is to expected from the boxy shape, but it can still surprise with decent levels of grip.

Progress is made leisurely but confidently, with smooth pull at lower revs and a respectable degree of responsiveness when called upon to overtake. The more potent diesel engine may be more suited to running with a full brace of passengers and luggage, mind.

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Should I buy one?

If you’re committed to practicality over design flair, this van-derived people carrier makes a strong case for itself. The Combo has styling more restrained than Citroen’s Berlingo, and gives off less of a crossover vibe than the Peugeot Rifter.

Anyone considering an MPV is largely doing so because they need the space they provide, and as such can expect to be driving with a full load a lot of the time. That may be asking a lot from the entry-level engine, suggesting another model is probably the highlight of the range.

You do sacrifice the kind of driver engagement and kerb appeal you might find in a similarly-sized SUV, but the Vauxhall beats almost all of them on price. It also looks to be better value than its PSA cousins - even if it doesn’t have quite the same presence on the road.

Vauxhall Combo Life Energy 1.5 Turbo D specification

Where Surrey, UK Price £22,500 On sale Now Engine 1,499cc, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, diesel Power 99bhp at 3500rpm Torque 184lb ft at 1750rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual Kerb weight 1398kg Top speed 107mph 0-62mph 12.7sec Fuel economy 67.3mpg CO2 111g/km Rivals Peugeot Rifter, Citroen Berlingo

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Vauxhall Combo Life 1.5 Energy 2018 UK first drive

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