SECTOR ANALYSIS – LIGHT VANS: Not only Connect

Date: Thursday, May 3, 2018

Vauxhall Cobo Life

We should see Vauxhall’s Combo Life before the year’s out

In February Vauxhall released images of its new Combo Life – the passenger-carrying version of its Combo light van. The model marks the Combo’s transition from being based upon the Fiat Professional Doblo Cargo to being built on PSA Peugeot-Citroen’s leisure-activity vehicle and light van platform.

Vauxhall says the Combo Life will arrive before the end of this year and be available in two lengths (4.4m and 4.75m), and as five- and seven-seaters with two sliding doors. It will come with a choice of turbo-charged, direct-injection petrol and diesel engines and with either five- or six-speed manual transmissions or as an eight-speed automatic.

New Peugeot Partner and Citroen Berlingo vans are also expected to be rolled out before the end of the year.

Prior to this, Nissan’s e-NV200 will get a battery beefed-up from 24kWh to 40kWH in Q2, which the brand claims will boost its range by 60% to 174 miles on the New European Driving Cycle. Even on the new more real-world Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, the e-NV200 still records a claimed 125-mile combined figure

It’s subject to confirmation, but a new Renault Kangoo should come to market in 2019. In the meantime, Renault has added its double-clutch auto transmission to the current versions of its 90hp and 110hp diesel models. Mercedes bases its Citan on the Kangoo, but to date has not followed the French brand by launching an electric derivative, something Merc says it will rectify when the next generation arrives towards the end of 2019.

On the horizon

Nissan e-NV200 (40kWh battery)    May 2018
Ford Transit Connect facelift   June 2018
Vauxhall Combo Life   December 2018
Peugeot Partner   December 2018
Citroen Berlingo      December 2018

What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide