THE ELECTRIC LIFE ORCHESTRA (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Even smaller MPVs offer EV options these days. Jonathan Crouch drives Vauxhall's improved Combo Life Electric

Ten Second Reviewword count: 82

Vauxhall's fully electric small MPV, this Combo Life Electric, gets a useful update here both inside and out, but the main change is a significantly greater driving range between charges. As a result, like its Peugeot, Citroen and Toyota design counterparts, it might be a tempting option if you're looking for a full-electric compact family car and don't want a compact SUV. Here, there's the option of a 7-seat cabin too, which is quite rare to find in an EV at present.

Backgroundword count: 98

Because current Vauxhall vans must all have fully electric powertrain options these days, MPV customers also get offered BEV technology. This is provided both with the large Vivaro Life Electric model and also with this smaller Combo Life Electric, which shares its design with two French counterparts, the Citroen e-Berlingo and the Peugeot E-Rifter. As with those two models, this battery Combo has been significantly updated here, with the longer driving range, smarter looks and an updated front-of-cabin experience with enhanced media connectivity. But the boxy practicalities are just as before and are unaffected by the battery installation.

Driving Experienceword count: 305

We'd hoped that this improved Combo Life Electric might get the same improved 54kWh battery lately fitted to the closely related Corsa Electric. Instead, like its cousins, Peugeot's E-Rifter, the Citroen e-Berlingo and the Toyota Proace City Verso Electric, this Vauxhall gets a less dramatically improved 52kWh battery which is now supposed to be able to take the car up 213 miles between charges, a useful 31 miles further than before. Much the same electric motor propels this MPV as it did before, a 136PS unit with 270Nm of pulling power but a particularly modest top speed (just 82mph). And you'll struggle to get that (and particularly eager acceleration) if you select the 'Eco' drive mode necessary to get anywhere near the quoted range stat. This reduces the powertrain's total output to just 80PS and also restricts the climate system to conserve power. Vauxhall recommends that you do most of your driving in the 'Normal' setting, which increases the motor output to 107PS. The top 'Power' mode you'll need for the full output isn't really intended for sporty driving but for situations when you're carrying heavy loads. There's a three-level regenerative braking system now operable via paddles behind the steering wheel. The fiercest setting increases the level of regen braking to a point where the car slows so much when you come off throttle that you'll very rarely need to use the brake, unless you're coming to a complete stop. And on the move? Well like all electric vehicles, this one has a bit of a weight problem - that drivetrain adds over 300kgs of bulk, but that arguably helps the Combo Life Electric when it comes to ride quality; you'll feel things like speed humps keenly, but at speed on the open road, it handles tarmac tears a little better than you might expect.

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