Not too long ago the Opel Combo Life made its appearance at the Autodealer offices; I grabbed the keys and travelled to the Kuruman deep in the Kalahari to find out what is all about.
Exterior
Earlier in 2019, I got to sample the Opel Combo Cargo (read my review here) and I was left pleasantly surprised by the German contender. The Combo Life derivative is easily distinguishable as it offers body colour bumpers, mirrors and door handles. In each corner, you will find 16-inch alloy wheels and fog lights up-front. One of my favourite features on the car is having sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle making gaining access to the rear seats almost effortless.
Interior
It is in the interior where things get exciting. Instead of the wall behind the front occupants in the Cargo derivative, the Life offers three more seats in a 60:40 split configuration allowing for 690-litres of luggage space when folded flat. A feature exploited throughout the entire weekend, transporting goods to and from my mother’s 60th birthday party venue. The quirky infotainment screen in the Cargo has been replaced by an intuitive 7-inch Intellilink touchscreen infotainment system in conjunction with a 6-speaker audio setup. In front of me was an adjustable multifunction steering wheel from which I adjusted my cruise control and skipped through my playlist. Behind me was a height-adjustable seat with lumbar support, a must-have for the 1 200km trip there and back.
Motivation
Powering the Life is the same1.6-litre turbo diesel found in the Cargo with 68 kW and 230 N.m of torque. The motor mated to a five-speed manual gearbox proved to be more than capable for the long trip and even made overtaking easy even though the gear shift is vague with considerable long travel between gears. While I did manage 4.8L/100km on the long road down, combined with some small-town driving, I quickly saw that figure increase to a still commendable 6.0L/100km.
Verdict
The MPV market has been under attack from the ever-growing crossover segment, the Combo Life, however, does provide a good value proposition. Similarly priced than its crossover competitors, the Combo Life offers similar tech but a lot more space, not only for luggage but for front and rear occupants with its high roofline and spacious legroom and combines it with a comfortable drive and efficient engine. While I have enjoyed seeing all the new models added to the cross-over segment, the Combo Life should seriously be considered if you want some more bang for your buck.
Warranty
The Opel Combo Life comes standard with a three-year/120 000km warranty and a three-year/60 000km service plan.
Price
Opel Combo Life 1.6TD – R369 900
