Combo Nation: 2025 Vauxhall Combo Electric Review

22/10/2025 10:18 Share

Combo Nation: 2025 Vauxhall Combo Electric Review

If you believe in the notion that ‘British is Best’, then in van terms the only model on your wish list should be the Vauxhall Combo Electric – but is it the best small van on the market, both home and away?

Model as Tested: Vauxhall Combo Electric Pro L1
Power: 52kWh (Electric)
Supplied: Vertu Vauxhall Sunderland

While it is hard to ignore the slowdown in British commercial vehicle manufacturing, it hasn’t disappeared entirely thanks to Stellantis.

Yes, its Luton plant has been mothballed but the automotive giant’s Ellesmere Port factory is still going strong and is busy building the electric versions of Stellantis’ small van range, including the Vauxhall Combo.

Couple that with a Vauxhall brand that is as British as fish ‘n’ chips and the Combo Electric is about as born and bred as they come.

However, while being ‘Made In Britain’ might be a plus point for many UK van drivers, it’ll take more than that for the Combo to be considered a class-leader in what is now a very competitive small van segment.

So, with increasing momentum being placed behind electrifying the commercial vehicle market, does the Vauxhall Combo Electric represent the ‘Best of British’ anywhere in the world? Vansdirect hits the road to find out...

Vauxhall Combo Electric – The Direct Verdict

The Vauxhall Combo makes a very strong case for being a class-leader in the small van segment. That Stellantis-sourced platform may be prolifically applied across its brands, but a lot of thought has gone into ensuring it hits the right notes as a commercial vehicle, namely its clever packaging, spacious load bay and generous specification. Better still, in electric guise the Combo offers decent range, while it’s also surprisingly quick and nimble, if that matters to you.

Lease the Vauxhall Combo Electric if...

- You need a generous load space within small van dimensions
- You regularly carry awkwardly sized loads
- Your want electric without sacrificing much payload capacity
- Your business is comprised of short haul journeys

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Vauxhall Combo Electric: Dimensions, Load Bay & Practicality

The Vauxhall Combo Electric is available in two sizes – Panel Van (L1) and XL (L2).

Our test model was the standard Panel Van (L1) length measuring 4403mm with a 2785mm wheelbase. Opt for the XL – which also forms the basis for the Crew Van - and this extends to 4753mm with a 2975mm wheelbase.

Those dimensions are important as they reveal the Combo to be one of the shorter members of the small van club in terms of external length.

And yet, a clever bit of packaging means the Combo takes on a TARDIS-like quality with an interior that is in fact more spacious than that of the Ford Transit Connect and Renault Kangoo.

Indeed, not only does the Combo have a longer load bay than its rivals at 1817mm (2167mm in L2), it is also larger overall with the L1 offering 3.3 cubic metres of cargo space, while the XL has 3.9 cubic metres on offer.

The 50:50 split rear-doors can be opened either to 90-degrees and all the way around to 180-degree barn style to easily swallow a Euro pallet and allow a forklift to approach without catching any bodywork. XL models offer a sliding door on both sides.

Our test model was the upper-end Pro trim, which means it comes with the FlexCargo pack as standard, which includes a dual front passenger bench seat to accommodate up to three people in the cab.

It also gets a load-through hatch as standard. Allowing abnormally long loads – such as a ladder and timber - to be stowed through a hatch that extends the load bay into the cab, while such a feature is available on other vans, the Combo (Stellantis) version is by far the best.

The hatch is ultimately as large as the nearside seatback, so when that seat is folded deep into the footwell using an easy-to-use pull handle, it allows for a tall opening and a flat surface that increases the load length from 1817mm to a massive 3090mm.

Taking the extra space generated from the load-through hatch into account, the Combo Panel Van’s maximum cargo space in Pro trim expands from 3.3 cubic metres to 3.9 cubic metres, while the XL goes from 3.8 cubic metres to 4.4 cubic metres.

All in a van that – externally at least – is shorter and easier to park than a Transit Connect/Caddy and Kangoo/Townstar.

Vauxhall Combo Electric: Weights, Payloads & Towing

While choosing electric over conventional diesel presents a compromise when it comes to permissible payload capacities, the Vauxhall Combo Electric compares favourably with other small electric vans.

In Electric L1 Pro guise, the Combo offers a 759kg payload capacity, though it is possible to push this up to 781kg if you opt for the entry-level Electric L1 Prime.

While this is around 200kg less than the like-for-like diesel equivalent, the Combo Electric’s payload figure is generous versus the Renault Kangoo E-Tech (608kg) and even the plug-in hybrid Ford Transit Connect (691kg).

Only the new Kia PV5 (790kg) and Maxus eDeliver 3 (905kg) can improve on the Combo’s figures, though their unconventional dimensions place them closer to the mid-size van class than the Vauxhall.

To put into context, the Combo Electric’s payload figures are within range of many diesel-powered rivals, which is a measure of how well thought-out the overall package is in this area, regardless of how it is powered.

Towing capacities are in line with other small electric vans with a maximum set at 750kg.

Vauxhall Combo Electric: Range, Charging & Running Costs

Under the skin, the Vauxhall Combo Electric makes use of Stellantis’ widely adaptable EMP2 platform, which has formed the basis for myriad passenger car models in the PSA stable, including the Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308 and Citroen C5 Aircross.

The latest iteration of the platform – which began life underpinning the Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot Partner – has been tweaked to accommodate an electric powertrain, in this case a 52kWh battery.

Based on the WLTP (World Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) figures as used by all manufacturers in official specifications, the Combo Electric is quoted as being capable of a combined range of 213-miles.

Versus other small electric vans, the Combo presents itself as among the most frugal in its class, bettering the range of the equivalent Renault Kangoo E-Tech (186 miles) and the Ford E-Transit Courier (181 miles).

As with all electric vans, however, there are multiple factors – such as weather conditions, driving style and weight of your payload - that can have a sizeable effect on the realistic range you will get out of your EV.

If you haven’t driven an electric van before, it’s noticeable how fixated you become with the range reading as you attempt to eke out the miles by being a little less eager on the pedals out of junctions.

Vauxhall does help you along with the option of three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – though, which can be selected via a switch on the centre console.

The Combo also comes with regenerative braking, the effectiveness of which can be selected using paddles behind the steering wheel.

The function serves to increase the rolling resistance when you take your foot off the accelerator, which in turn puts charge back into the battery.

However, the ease with which you can adjust this function belies just how much of an effect it has. As such, those who play around with the paddles while driving might be quite alarmed at how quickly the Combo suddenly slows off-throttle.

If you want to persevere with this, be sure to test it out in an empty car park beforehand to avoid any unexpected moments on a busy road.

Our test route comprised of motorways, towns and country lanes over a couple of days, with plenty of range still available when we handed back the keys. If you don’t have access to charging facilities at home or at your place of work, with some conscious driving, it is therefore possible to carry out your business over a few days before replenishing.

When you do, the Combo can be charged from 0-80% in just 30 minutes using a rapid 100kW CCS socket charger – or about as long as it takes to get a brew and a bite to eat.

The Vauxhall Combo Electric is eligible for the government’s Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG) which slashes up to £5,000 off its list price until at least 2027.

Vauxhall Combo Electric: Performance & Driving

On the road, the characteristics of the Vauxhall Combo Electric depend on the driving mode selected.

Eco works to dull the throttle response and limit some of the energy-sapping functions in the cabin, which is worth about an extra 10 to 15 miles over Normal mode. While you’ll notice the resistance in the acceleration – particularly from a standstill – it is the sensible option for when you’re pootling around at 30mph.

Restarting the battery sees it default back to Normal mode. If anything, Eco mode will feel more familiar if you’re used to diesel because the instant pick-up and unexpectedly swift acceleration that comes in Normal mode comes as an initial surprise if you haven’t tried electric before.

Then there is Sport mode, which is a handy setting to select if you need to make a quick overtake or a sharp getaway, but is otherwise unnecessary if you’re cruising at speed or moving through town given it instantly slashes about 25-30 miles off your range capacity.

While Normal is the more natural driving mode, if you’re able to contend with the slightly heavier feel of Eco mode, the range savings make it arguably the most appealing setting.

Whichever you choose though, the instant torque and linear acceleration that comes with electric power is complemented by the Combo’s well-balanced chassis, which does a good job of containing body roll at higher speeds and feels stable despite the tall profile.

With its ‘wheels-at-each-corner’ stance and a driving position that is loftier than most small vans, it’s easy to place the Combo where you want it, while the light steering at low-speed makes for surprisingly nimble progress.

Vauxhall Combo Electric: Cab & Interior

A substantial update for the Vauxhall Combo Electric came in 2024 and with it a revised interior that focused on improving space for passengers.

The high-set, slightly angled dashboard remains largely unchanged, which is no bad thing as it means the most useful heating controls remain physical and therefore come easier to hand.

Indeed, having previously reviewed the Peugeot E-Expert – a sister model to the Combo’s bigger brother, the Vauxhall Vivaro – we became rather frustrated with a design that necessitated several touchscreen menu actions to carry out ordinary functions.

However, the fresh 10-inch infotainment touchscreen works a lot better with its large icons and lag-free operation making it a doddle to use on the move by comparison.

There is also a welcome physical shortcut button below the screen that takes you straight to the menu for deactivating the speed limit and lane keeping alert. While they serve a good purpose, the fact they default back to their original ‘on’ setting every time you turn the ignition on, makes switching them off a pain if you’re going through multiple menu touches to do so on each start-up.

Elsewhere, there are some novelty touches to the digital instrumentation, such as the choice of red, blue or yellow for the backlighting, while you can even choose one of five different designs for the instruments.

Other cab changes in the most recent round of updates include a flatter centre console plateau, which opens-up more kneeroom for the middle passenger especially, while the adoption of a so-called ‘squircle’ – that’s square-circle to me and you – steering wheel frees up space for the driver too.

Storage space is generous with a cubby hole above the instrument cowl, large door bins and a full-width overhead storage shelf above the driver. There are cup holders in the dashboard too, which are a touch narrow but very deep.

Our Pro trim comes with a ‘mobile office’, which is a somewhat hyperbolic way to describe the flattened middle seat-back that when folded can double as a table for writing or using a laptop.

Vauxhall Combo Electric: Specifications, Equipment & Trims

The Vauxhall Combo Electric is available with the choice of three trim levels – Prime, Prime-Plus and Pro – each of which can be applied to the electric powertrain.

Our test model was the flagship Vauxhall Combo Electric 52kWh Pro Panel Van (L1) which is aimed at businesses and fleets who need a well-equipped and frugal commercial vehicle that can accommodate three passengers.

Highlights of the Pro trim include the FlexCargo pack, which includes the dual front passenger bench seat, fold-flat centre seat and load-through bulkhead.

It also features Dynamic Surround View, which includes a camera at the rear of the vehicle that relays video of what is behind you on a digital rear view mirror inside the van.

Standard features of the Vauxhall Combo Electric Pro include:
- Multimedia Pro Navi navigation
- 10-inch colour HD touchscreen with voice control
- Bluetooth
- USB connection
- Reach and rake adjustable steering column
- Air-conditioning
- Cruise control
- Steering wheel mounted audio controls
- Six-way adjustable driver’s seat
- FlexCargo pack
- Electrically adjustable door mirrors
- Electrically operated windows
- Front and rear parking distance sensors
- Lane keep assist
- Driver attention alert
- Intelligent speed assistance
- Automatic lighting control
- Advanced emergency braking system
- Electronic stability control
- ABS
- Electronic parking brake
- Driver/front/side airbags
- Body-coloured front and rear bumpers
- Front fog lights
- Digital rear view mirror
- Blind spot detection
- Rain sensitive windscreen wipers

Vauxhall Combo Electric: Reliability

The Vauxhall Combo Electric comes with a warranty that runs to 3-years or 60,000 miles from new, whichever comes first, plus an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery.

Vauxhall also benefits from a vast dealer network supplemented by its close association with the Stellantis Group commercial vehicle brands.

It allows the Combo Electric to be serviced and maintained easily from Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and FIAT commercial dealerships if necessary. Moreover, parts can be easily sourced from Stellantis’ huge new distribution facility located in Ellesemere Port.

Vauxhall Combo Electric: Safety & Security

The 2025-specification Vauxhall Combo Electric has earned a four-star rating from EuroNCAP.

Vauxhall Combo Electric: FULL VERDICT

Putting aside its similarity to its Citroen/Peugeot/FIAT/Toyota brethren, the Vauxhall Combo is a class leader in the small van segment.

Some clever packaging has created a large, useable load space that belies its external dimensions, while class-leading payload capacity figures – almost a full tonne on diesel models - are ultimately hard to ignore.

For those considering electric, the Combo makes a convincing argument with its plus-200-mile range potential, fast recharging times and significantly reduced running costs, redeeming factors that comfortably offset what is a modest compromise in payload capacity.

While Pro trim demands a premium over entry-point models in the Combo range, there is a lot to be gained for stretching for the standard three-seat capability and handy FlexCargo pack.

How Does the Vauxhall Combo Electric Compare to Rivals?