FINE FAMILY COMBO? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 110

In 2021, Vauxhall brought us a fully electrified version of its Combo compact MPV, this Combo-e Life/ Combo Life Electric model featuring remarkably few compromises over its combustion engine counterpart. There's quite a price premium to pay for the BEV drivetrain, but if you can justify it and cope with the 174 mile driving range of the earlier version of this model, this Vauxhall, like its Peugeot and Citroen design counterparts, might be 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.

Modelsword count: 4

5dr SUV (EV) [SE]

Historyword count: 149

Because from 2021 onwards, all Vauxhall vans got fully electric powertrain options, the brand's MPV customers got offered BEV technology too. We saw this first with the large Vivaro-e Life model, which was followed shortly after by this smaller Combo-e Life, which shared its design with two French counterparts, the Citroen e-Berlingo and the Peugeot E-Rifter. Like those two in-house rivals, this one got the 50kWh battery that by 2021 Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall seemed to fit to every EV they were making, even the biggest MPVs. In the Combo of course, a battery of that size was far more appropriate and it was built into the car in a way that didn't compromise cabin space. The Combo-e Life was re-named the Combo Electric in 2022. And was significantly facelifted and given a longer driving range in mid 2024, but it's the earlier 2021-2023-era models we look at here.

What You Getword count: 289

The practical, squarical shape makes this Combo-e Life model's remit pretty clear. Its two design stablemates, Citroen's e-Berlingo and Peugeot's E-Rifter, try in different ways to add a bit of visual spice to this sensible, versatile LCV-like package. That's far less the case with this Vauxhall, though the Griffin brand is keen to point out the way that this model's high bonnet and short front overhangs deliver what the brand hopes is a 'balanced, robust and confident' demeanour. There's plenty of Vauxhall brand identity at the front and two crisp lines flow down the raised bonnet to the grille with its familiar Griffin badging in an effort to impart a feeling of stability. As with this model's Citroen e-Berlingo and E-Rifter counterparts, you get a choice of wheelbases. There's the 4.4-metre-long 'M' (for 'Medium') body shape, which can be had with either five or seven seats. And the 4.75-metre-long 'XL' body style, which comes in seven seat form only. The second row features a 60/40 split-folding seats - or (with plusher trim) three individual chairs. And the front passenger seat can be fully folded extending the length of the load area so that even large items, such as flat-pack furniture or ladders, can be carried inside. Get a 'Medium'-length model whose original owner paid extra for a third seating row and the rear pews will be for very small youngsters only. Even in the 'XL' version, the rearmost row is really designed for kids. Finally, let's consider boot space. Medium variants with five seats feature up to 597-litres of cargo capacity, extending up to 2,126-litres of space with the rear row folded. While 'XL' variants come with 850-litres of space, and up to 2,693-litres with the rear rows folded.

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