Vauxhall Combo Cargo 4x4 driven: special delivery

Has Postman Pat upgraded?

Postman Pat wishes he had a van like this – the targets get tighter all the time, and it’s not easy to traverse those rural delivery spots in Greendale during the colder, wetter months. 

The Combo is a familiar sight on UK roads, especially now that it shares a platform with the Peugeot Rifter, Citroen Berlingo and Toyota Proace City – miss the badge and you could be looking at any of them. The virtue of such platform sharing, however, is that it makes projects like this more affordable. PSA Groupe got in touch with French coachbuilder Dangel with a view to creating a go-anywhere version of its van, and while European customers get a wider selection (including 4x4 versions of the passenger variants, worth it just to watch people in the back flailing in your rearview mirror), it’s just Vauxhall that’s opted to sell the off-roader so far. 

The short wheelbase version of the 4x4 starts at a smidge over £36,100, while the long wheelbase Combo Cargo 4x4 starts from around £37,300. The vans come in entry-spec Edition trim with the most powerful engine of the range, the 128bhp 1.5-litre diesel, but given that the standard Combo Cargo in Edition spec starts from £18k you’ll really have to want the 4x4 set-up to double the price of your van. You might be better off getting a set of wellies and walking the last few metres.

The comprehensive drivetrain modifications include a 90mm increase in ground clearance to 185mm, which is optionally available to 205mm with the 4x4 Plus Pack, underbody protection for engine, gearbox and fuel tank and a new ESP system that’s been developed by Bosch. The 4x4 Plus Pack is for the most hardcore users – at a mere £3k or so you get a rear locking differential, the extra ride height and 3PMSF (the lab-certified three-peak mountain snowflake mark) mud and snow tyres.

The Dangel 4x4 system adds a mere 110kg, which is what most of us have put on during lockdown anyway. These upgraded parts get the same 3yr/60k warranty as the rest of the van. All the usual options for the Combo Cargo remain available, except the Safety Pack, so you can kit the van out however you like. One virtue of the Edition’s basic set-up is that it comes with a particularly handsome set of steel wheels – more cars and vans should, in our humble opinion.

Who’s even going to buy this?

A very good question – Vauxhall already has a small but eager queue of buyers (in wellies, probably) ready for the Combo Cargo 4x4. Mostly folks like utility companies, construction firms and government types who work in forests and parks. The carmaker expects that fleets at these companies will add a 4x4 or two to their fleets for those hard to reach places. It’s quite refreshing, actually – no nonsense about it being a lifestyle vehicle for people who are into surfing or spelunking. Vauxhall’s quite clear that the van isn’t going to be a volume seller, but certainly thinks it’s found an opportunity to fill a niche. With mud.

How does it go through the mud?

There are three distinct modes for the Combo Cargo 4x4 – it defaults into an eco-biased FWD on startup. Because of the viscous coupling you don’t have to stop the van to put it into 4WD mode, a quick twist of the centre console-mounted dial and you’re in Auto 4WD, which transfers torque to the rear axle as the front wheels lose traction. Another twist and a bleep and you’ve locked the rear differential for extra grip. A hill descent control button behind the dial adds extra utility and peace of mind when tumbling down slopes. 

Which is all a very paper-based view of the van’s abilities – when it comes down to it, the thing absolutely scampers across rough terrain, taking the roughest of obstacles in its stride. We did drive a Combo Cargo 4x4 equipped with the optional Plus Pack, so the standard set-up might merely manage to skip over unpassable terrain rather than the post-apocalyptic abilities of the über-4x4. 

The Combo deals with everything rather handily in its Auto 4x4 mode, and there was one big crest of mud that we eased toward the top of then flailed back in a spray of mud. Never fear – ease backwards, switch in locked rear differential and it monstered the peak. Likewise, a slope that was a degree or five over the rated traverse angle felt decidedly dicey behind the wheel, but the Combo Cargo was never particularly fazed.

Must be a pain on the road, though, right? 

The Combo Cargo 4x4 is surprisingly well behaved on the road. Road noise and cabin roar is to be expected with that giant echo chamber of a load bay right behind you. We took the van for a brief jaunt along country roads and through a passably urban area – the Combo Cargo was mature and well behaved. 

It angles fairly neutrally into corners, the ride is well tempered, and although there is a bit of body roll it clings on gamely. Acceleration is certainly there – you’ll find yourself at some point going faster than you were a few minutes ago – but there’s fun to be had in sustaining momentum. Default mode on the road is Eco 2WD, which does a respectable job of keeping fuel consumption low.

Should I get one?

When it comes to genuine rivals, there’s a shortlist of two – and both the Land Cruiser Commercial and Land Rover Defender hard top are priced around the same £36,000-ish as the Vauxhall. The Combo Cargo manages a heavier total payload and also smashes both rivals on fuel consumption thanks to its 2WD mode. If you’re looking at the Vauxhall, then you’ll likely be looking at a few pick-ups too, but the Combo Cargo feels more petite and manageable than those efforts while remaining as practical. Should you get one? If you’re asking the question, then probably not – you’ll know if you need one and you’ve probably already got it on order. We doubt you’ll be disappointed. 

Score: 8/10