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In its original post-2018 form, the fourth generation version of Vauxhall's Combo LCV combined French engineering with the Griffin brand's extensive knowledge of what British businesses really want from a compact yet spacious commercial vehicle. With this model, that meant clever technology, class-leading efficiency and very competitive practicality stats, including the option of a lengthier 'L2' body shape. On the used market, the result, an International Van of the Year-winner, could very well be your right hand van.
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History
Small vans were once very small indeed, essentially superminis with blanked-out rear windows. Fine if you were an envelope courier or a florist, but not much use otherwise. Back in 1993, one LCV design changed all that, predictably brought to us by the UK's biggest van franchise, Vauxhall, and carrying a name that's now familiar to around a quarter of a million satisfied owners across Britain: the Combo. In 2018, four decades on, it was still going strong, bigger and more practical than ever before in this fourth generation guise.
The thinking behind the Combo's original cleverness seems quite simple now: take a small car platform, but build a properly shaped load space cube upon it, a concept rather crudely executed in the original little Vauxhall Corsa-based MK1 'Combo B' design, but delivered with a little more finesse by the second generation 'Combo C' model launched in 2001. The MK3 'Combo D' model of 2011 (which was based on a Fiat Doblo platform) went up a size, so as to be able to compete with really spacious small vans like Citroen's Berlingo and Peugeot's Partner. There was no doubt that this replacement fourth generation 'Combo E' model could do that because it shared virtually every element of its design with these two Gallic contenders, reflecting Vauxhall's then-recent change of ownership to the French PSA Group. Later, it shared its design with two other competing small LCVs, the Fiat Doblo and the Toyota Proace City.
In 2018, the Combo (by then known as the 'Combo Cargo' to differentiate it from the 'Combo Life' passenger-carrying version of this design) represented the entry-point to Vauxhall's LCV line-up. It was the kind of van you bought if your business needed what the industry called a 'B'-segment commercial model: a compact LCV that was a bit larger than the brand's old Corsavan, but a bit smaller than the Griffin maker's mid-sized Vivaro model, which by now also featured PSA Group engineering. There were of course plenty of other 'B'-segment vans that competed against this Vauxhall, so this Combo was designed to try and stand out.
Buyers got low running costs courtesy of an engine range primarily based around an extremely frugal 1.5-litre diesel unit. And smart technology that included a clever onboard weighing system and a clever surround rear-vision camera. Plus there were a couple of body lengths and two or three seat options, along with a Crew Van variant. A full-electric version arrived in 2021. Diesel and EV versions of this Combi Cargo sold in this form until early 2024, when this design was updated with a facelifted model.
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What you get
The fourth generation 'E'-series version of this Combo had a very different look to its predecessors - and a slightly different design approach too. The nose section was crafted to deliver what Vauxhall hoped was a 'robust appearance'. The brand's usual prominent Griffin badge on the grille is flanked by chromed wings that flow into angular headlamps that could be specified with a High beam assist system.
Inside, Vauxhall was allowed to put its own stamp on this cabin, with brand-specific design for the gear lever, the stalks off the steering column, the instrument dials, the steering wheel and the infotainment graphics. Everything's of much higher quality than it was in the previous generation model, with a more horizontally-orientated architecture and smarter materials on the dashboard, the centre console and the doors. There's a bit of extra optional high-tech - the optional 'Permanent Rear View Camera' for instance - plus plusher versions get a much more sophisticated centre-dash infotainment screen, which is 8-inches in size. The seats were much improved too. And there's plenty of cabin practicality, courtesy of 15 different storage compartments
Time to focus on practicality. There are two Combo Cargo body shapes to consider - the standard 4.4m-long standard-length version and a lengthier 4.75m 'L2' variant which has a proper long wheelbase platform, so can take significantly more inside. Even the standard-length Combo Cargo model has a load area big enough to swallow a couple of Euro pallets (thanks to a useful 1,229mm of width between the wheel arches) and can offer 3.3m3 of carriage capacity and 1,817mm of load space length. The bigger 'L2' version can increase those figures to 3.9m3 of capacity and 2,167mm of load space length. There's a minimum of 1,236mm of interior height. With both body shapes, you can extend the capacity by an extra 0.5m3 by using the clever 'FlexCargo' modular bench seat package that was an important option with this fourth generation 'E'-series model. Find a Combo fitted with it and this will enable you to flatten the outer passenger seat into the floor and push through longer items into the cab.
What else? Well payload capacity is rated at either fractionally above or fractionally below a tonne - which is class-competitive. And from new, a clever optional 'Overload Indicator' could be fitted in the cargo bay to inform a Combo cargo operator when the vehicle's maximum authorised payload has been exceeded. As for efficiency, well with the volume 100hp diesel powerplant that most Combo van buyers will choose, you're looking at between 66 and 68mpg on the combined cycle and somewhere between 109 and 112g/km of CO2. There's a three year / 60,000 mile warranty. And Vauxhall's vast network of specialist LCV dealers to look after you.
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What to look for
This Combo Cargo generally has a strong reliability record, but our ownership survey did throw up a few issues to look out for. We are going to concentrate on the diesel model here, because that's the most common version most used vehicle buyers will be looking for. The exhaust gas recirculation valve commonly fails on black pump-fuelled models. Signs from include rough idling, increased fuel consumption and reduced power. Regular cleaning can alleviate this issue. We also come across timing belt issues. The timing belt requires replacement at specific intervals, usually 60,000 miles. If the previous owner hasn't done that, this can result in huge engine damage. Check the service history to see whether the timing belt has been changed when it should have been. We've also come across gearbox problems with the manual transmission, which can develop synchromesh wear, particularly in 2nd and 3rd gears. On your test drive, look out for grinding noises when changing gear - and for difficulty were engaging reverse.
We've come across various electrical system faults, particularly regarding the battery management set-up and the alternator. Look out for dashboard warning lights that are illuminating randomly. We also came across diesel particulate filter blockages, usually with versions of this van that have mainly been used in town. And there have been a few turbocharger failures, usually caused due to oil starvation or excessive carbon build-up. Signs of this include loss of power, blue smoke from the exhaust and whistling noises. The front suspension arms and bushes sometimes wear prematurely - look out for knocking sounds going over bumps. And we've heard of fuel injector problems - the injectors can become clogged or fail completely. If the Combo you're trying runs roughly, starts poorly and exhibits excessive smoke, this could be why.
We've heard of clutch wear - watch for slipping, juddering and high biting points. And there have been issues with door mechanism failures, the braking system, the air conditioning, the oil pump, the starter motor and the windscreen wiper mechanism. Insist on a full service history and negotiate on the price if the cargo area is scraped and dented. The electric version has got a reasonable reliability record, but has exhibited software faults. Test drive very carefully. And make sure the vehicle charges as it should and that the charging lead is not damaged.
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Replacement parts
(approx prices, based on a 2019 Combo Cargo 1.5 102hp - ex-VAT - autodoc.co.uk) As with most Vauxhall models, spare parts are reasonably priced and very plentiful. Front brake pads sell in the £21-£30 bracket - rear pads are from around £17. Front brake discs range in the £28-£65 bracket (rears are priced from around £25). An air filter is in the £7-£32 bracket, a fuel filter is around £12-£27 and an oil filter is around £6-£21. A wiper blade is in the £5-£43 bracket. A water pump and timing belt kit is in the £80-£152 bracket. You'll pay in the £110-£240 bracket for a starter motor.
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On the road
In the days before vans borrowed car-like underpinnings, they certainly never used to be as comfortable to drive as this. A firm ride used to be a given with an LCV, courtesy of the stiff springs needed for heavy payloads. This Combo Cargo though, confines the LCV elements of its engineering to the places on the chassis that they're actually needed. As for engines, well this was one of the last Vauxhall compact vans with a powerplant line-up primarily based around diesel power. It's appropriate then, that this 'E'-series Combo featured a state-of-the-art 1.5-litre Turbo D unit, introduced initially in the range in 130hp form before being also made available in 75hp and 100hp guises to replace the older tech 1.6-litre diesel powerplant offered from launch. There was also a 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol option with either 110 or 130hp. The most powerful diesel got the option of the brand's 8-speed QuickShift auto gearbox, a mandatory fitment on the top petrol unit.
Talking of transmission, the shift quality of the manual box could be slicker but from launch we did appreciate the improvements in highway refinement that the proven engines delivered in this Vauxhall. We also really liked the optional 'Permanent Rear View Camera' system which can function as a rear view mirror and improves passenger-side visibility. Further peace of mind can come if you find a Combo whose original owner spent extra on the extra-cost camera-driven safety kit that could be provided with this model. For those operators needing to deliver in places like slippery building sites, Vauxhall provided the option of its clever 'IntelliGrip' traction control system for extra front wheel traction. The take-up on this was rare.
What about the EV version? Well of course, a Combo Electric isn't any different to drive than its e-Partner, e-Berlingo, E-Doblo or Proace City Electric Stellantis Group EV cousins. Start up and there's the usual beep as you get the sign that all is ready to pull away; which you do in the default 'Normal' drive mode. The other selectable drive settings are 'Eco' and 'Power'. You'll need the 'Power' mode to unleash the electric motor's full 134bhp output, though if you drive like that, you will of course get nowhere near the 50kWh battery's WLTP-rated best driving range figure of up to 175 miles. Obviously that'll fall with heavy loads in the back.
For day-to-day use, it's better to stick to the 'Normal' mode, which restricts output to 108bhp; or possibly around town to 'Eco' mode, though that gives you just 81bhp and restricts the climate system. 'Normal' mode should be fine for realistic maximisation of range, particularly if you select the 'B' transmission setting that increases brake regeneration. As usual with EVs, if you do need performance, it's only a right foot jab away; 62mph from rest occupies 11.2s, but the instant response you get to 30mph makes this LCV feel quicker than that. Overtakes are easy too; 50-75 mph takes 8.9s.
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Overall
And in summary? Well you won't see this Combo Cargo van making too many headlines, but the reality is that it was one of the most complete vehicles that the brand made in the 2018-2023 period. Quietly concentrating on the things that really matter to operators, to many it'll be invisible, just one of those fixtures of the urban environment that blend into the background. But then, sometimes the very best designs have the very lowest impact.
What's important is that this Combo Cargo does more than enough to be spotted by the people who count. People who might find a used version of this Vauxhall difficult to ignore in their search for a compact van from this era. Job done.
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