Opel and Vauxhall are actually the same make. Both are owned by Groupe PSA, a French automotive company. The difference in their names is due to the fact that Opel is sold in most European countries, while Vauxhall is sold exclusively in the UK. Both models have the same engines, designs, and features, with the only real difference being the name.
Opel (Vauxhall) Combo Life Electric
The Vauxhall Combo Life Electric is an electric MPV, previously known as the Combo e-Life, that comes with a choice of two trims and two body lengths. It is powered by a 134bhp electric motor and 50kWh battery that is shared with the Citroën e-C4. It is similar in size to the Citroën e-Berlingo and Peugeot e-Rifter, however it offers the option of seven seats without compromising the shorter body.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The Vauxhall Combo Life Electric has an impressive 0-62 mph time of 11.7 seconds, despite its shape and weight. The official WLTP range of 174 miles is similar to the Citroën e-Berlingo and Peugeot e-Rifter, and beats the non-electric Vauxhall Combo Life. Refinement is also good, although there is a small amount of electric motor whine and thudding from the suspension at lower speeds. Handling is okay, with accurate steering, although there is some body lean through quick corners.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The interior has an abundance of head room and rear leg room, and there are Isofix mounting points for child seats in the outer rear seats. Sliding rear doors make it easy to access, and there is plenty of storage space. The seats are flat and offer little in the way of side support, and the materials used to construct the interior are of poor quality.
Infotainment and Connectivity
There is an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen with built-in sat-nav, Android Auto, and Apple Carplay. The screen is easy to reach and a head-up display can be specified to display speed info on the windscreen.
Safety Features
The Vauxhall Combo Life Electric comes with a wealth of active safety features, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, a driver fatigue detector, speed-limit sign recognition, and lane-departure warning. It has a four-star rating from Euro NCAP, but an alarm must be purchased separately.
Warranty info
The Vauxhall Combo Life Electric comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, plus eight years/100,000 miles for the main battery.
