An Opel and your business, the perfect Combo

This particular car gave me the first glimpse into the German brand and from the moment I first drove it until today, I remain a fan. I even own and drive a 2003 Opel Corsa to this day. When Unitrans Motors sent Autodealer the Opel Combo Cargo, I eagerly opted to take the helm and find out if the same Opel DNA still lives on.

The styling

Since its inception, panel vans were designed and manufactured to be functional and utilitarian rather than comfortable and stylish. This characteristic stayed true until more business owners wanted to travel around town in their company vans and enjoy the same styling and creature comforts found in their daily drives. Enter the Opel Combo Cargo, when specified in white, the front resembles a Stormtrooper from the Star Wars franchise, although the Combo doesn’t miss a beat.

At the back of the van is 3.3 cubic metres of load space, considerably more than you will fit in a conventional bakkie with the added benefit of branding space on the sides and at the back of the vehicle. In the front, you will find a modern interior cabin which includes a quirky looking sound system with Bluetooth, USB and an auxiliary input alongside a capable air conditioning system. While the interior looks modern, the utilitarian side starts to show with the rouged materials used and the plethora of storage compartments scattered throughout, not a bad thing at all.

The drive

Driving the Combo feels the same as driving pretty much any other vehicle in terms of ease, with the exception that you don’t have a rear-view mirror and instead is left with only the two-door mirrors. I would recommend a rear-view camera for future models to make reversing slightly easier. One aspect of the Combo that left me impressed was the low levels of road noise, it is no Corsa GSi but the wall separating the driver’s cabin from the load bay made all the difference needed.

Although I never really loaded up the back, I can attest that the 1.6-litre turbo diesel with its 68 kW and 230 N.m of torque mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, proved to be more than capable for the tasks I assigned it. My first stint on the highway saw me achieve the manufactured claimed 4.8-litres / 100km although the combined cycle saw me achieve a commendable 6.3-litres / 100km.

Verdict

With more and more entrepreneurs entering the economy worldwide, manufacturers had to improve on the styling and overall comfort of vehicles in this segment. Although the Combo Van is an award-winning option in international markets, locally it faces stiff competition against the likes of the Fiat Doblo and the popular Volkswagen Caddy. In the end, I think Opel has introduced a worthy competitor in this segment and should seriously be considered when you start up your own business.

Warranty

The Opel Combo Cargo comes standard with a three-year/120 000km warranty and a three-year/60 000km service plan.

Price

Opel Combo Cargo 1.6TD           – R319 000