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Vauxhall's Combo Electric panel van offers businesses a small EV that should add up on the balance sheet, thinks Jonathan Crouch
Ten Second Review
Vauxhall's Combo Electric panel van shares its design with Stellantis Group small LCV cousins but offers the advantages of Vauxhall's huge UK LCV dealer network to companies ready to take their first step into full-electric van ownership.
Background
Take up on electric vans has been much lower than that for electric cars. LCV operators aren't swayed by avant-garde design or the prospect of an EV acceleration rush. For many, the switch to electric just looks expensive, with its charging regime inconvenient. Change has to come though and those prepared to make a tentative foray into this new era could do worse than try the van we going to look at here, the Vauxhall Combo Electric panel van.
Like most vans these days, it's a shared design; you can have basically the same thing badged as a Citroen e-Berlingo, a Peugeot e-Partner, a Fiat E-Doblo or a Toyota Proace City Electric. Company customers though, care less about design semantics and more about service back-up, which is where Vauxhall with its sprawling dealer network ought to have an advantage. Some might the Combo Electric be a good first step into a fresh electric era? Let's find out.
Driving Experience
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.
Design and Build
Unless you happen to notice the badging or the charging flap, there's little to set this EV van apart from any other Combo panel van model. As in the combustion range, there's a choice of standard L1 or long wheelbase L2 body styles, which both have sliding doors on each side. At first glance, the cab doesn't seem much different either, but closer inspection reveals different instrumentation and an e-Toggle drive mode selector in place of the gearshift. The drive modes are selected by a switch alongside.
Avoid base trim and you get Vauxhall's 'FlexCargo' package where, as on the ordinary model, the passenger seat back folds down to create a desk surface. And there's an 8-inch centre touchscreen with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. Plus a 3.5-inch multi-information display in the instrument binnacle. None of this is of Vauxhall's own design, but it's all pretty functional. There is no lack of storage space in the cab: 16 storage points according to Vauxhall, these including a 15-litre area in the centre console.
Market and Model
After deduction of the available £2,500 Plug-in van grant, Vauxhall wants from around £3,500 from you for this Combo Electric excluding VAT. That's for the short wheelbase L1 version. It's probably worth stretching to the long wheelbase L2 variant, which only costs around £850 more. There's also a Crew Van variant with a second fold-out seating row, only available in 'Prime' trim for around £34,000- ex VAT after grant deduction.
There are two levels of trim - 'Prime' and 'Pro' - and both include quite a lot. You can tick off twin sliding side doors, air conditioning and an 8-inch centre infotainment touchscreen with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. You also get cruise control, a colour 3.5-inch multi-information instrument binnacle display, Bluetooth, a DAB audio system and door mirrors that are heated and power adjustable. With 'Pro' trim, Vauxhall includes its 'FlexCargo' system which allows you to push through items from the cargo bay into the cab and fold down the passenger seat to create a handy table. Across the range, there are two USB ports in the cab and your dealer will offer you accessories like rubber floor mats and ply lining for the load space.
Practicalities and Costs
Potential Combo customers will be pleased to learn that the EV powertrain doesn't compromise practicality. Total capacity depends on your choice between standard L1 (4.4-metres long) and long L2 (4.75-metres long) body styles. There's the usual side-opening siding door and twin side-hinged rear doors that open to 180 degrees. The L1 offers 3,090mm of cargo area load length, with a maximum load height of 1,200mm and a maximum load width between the wheel arches of 1,229mm. The L2 offers 3,440mm of cargo area load length. Yet more space can be freed up with the clever 'FlexCargo' feature. This uses a folding front passenger bench to add an extra 0.4m3, while also increasing the maximum load length by 1.3m. Maximum load volume including the 'FlexCargo' system on the L1 is 3.8m3; on the L2, it's 4.4m3. The maximum payload of the L1 is up to 803kg - or up to 751kg for the L2. Both have a towing capacity of up to 750kg.
You can charge from a 100kW public rapid charger from 0-80% in 30 minutes. When connected to a 7kW garage wallbox, you'll need seven and a half hours to fully replenish the battery; or five hours with an 11kW wallbox.
Summary
Pretty much everything you need from a small electric van is here, provided you can afford the plump asking price and you find the 175 mile driving range sufficient. Load capacity is of a practical size - and uncompromised by the EV drivetrain. Servicing looks affordable and the charging stats are well up to scratch.
Obviously, if you were offered a better deal on the near-identical Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat or Toyota versions of this design, you'd take it but Vauxhall retains its market share by keeping prices competitive, so that probably won't happen. Which means it's likely that many fleets might start their EV journey with a Combo Electric. A whole new world awaits.
