Vauxhall Combo

This Vauxhall Combo 1.3CDTi is fitted with an Easytronic gearbox – for seamless shifts. This minivan comes equipped with common rail diesel technology and these power plants are more frugal now than ever before. Today a 1.3-litre can offer as much power and torque as a 2.0-litre or even a 2.5-litre of the mid 1980s. With more owner operators than ever before, a van not only has to do the job, but also has to make the driving environment a decent one. Therefore, when it comes to selecting a light van, Vauxhalls Combo would figure on many operators’ shortlists. Attractive upfront pricing and reliable mechanicals make it a trusty little workhorse.

The Combo comes with plenty of power for a small van - 70bhp on tap at 4,000rpm - more than enough to get you around the urban jungle does. Under the bonnet, you have a 1,248cc Ecotec-4 four-cylinder 16-valve double overhead cam engine generating 125 lb/ft of torque. The engine is mated to the Easytronic gearbox, which sets this van apart from rivals. The ‘box is an optional extra on the Combo range – but it will make your driving experience so much easier. It’s a five-speed manual gearbox with a fully auto mode. In manual, you simply push the lever forward or back to shift gear up or down. The facia display shows you what gear you’re in – 1-5 N for Neutral or A for Auto. Switch to fully automatic mode and it has many of the features of a regular automatic including a kick-down function. The ride and handling of the Combo performs well in both the urban environment and outer urban as the Combo is fitted with an independent front suspension, this includes Macpherson struts with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. 

The Combo is ideal for those who appreciate a roomy van with a dynamic and economical performance. The seats are comfortable enough and the driver’s is set fairly high so that those doing multiple drops can slide in and out easily without risking back pains. The cab and the cargo area are smoothly integrated into one aerodynamic shape, the higher windscreen giving an airier feel to the cabin. For those of us used to the Corsa car, the cab interior is no surprise, except for the higher roofline, which has allowed the provision of a full-length shelf overhead, to hold folders, clipboards or other books. Combo’s payloads vary from 743kgs to 803kgs depending on the model chosen and the load floor is low and flat, meaning that items can be slid in and out with ease. The critical measurements are a 1.79-metre long load length in an area 1.38 metre wide. Maximum load height is 1.19 metres, while the distance between the wheel arches is 1.13 metres, which will allow a Euro Pallet. There’s a neat gizmo available as an option in the partition grid, which allows the passenger side section to be hinged over the folded passenger seatback, giving a load length for part of the vehicle to 2.7 metres. They call this FlexCargo, and the hinged section acts as a protection from side load to the driver. Even without this system, the hard backed passenger seat when folded makes a very useful tabletop for an operator to do paperwork or even use a laptop.

Inside and out the Combo has been well built, service intervals are in principle set at 30,000 miles/two years, but you’ll be pleased to know you won’t have to write this down as there is a built-in monitoring device to warn you if your van needs to visit the service department. Vauxhall provides a three-year/60,000 mile warranty with no mileage limit in the first year.The deep plastic front skirt and rear wraparound bumpers should absorb a lot of the knocks and nudges, which are part and parcel of the workday.

Citroen C5 Tourer

Citroen has succeeded in giving the all-new C5 Tourer a prestige image with a more sculptured and muscular styling lines for the long, sleek body. All it has to do is convert the new image into sales. Sharing the front-end styling of the saloon version the Tourer is characterised by a sculpted rear that unites style with load space. At 4.83m long and 1.86m wide, the Tourer maintains the elegant front appearance of the Saloon, but with added room and functionality at the rear.

The C5 looks a classy vehicle and the plush and well-equipped interior is a considerable move up-market.  It feels a true five-seater, bordering on ‘premium’ class and there is a huge load area in the Tourer. For the driver the new C5 introduces the second-generation fixed-centre controls steering wheel introduced first with the C4 models.  Standard equipment includes stability control, seven airbags, a collapsible pedal assembly to reduce foot injuries in an accident, cruise control with speed limited and air conditioning. Citroen say particular attention has been paid to soundproofing, so the ride is as quiet as it traditionally comfortable with big Citroen passenger cars. Next to the very acceptable styling changes the quietness within the C5 from engine and road noise are the most praiseworthy features and the laminated acoustic glass significantly cuts down on wind noise.

The C5 range is offered in a choice of three trim levels- SX, VTR+ and exclusive and just like the saloon; the Tourer is extremely well specified. There is a wide choice of engines in keeping with the varied requirements of fleet, business and retail customers. Petrol engines are the 127bhp 1.8i and 143bhp 2.0i-litre units and there are four turbodiesel units with 110, 138, 173bhp outputs and a V6 208bhp unit. Automatic transmission options are also available for some models, depending on equipment specification, with 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre and 2.7-litre V6 diesel engines.  The diesel units, shared with Peugeot under the PSA banner plus Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, are the pick of the bunch. Most customers will opt for the 2.0-litre 138bhp turbodiesel unit, which in the C5 Tourer gives a top speed of 124mph, 0-62mph takes 12.1 seconds with 46.3mpg being the official average fuel economy. To maximise on obtaining the best possible fuel consumption and the lowest possible CO2 emissions Citroen has applied high ratios for fifth and sixth gears in the manual gearbox. This means that on the open road and motorways the 2.2HDI Tourer is really at its best. It coasts along quietly and effortlessly at 70mph just using 2,000rpm. However once on busier A and B roads the high gearing means considerable use of the gear change and on many occasions driving in fourth gear in slower traffic is required.

There is little to choose between the conventional coil spring suspension layout and the ‘magic carpet’ ride offered by the optional Hydractive 3 Plus system but many current C5 owners changing to the new models will want the traditional Citroen big-car comfort feel. The steering is light at low speeds making parking easier, firming up at higher speeds providing good feedback to the driver. Citroen UK say they expect around 70 per cent of customers to opt for the dampers and coil spring suspension. The Tourer’s boot offers 505 litres of load capacity making it one of the most spacious in the segment. When the rear seats are folded, the capacity increases to a total volume of 1,462 litres. Whilst the design certainly looks elegant due to its sleek, wide and low stance, the relatively small side windows combined with the wide pillars reduces visibility out of the car. The new Citroen C5 is a marked improvement over the outgoing model. It is a significant step up in design, quality, comfort and overall refinement. 

Renault Kangoo

The new Renault Kangoo is very much a vehicle for the 21st century and boasts modern, expressive styling, this being highlighted by a short ‘cobby’ front end. It comes in two versions, both sharing the same overall styling, with the ‘Compact’ version being considerably smaller. That said however, inside both this and the larger ‘Express’ have a capacious bright cockpit that is more in line with a car or MPV than a working vehicle. Modern, expressive styling seem to have been the design key words as there is space to securely fit an A4 clip board on the dash, store two lap-top computers in the glove box, as well as an overhead shelf to swallow up whatever else you want to carry close to hand and out of sight.

Multimedia connectivity with Bluetooth capabilities helps make the driving and passenger area as good as any modern Health and Safety conscious office. Add in things like fully adjustable seats, adjustable steering wheel, cruise control, air con, parking sensors, automatic headlamp and wiper activation and driving is not going to get too stressful. Safety is high on the list with pretensioner belts and airbags all round if required. The cockpit forms a rigid non-deformable survival cell to protect its occupants in the event of a crash and you have a choice of bulkheads or safety bars behind you. ABS, brake assist ASR traction control and ESC under-steer control, along with a load limiter make the specifications sound more like a top of the range family motor, rather than a working vehicle. For those times you need to increase the load capacity, providing you have no passenger, the front seat will collapse level with the rear floor to give extra length, if you do not opt for the fixed bulkhead.

The rear of the Express can now take loads between 3 and 3.60 cubic metres. The width between the rear wheel arches is 1.21 metres, which means that euro pallet will just slide in. The smaller ‘Compact’ shares the width, but length is just 3.83 m long as opposed to 4.21m for the larger Express. The load capability is just 2.3 to 2.9 cubic metres, but the turning circle and ease of manoeuvrability is well worth opting for it if you do not have large loads to carry. Both have asymmetrical rear doors that have been beefed up and designed for constant use. A sliding side door (depending on specification) adds to usability and access. Powering these new versions are three diesel engines, 70, 80 and 85bhp versions of the 1.5dCi unit. There are also two petrol engines, a 1.6 8V and 1.6V 105hp available. The list of options and extras also reads like those on a car brochure!

Built on the ‘Scenic’ chassis, it gives a level of handling not normally associated with a van of the genre. With a track 12cm wider at the front and back and a 10cm longer wheelbase compared to the existing version, the vehicle is very stable with little roll and pitch being noticeable even when loaded. Even some steep climbs out in the Scottish countryside were accomplished without the need to use the lowest gears and on the tight backstreets that formed part of my test route the turning circle was superb. The new Kangoo is better in every way and Renault has managed to achieve a replacement that is still as recognisable as its predecessor. Quiet an achievement!

Skoda Superb

The Superb has now won nearly 30 top awards across Europe since its official premiere at the Geneva Motor Show last year. Most recently it has been named Car of the Year 2009 in the Czech Republic. Škoda has sold over 20,000 new Superbs across Europe since launch. The all-new Superb – the third model to wear the famous badge – confirms Škoda as one of the world’s most innovative and exciting car manufacturers. Recalling an evocative name from Škoda’s past, the new Superb is not only the most luxurious car Škoda has ever built; it is one that will set new standards for quality, practicality, design and value.  The new Superb is a car that will change perceptions. Sitting at the top of the Škoda product range, it demonstrates that through bold design and engineering innovation, Škoda has created one of the most desirable cars in the sector. It also alters the perception of value for money. As with its predecessor, the new Superb dispels the old motoring myth of ‘you get what you pay for.’ 

The styling looks upmarket and has a polished luxury image. Let’s hope the badge snobs don’t cut off their noses to spite their face as the saying goes, they will be missing out on a great opportunity to buy a great car.  The range of engines for the new Škoda Superb fulfils the needs of every customer and presents a wide-ranging variety. There are three petrol and three diesel engines available on Superb; including the GreenLine delivering low CO2 emissions (136 g/km) and even greater fuel efficiency (55.4 mpg combined). All of the engines operate with direct fuel injection and excel as a result of their low fuel consumption and emission values. Customers have the choice of four trim levels; entry level S, mid range SE, GreenLine and top of the range Elegance.

The specification is high though and even includes the limousine function of having an umbrella stowed in the rear door. Front-seat comfort is great, with the driver able to adjust steering wheel and seat. But the rear-seat passengers have the best experience. Only the S-class Mercedes-Benz offers as much space in the back. If you've ever owned a VW, then a lot of the controls will look and feel familiar. They also click reassuringly into place, which adds to the impression of quality. The goodies list seems endless so the new owners will get lots of car for their money. I will just pick out the main items as a matter of record.  There are 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, subtle chrome trim, electrically operated door mirrors with integrated indicators, front fog lights and Halogen headlights. Inside there are heads rests for all five seats, an eight speaker sound system, air conditioning which includes the glovebox, front, side and curtain airbags, electrically operated front and rear side windows, electronic stability programme, executive style armrests, trip computer, remote central locking, leather trimmed steering wheel and gear knob/gaiter and split folding rear seats to make the best use of the rear tailgate and huge load space.

Given its imposing size, the Skoda is surprisingly agile on the move. Well-weighted steering and good body control make it extremely capable on twisting back roads. Buyers wanting even more grip can specify the optional four-wheel drive transmission, which is standard on the range-topping 3.6-litre V6 car. Even more impressive is the car’s comfort and refinement. The supple suspension manages to smooth out the worst road surfaces, while wind and engine noise are kept to a minimum. The Superb comes with a two-year unlimited mileage factory warranty, plus a third year valid until the car has completed 60,000 miles. Additionally, the coverage includes a 12-year warranty against corrosion and a 3-year paint warranty. Like its predecessor, the Superb delivers a first-class ownership experience