Review of the Vauxhall Combo-e

The Vauxhall Combo-e is a compact electric van that offers a versatile body type, making it perfect for urban deliveries and businesses looking to reduce their emissions. It features a practical design, fast charging capabilities, and good performance. 

Rivals to the Vauxhall Combo-e include the Citroen e-Berlingo, Toyota ProAce City Electric, Renault Kangoo E-Tech, and Peugeot e-Partner.  

Our Vauxhall Combo-e review covers:

• Nicely designed exterior with a fashionable front grille
• Practical and well-built interior
• Load volume ranged from 3.3m3 to 3.9m3 
• 50kWh battery powering a 100kW motor
• Two trim levels: Prime and Pro

Pros:

• Impressive payload
• Rapid charging capabilities
• Manoeuvrable and practical on the road

Cons:

• Only one battery option
• Range could do with some improvement
• More expensive than the Combo Diesel

The exterior of the Combo-e has been designed well. It has a sleek and aerodynamic profile that makes it stand out from larger and bolder vans, and there are a few nice features, such as a minimalist grille and refined headlights.

There are two seats in the front of the Combo-e, and each passenger should have no issues getting comfortable thanks to ample leg and headroom. There are also two wheelbase lengths available, L1 and L2, with the larger L2 adding a maximum load length of 350mm.

The cabin of the Combo-e features 15 storage compartments, so you're definitely not short of places to store all your tools and gadgets. The standout feature is a convenient full-width overhead storage shelf that runs above the dashboard. This is practical for items you need quick access to and don't want to store in the rear.  

Load volume comes in at 3.3m3 for the L1 van and 3.9m3 for the L2, which is competitive with the Combo-e's rivals. Payload varies depending on specification, but it ranges between 750kg and 800kg.

The Combo-e has basically the same interior as the regular Combo, so getting comfortable is a breeze. On the standard trim, the seat is four-way adjustable, you can move the steering wheel to your preference, and the materials used feel high-quality and built to last.

You get a five-inch touchscreen radio on the dashboard with DAB, Bluetooth, USB connection, and Vauxhall Connect. If you want an all-encompassing infotainment system, you'll need to upgrade to the Pro trim, where you get an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. There's also an option to add a head-up display and sat-nav.

Two trim levels are available: Prime and Pro.

Prime comes with 16-inch steel wheels with centre caps, air conditioning, a four-way adjustable driver's seat, a nearside sliding side-access door, electrically adjustable/heated door mirrors, cruise control with speed limiter, and an electronic stability programme with traction control.

Pro adds to this with 16-inch steel wheels with full-diameter wheel trims, a six-way adjustable driver's seat with manual lumbar adjustment, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a FlexCargo Pack, a rear-view camera, automatic lighting control, and rain-sensitive windscreen wipers.

The Combo-e has a 50kWh battery which powers a 100kW motor to turn the front wheels. It equates to 136bhp, has a top speed of 81mph, and accelerates from 0-62mph in 11.7 seconds.

It has an official range of 171 miles which is on par with its rivals but falls short of Vauxhall's larger Vivaro Electric. One big plus of the Combo-e is that it comes with fast charging capabilities, meaning that it can charge from 0-80% in around 30 minutes using a rapid charger.

Get behind the wheel of the Combo-e, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by its performance. It has excellent handling on the road, particularly in urban environments, meaning it is agile and responsive on tight city roads and car parks.

Regarding ride quality, the Combo-e offers a composed and comfortable experience. It easily absorbs cracks in the road and tackles bigger potholes well, which is essential, especially if you've got fragile cargo on board.

You also get a choice of three driving modes, Eco, Normal, and Power. You start as default in normal, which slightly restricts the motor's performance by dropping available power to 80kW. If you don't like the sound of this, avoid Eco mode. It restricts power to 60kW, so it should only be used when you're running really low on charge.

For maximum performance, select Power mode, which uses the motor's full capacity of 100kW to give you more throttle response.

Prices for the new Vauxhall Combo-e start from £39,960.00 OTR* or to lease from £316.22 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Combo-e? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.