Vauxhall Combo Life: The 4.4-meter basic model or the lengthier 4.7-meter XL are available. Even with the seats up, both provide enormous cargo space: 600 and 850 liters from glass to the core, respectively.
Five or seven seats may be set for the Combo Life. A 2700mm load length and 2126 liters of storage are available, with the seats folded down. 3050mm and 2693 liters are features of the XL. That should make quick work of the tip run, but if your pals want to borrow it to go to Ikea, they will have to line up neatly.
The riding comfort of the Vauxhall Combo Life adds a feather to its boxy hat. The suspension is supple and easily smooths out even the worst speed bumps and potholes.
It must be said that in terms of handling, it isn’t the sharpest instrument in the arsenal. Although most Vauxhall Combo Life purchasers won’t care, it is based on the Combo van. The handling is gentle, reliable, and cozy. The box-like design is ideal for moving a family around, and the Vauxhall Combo Life is available for much less money.
The Vauxhall Combo Life is the right vehicle for you if you want a practical car that is well-made, simple to use, and affordable.
Is the Vauxhall Combo Life suitable?
Badge snobs should turn away now; this is not your kind of vehicle. The Vauxhall Combo Life, on the other hand, is a sensible and comfortable family MPV that appeals to those who prioritize cost-effectiveness above the newest fashions.
Many consumers may be turned off by the boxy styling of the Vauxhall Combo Life because of its van-derived roots, but their loss is your gain since this is a fantastic all-around family vehicle. Each version is simple to use and inexpensive to operate. They also come fully equipped, so you don’t need to spend £10,000 on pricey accessories to get the most out.
The five-seater XL offers the largest storage capacity, while the seven-seater (also in an XL body style) provides a comfortable bus for families and makes the school run less stressful. The Vauxhall Combo, with its assortment of tables, boxes, and cubby holes accommodating anything a family can throw at it, may be considered the Swiss Army knife of automobiles.
Which model and engine of the Vauxhall Combo Life should you choose?
If you often use your car for short city trips and daily school runs, the 1.2-liter petrol will do for you. The best gasoline engine is the 130-horsepower engine because of its strong acceleration at low speeds. A smooth six-speed manual transmission is also included as standard.
The 1.5-liter 130-horsepower diesel engine is more suitable for long-distance drivers who do more than 12,000 miles a year. It comes with a standard six-speed manual gearbox and an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission as an option, as does the more powerful petrol.
The three available trim levels are Design, Power, and Elite. The best, in our opinion, is the mid-spec Power model. It comes with all the necessities, such as an infotainment screen, parking sensors, auto lighting, and wipers.
If you want the factory’s GPS, climate control, and built-in power rear windows, the top-of-the-line Vauxhall Combo Life Elite is worth a look. Please do not buy a model without a panoramic glass roof, in our opinion, because it is a necessary item.
What other vehicles compared to the Vauxhall Combo Life?
The Citroen Berlingo MPV and the Peugeot Rifter use the same mechanical basis and engines as the Vauxhall Combo Life. The models compete with the Ford Tourneo Connect and the upcoming 2021 Volkswagen Caddy and are mostly comparable.
The Combo Life competes with a variety of family SUVs as well. Include the Kia Sportage and Skoda Karoq. While the interiors of Vauxhall’s SUV competitors are more opulent and provide more excellent driving dynamics, none can compare to the spaciousness or functionality of the Vauxhall Combo Life.
Comfort and design: Vauxhall Combo Life
“The cabin of the Vauxhall Combo Life is charming and roomy despite its low-rent exterior.
The second row of seats easily fits three people, and the high roofline offers plenty of head and shoulder room.
Adults may struggle to fit in the third row of seven-seat XL versions, but kids and teens will have no trouble finding a space. The third row of seats may be folded or removed when not used.
The driver is seated relatively high and near the steering wheel in a posture that is somewhat reminiscent of a van. Although some heavy plastics irritate your knees, the driver’s seat has a lot of flexibility, making it simple to find a comfortable position.
The Vauxhall Combo Life’s finest feature is its seats. They are supportive and strong, so you may go a long way without experiencing the typical aches and pains in your upper leg or back. Additionally, the chairs must be simple to clean—applicable if you have a family. The Combo Life’s two sliding doors also make parking simple without worrying about kids banging the doors as they enter and exit the rear passenger area.
Quality and finish
The roots of the Vauxhall Combo Life van are not challenging to uncover. The inside of the cabin is coated in thick plastics that are not incredibly comfortable to touch but are simple to clean.
Although the Vauxhall Combo’s interior may reflect its heritage as a business vehicle, it is well-built and durable. The dashboard’s plastics seem sturdy and should withstand bumps and scrapes. This implies that it should be durable enough to withstand any abuse your children may give it.
The full-length glass ceiling of the optional panoramic roof gives the cabin an air of luxury while letting in plenty of daylight throughout the day. The house has a lovely airplane cabin atmosphere in the evening, thanks to the LED interior lighting.
People sick of expensive automobiles with tiny, difficult-to-use controls will like the hefty feel of the buttons, dials, and storage bins.
Infotainment: Vauxhall Combo Life
DAB radio and Bluetooth are included in the base models. Still, if you want a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, you’ll need to spend more on a mid-spec Energy model.
Range-topping Elite versions come equipped with navigation, although a head-up windshield display that shows speed and sat nav instructions costs an additional £355.
The 8-inch infotainment screen in the Vauxhall Combo Life is simple to see and convenient, as are many other features. Most of the screen’s audio features may be accessed via the controls on the steering wheel, and the screen boasts a bright and crisp display.
If we’re sincere, the four-speaker sound system connected to the infotainment system isn’t excellent. The sound is distorted by tinny music playing and the speakers’ propensity to get overpowered by solid bass.
Space and practicality:
Few vehicles can compare to the Vauxhall Combo Life’s overall usefulness. The fact that each model has two side sliding doors and is roomy makes getting the kids in and out simple.
The second row has three ISOFIX points, allowing three full-size child seats to be placed across the back. If you choose the XL wheelbase, the Vauxhall Combo Life becomes a practical seven-seater thanks to the third row of seats. The center row folds and slides forward with one handle, making access to the third row simple.
Although toddlers and teens will fit quite well on the third row, adults may find it uncomfortable. The third row may be removed or folded away when not in use. Just be careful while folding or removing the chairs since trapping your fingers is simple.
You have plenty of storage options, including a cooled upper glove box (made possible by the passenger airbag’s roof-mounted location). A hat box above the windshield can also fit a small map but isn’t big enough to hold a trilby.
A convenient overhead storage space with LED illumination runs the length of the car’s center on vehicles with the optional panoramic roof. A center armrest and storage box are also included in mid-spec vehicles.
There is a sizable boot at the back. The extended wheelbase variants feature 850 liters of storage, compared to 600 liters for the five-seat versions. The massive tailgate, which has a large aperture and low-loading lip, opens to reveal the boot. When the seats are removed, you have more than three meters of load length up to the front seats, which is ideal for carrying bicycles.
The dimensions of the XL model are 4753mm long, 2107mm wide, and 1837mm tall, compared to 4403mm long, 2107mm wide, and 1804mm tall for the standard model.
Handling and ride quality:
“The Vauxhall Combo Life has (relatively) car-like handling despite its van-like appearance. It was created as a family vehicle first and a van second claims Vauxhall.
The Vauxhall Combo Life is exceptional when it comes to ride quality. The suspension is supple, smooth, and ideal for muffling variable road conditions. Potholes and speed bumps don’t disturb the calm.
Despite its soft and squishy suspension, the Combo Life does not roll or pitch excessively while cornering. In contrast, the body maintains its flat, calm posture.
It must be said that in terms of handling, it’s not the best. The Combo Life has lots of front-end traction and can carry a respectable amount of speed through a sequence of hairpin turns despite the mushy and overpowering steering that isn’t meant for performance.
If you reside in a rural area or want your Combo Life to traverse rugged terrain, you may consider purchasing the extra “All Weather Pack.” This includes all-terrain tires and five drive modes that may be chosen to accommodate different road conditions like mud, snow, or sand.
Because of its low ground clearance, the Vauxhall Combo Life isn’t fit for serious off-roading. Still, its improved traction control system does an excellent job of extending its usefulness in wintery weather.
engines and transmissions: Vauxhall Combo Life
One diesel and gasoline engine option and a manual or automatic gearbox were offered when the Vauxhall Combo Life was first introduced.
The 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel is the most often used engine. It comes with 100 or 130 PS and is excellent for lengthy trips. We believe the 130PS version achieves the optimal balance between operating expenses and performance. Due to its powerful low-gear acceleration, it is also the most excellent fit for the most extensive XL seven-seater version of the Combo Life.
For drivers who don’t log many miles, the 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine is ideal. It was taken from the PureTech model lineup for Citroen and Peugeot cars. The 130PS version of the 1.2-liter petrol engine is the finest option owing to its increased power and acceleration.
The standard five-speed manual transmission for entry-level petrol and diesel vehicles may make the engine a bit loud on the highway owing to the high rpm in fifth gear. A six-speed gearbox is available for the 130PS engines, and it feels more relaxed around 70 mph. The 130PS engines are also available from Vauxhall with an eight-speed automatic.
Smoothing and noise levels
The Vauxhall Combo Life isn’t boisterous despite its heritage. With the six-speed gearbox, the six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines are typically very. Road noise is well muffled; however, traveling on the highway produces some wind noise as the air travels over the long body of the combination. With the optional roof rack, noise levels become intolerably loud.
On paper, a huge, heavy MPV shouldn’t be able to use a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, but we believe the 1.2-liter petrol is superb. For the size and weight of the Combo Life, the motor is perfectly smooth and polished. Furthermore, you seldom hear it.
Due to its low operating expenses, the 1.5-liter diesel engine is appropriate for drivers who log significant miles. At first, the engine vibrates and produces a little noise, but it soon settles into a quiet, steady hum.
safety equipment: Vauxhall Combo Life
Van-based MPVs have advanced significantly. The Vauxhall Combo Life is maybe the finest illustration of the development of this market since it is convenient, secure, and comfortable.
Combo Life has a crash safety rating of four stars (out of five). Additionally, it received scores of 91% for protecting adult tenants and 81% for keeping youngsters secure. The report card’s Pedestrian Safety Protection score of 58% is its sole shortcoming.
Forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, and pedestrian recognition are included with every Combo Life edition. If the brakes believe a collision is about to happen, this applies.
Additionally included as standard equipment is Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, which employs a camera and sensors to keep the car in its lane on the highway. The technology will gently nudge the steering wheel to inform the driver if it detects that Combo Life is about to veer off course.
Additionally, all models come equipped with a sophisticated driver drowsiness system. This encourages you to stop driving often. Additionally, it will keep an eye out for indicators of exhaustion in your driving style, such as abrupt or odd steering adjustments.
The Combo Life comes without any spare tires. However, your neighborhood Vauxhall dealer may install full-size components for $138.28.
Trim levels and standard equipment
The Vauxhall Combo Life has five seats as standard and either a normal or an XL wheelbase. The base Vauxhall Combo Life Design vehicles come with a lot of essential equipment and have a choice of five or seven seats.
Things like air conditioning, cruise control, electric heated door mirrors, and automated headlights are included in the base model. The local speed limit is shown on the dashboard thanks to a standard intelligent speed sign recognition technology. Every car also comes with two side folding doors.
Spending more money on the mid-spec Vauxhall Combo Life Energy model is something we’d advise. This upgrades the vehicle to include front and rear parking sensors, automatic windshield wipers, LED front fog lights, and a sophisticated 8-inch infotainment touchscreen.
With body-colored door mirrors, handles, and side protection, Energy models add some razmataz to the external appearance. The 16-inch alloy wheels are a classy upgrade from the standard steel wheels.
The Vauxhall Combo Life Elite has the most significant degree of standard equipment and is the top trim level. Along with heated front seats, touchscreen navigation, automatic temperature control, electric rear windows, and a wide-angle rear-view parking camera, this upgrade also includes 17-inch alloy wheels and darkly tinted rear windows.
Although there aren’t many possibilities, we suggest a few. The primary feature is the full-length, panoramic glass sunroof with ambient lighting and overhead storage. It offers soothing overhead illumination at night and fills the cabin with daylight. At £840, it is one of the more costly upgrades, but in our view, it is worthwhile.
