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A MORE SATISFYING COMBO BY ANDY ENRIGHT
When it comes to selecting a light van, Vauxhall’s Combo would figure on many operators’ shortlists. Attractive upfront pricing and reliable mechanicals based on the Corsa car Range make it a trusty little workhorse. Just as the Corsa Range has evolved, the Combo Range has subsequently followed suit. Vauxhall have listened to owner’s comments and made the van better than ever.
The Combo incorporates all the versatility of its rivals, but with excellent cargo space, payload capacity, comfort and safety. Whereas its predecessor had a fair amount of space in the back, the latest Combo is both taller and longer, giving it far greater everyday utility. At 4323mm, the Combo has been stretched to the tune of 93mm, the wheelbase being increased by a massive 236mm, exacerbating the growth yet further. A 1200mm maximum load height combined with a 1780mm load platform height and 1380mm width means that the Combo can easily take Europallets in the back and is amongst the largest in its class. The cab and the cargo area are now smoothly integrated into one aerodynamic shape, the higher windscreen giving an airier feel to the cabin. You will not be disappointed with the additional equipment the Combo has to offer. All models have power steering, a cabin pollen filter and air-recirculation system, four-speed heater fan with side-window demisters, illuminated load area and electric headlamp levelling. Safety is well provided for as all Combos come with twin airbags, seat belt pre tensioners and load limiters, Plus a pedal release system. Active head restraints and anti lock brakes can be specified at extra cost. A wide Range of accessories, such as florists' and dry cleaners' packs and bicycle carriers, are also available. A wide Range of entertainment options and even a radio/navigation system or a hands free GSM phone can be specified. Two modern common rail diesel engines are available. The 1.3 CDTI powerplant generates 70bhp, whilst the 1.7 CDTI musters 100bhp. Both engines will return an average fuel consumption figure of around 50mpg and are excellent if you’re planning on approaching the Combo’s 810kg payload limit with any regularity. Likewise you’ll opt for the diesel versions if you want to take advantage of the Combo’s 1200kg braked trailer towing capability. The 90bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine available is usefully quick too. All four-cylinder, four-valve engines boast high economic efficiency and low fuel consumption. Especially economical is the Combo 1.3 CDTi which will deliver ten per cent better fuel economy than its non-common rail diesel predecessor. The 1.3 CDTi turbo diesel with variable multiple direct injection is the entry-level diesel engine for the Combo. It is extremely compact -- in fact it is the world's smallest production common-rail unit. Maximum torque of 170 Nm also makes the 1.3 CDTi-powered models fun to drive. The premium Combo powerhouse is the 1.7 CDTi common-rail turbo diesel. With the same displacement, this engine produces a third more power than the previous 1.7 DTI unit, with considerably higher torque of 240 Nm, while fuel consumption remains equally low. The 1.7 CDTi is especially suitable for customers who place high value on dynamic driving performance. Rear disc brakes with 15 inch wheels and tyres will be standard on all 1.7 CDTi variants and also on the 1.3 CDTi high payload (2000) variants. The 1.4 ECOTEC engine with TWINPORT technology also delivers economic efficiency. Thanks to variable intake control as well as high exhaust gas recirculation rates, the intelligent fuel-saving TWINPORT technology substantially reduces fuel consumption, and 90bhp with a maximum torque of 125 Nm promises lively driving. The rear-loading bay can be accessed via a pair of wide opening optional sliding doors or through the rear doors that now feature strengthened stays to hold them in position. Should you fold the Combo’s front passenger seat down you’ll end up with a maximum load length of 2700mm. The latest Combo interior features more innovation in the form of a new generation of infotainment systems. These systems were introduced in the new Astra and set the benchmark with their functionality and intuitive operating concept. In essence, the interior comfort and sheer driveability means Combo thinks it is a car! The delightful thing about the Combo is that so many of the good ideas from the Corsa have filtered down to it. The days when vans were about as well specified as an isolation cell at Devil’s Island are long gone. With more owner operators than ever before, a van not only has to do the job, but has to make the driving environment a decent one. So it is that the Combo is actually very good fun to drive. There’s little of the usual unloaded van bounce that afflicts many rivals, the rear suspension taking care of changes in load admirably. Whilst none of the engines could be described as balls of fire, they get the job done well and with impressive economy. In fact there are times when it’s easy to forget you’re driving a van at all, such is the degree of refinement Vauxhall have built into the Combo. The Combo makes a great deal of sense for the business looking to move gear cheaply, quickly and efficiently. A 3.2 cubic metre load capacity and rugged mechanicals make it a small van with a big appetite for hard work. A winning combo? You be the judge of that…


Facts At A Glance VAN: Vauxhall Combo Range PRICES: £9,300 - £10,960 (ex Vat) ENGINES: (petrol) 1.4 / (diesel) 1.3CDTi, 1.7CDTi / 1.6-litre dual-fuel SAFETY FEATURES: twin airbags, seatbelt pretensioners MAX PAYLOAD: 810kg

JOIN THE COMBO NATION With Common-Rail Diesel Technology Supplying The Motive Force, Vauxhall’s Combo Is A Tempting Proposition For Van Buyers. Steve Walker Reports…
No matter how well executed a van’s general design might be, if the engine can’t pull its weight, you’re snookered. The bodywork might be a model of toughness, the switchgear simple, intuitive and stRangely impervious to having gallons of tea spilt all over it. The storage space might be able to contain enormous amounts of clutter while still allowing you to find a pen when you need one and the load bay might be Tardis-like in it’s huge physics-defying capacity. All of the above might be right with a van but if the engine is wrong, it’ll soon get on your nerves. The engines in Vauxhall’s Combo weren’t as bad as all that, some were very good, it’s just that the current CDTi units are a whole lot better.
The vast majority of products on the UK’s small van market use common-rail diesel technology and for a long time the Vauxhall Combo didn’t. The fact that in 2003 it was still the market leader with 21,000 registrations says a lot for the Di and DTi diesel engines that were offered but probably more for the value and functionality contained within the rest of the Combo package. The thing that will be furrowing brows in the head offices of rival manufacturers is that the engine technology in today’s Combo is now well up to speed. Combo customers have a choice of three units, two are diesel and the numbers are made up by a single petrol option. Traditionally van buyers make a beeline for the diesel models with petrol alternatives only really a token offering to placate the dwindling breed of die-hards who still refuse to pick up any but the green-handled pump. These CDTi engines, therefore, are key to the Combo’s success or otherwise. Smallest first and it’s the 1.3-litre CDTi, an engine that atones for its comparative lack of capacity with a torque rating of 170Nm at 1,750rpm. It’s a modern powerplant with variable multiple direct injection and on the road it’s both refined and economical with that slug of torque hitting home early on in proceedings. Maximum power of 69bhp is available at 4,000rpm and there will be roughly 30,000 miles between services, which should help to keep running costs down. The 1.7-litre CDTi offering is noticeably more powerful but by virtue of its use of a common-rail injection layout like that of the 1.3, the way this engine delivers its power is similar. As the rev counter needle passes 2,300rpm, a sizable 240Nm of torque is being produced and maximum power of 98bhp is being generated at 4,400rpm. The surge of torque low down in the rev Range is perfect for zipping about town; it kicks in and launches the Combo up to urban cruising speeds with a flourish. Keep the revs low, however, and the engine’s character is far more benign. This characteristic aids low speed manoeuvring and helps on the all too frequent occasions when you find yourself crawling along in traffic. Service intervals are the same as for the 1.3-litre CDTi unit but the 1.7-litre CDTi is compliant with the Euro4 emissions regulations whereas its smaller sibling is only a Euro3 unit.
"Now that the CDTi engines are available further success should be on the cards."
In general commercial vehicle usage, the Combo’s 1.3-litre engine is more than adequate but some, particularly those Combo buyers who will be driving the vehicle themselves, will prefer to pay for the additional urge of the larger unit. It certainly adds an extra dimension of fun to the driving experience and if you plan on regularly filling the Combo to its payload capacity, the power boost will be useful. Payloads are roughly equivalent whether you choose the 1.3 or the 1.7 (between 580 and 800kg depending on the model) and whatever’s under the bonnet you get a 5-speed manual box and power steering. The kerb-to-kerb turning circle is a tight 10.8m while the stopping system has ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution to help avoid any mishaps. The Combo utilises the classic small van driving position, you sit relatively high and upright so that the kind of repeated entry and exit manoeuvres undertaken by multi-drop drivers shouldn’t be too taxing on the old back. The construction in the cab is of tough dark plastic, there’s a large overhead storage shelf door pockets and one of those dash-top storage indents that spills its contents onto the floor as soon as you round the first corner. There’s 2.76m3 of space in the back of the Combo and a half height steel bulkhead is standard to prevent the things you’ve put in the back from finding their way into the front under sharp braking. The rear doors are the main access point but one or two side doors can be specified as options. The loading height is quite low and wheelarch intrusion isn’t too pronounced but the door stays that hold the rear doors open during loading do look vulnerable to the kind of knocks and bumps they are likely to receive in everyday use. One handy feature on the Combo I tried was the FlexCargo system. Basically, it’s a passenger seat that folds down flat and a full height mesh bulkhead that swings open on the passenger side. It allows longer items to be laid-out through the load area and along the folded passenger seat back increasing the total available load length from 1,787mm to 2,700mm. Your passenger will have to get the bus but that pipe, ladder or roll of carpet will fit. Perhaps more so than with passenger cars for which styling, equipment, image and numerous other factors are also important, engines are vital to commercial vehicle buying decisions. The Combo lacked common-rail diesel power for some time but continued to perform strongly in the sales charts. The product isn’t the most modern on the market but it’s simple and solidly built in good commercial vehicle fashion. Now that the CDTi engines are available further success should be on the cards.
Facts At A Glance VAN: Vauxhall Combo CDTi van Range ENGINES: 69bhp 1.3CDTi / 98bhp 1.7CDTi SAFETY FEATURES: Driver’s airbag, ABS, seatbelt pretensioners MAX PAYLOAD: 785kg

LOOK CREW’S BEHIND YOU Need To Carry More Personnel In Your Van? Vauxhall’s Combo Crew Van Could Be The Answer. Steve Walker Reports…
People carrying isn’t the average van’s forte. Some manage to squeeze in three seating positions across the cab’s width but with smaller vans especially, two passengers is really the best you can hope for. If you need to carry more, there are plenty of cars to choose from but what if a car can’t cut it? You need space for five passengers and a whole bundle of equipment. You need a vehicle that’s tough and able handle years of sustained mistreatment at the hands of your workforce. You need a ‘crew van’, a vehicle that’s part van, part people carrier. Something like Vauxhall’s Combo Crew van perhaps?
We’ve seen the popularity of van-based MPVs like Citroen’s Berlingo Multispace and Renault’s Kangoo with budget-orientated family buyers. These models are essentially crew vans that have crossed over into the private vehicle sphere, so their success should indicate that the practicality is there, built in. Transporting a troop of kids and all the associated accessories is really little different from transporting a team of workmen and their tools. Indeed, there’s many a world-weary foreman who would vouch for the similarities being a little too pronounced at times. Most van manufacturers offer crew van versions of some or all of their commercial vehicles but they’re not usually promoted with the same vigour that’s reserved for the standard load-carrying models. There’s no doubting, though, that a crew van can do more than a standard van or a standard car. Vauxhall’s Combo-based model, for example, can seat five and still offer a substantial load area over their shoulders. Alternatively, the 60/40 split rear bench can be folded down level with the floor to give a load volume that’s almost equivalent to that of the standard Combo van.
"…the Combo Crew van is a vehicle with considerably more potential than the standard Combo van"
Externally, there’s no indication that what you’re looking at is a Combo Crew van as opposed to a Combo van. Where vans that have been converted into MPVs for sale to the general public have their rear panelling replaced with windows, the Combo Crew Van doesn’t. It brings a whole new meaning to the term, keeping your workmates in the dark. Access to the rear seating is via a pair of sliding side doors on the vehicle’s flanks. Close these up and take a peek over your shoulder from the driver’s seat and it looks awfully dingy back there. The only daylight shines backwards from the windscreen and front windows or forwards from the glazed side-hinged rear doors. When the extra seating behind driver and passenger is not required, the Combo Crew van can be returned to van mode. The seat bottoms flip forward and the backs fold down to create a flat load area. The space achieved after this comparatively simple procedure is only marginally smaller than what’s available in a Combo van. Although, it must be said, the cloth inserts on the Crew van’s doors and the gaps between the folded seat sections do make the load bay a little less practical. The Crew van comes as standard with a roller-blind-style cover that extends from the rear seat backs to the rear doors to shield the cargo from prying eyes. There are two 3-point seatbelts for the rear seats with a lap belt for the centre occupant and net pockets are mounted at roof level for extra storage. An optional extra that many will specify is a mesh load restrain that separates the front of the cab from the seating/load carrying behaviour behind. It should prove handy for keeping unruly cargo in check but your rear passengers are already in the dark with no windows to look out of. Putting them behind what amounts to a cage in addition may prove a bridge too far for some. Away from areas relating to the rear seating, the Combo Crew van offers the same qualities as the standard van version. It’s available with two diesel engines, 1.3-litre and 1.7-litre CDTi ECOTEC-4 units which are ideal for commercial vehicle usage. Those with economy as their ultimate priority will choose the 1.3-litre powerplant which is capable of returning 55.4mpg but the more expensive 1.7-litre CDTi is only fractionally less fuel efficient thanks to its 54mpg average. Performance wise, neither unit should disappoint, the smaller of the two produces 69bhp and 170Nm of torque while the 98bhp 1.7-litre unit churns out an impressive 240Nm. The extra power of the 1.7 is well worth paying for if you plan on carrying larger payloads or you just like your small vans with that bit more urge. The Combo is a smooth and quiet cruiser that’s comfortable to drive around town. This comfort does come at the expense some driver involvement (with the steering offering little feedback and feeling less accurate than in some rivals) but in a commercial vehicle, the comfort factor is usually the telling one. The driving position is lower and less upright than you’ll find in some small vans. This makes for better comfort on longer journeys but can make multi-drop work more of a chore because of the repeated entries and exits. Inside, the design mirrors that of the exterior. The Combo is neat, tidy and functional but does little to excite visually. The optional integrated satellite navigation and digital radio system is well executed and the interior seems to be of generally good quality. The Vauxhall Combo Crew van is an option that few will have considered but when you look at its capabilities, there’s a lot to be said for it. There must be so many small vans travelling the UK road network which never utilise their payload capacity to anything approaching its potential. Crew vans take this oft redundant space and adapt it for the practical purpose of carrying extra passengers. With the option of folding the rear seats down when they’re not in use for additional cargo capacity, the Combo Crew van is a vehicle with considerably more potential than the standard Combo van.
Facts At A Glance VAN: Vauxhall Combo Crew van Range ENGINES: 1.3CDTi, 1.7CDTi. SAFETY FEATURES: Twin Front Airbags, ABS, seatbelt pretensioners LOAD LENGTH: 1,980mm (seats folded) / 980mm (seats up)