Used Vauxhall Combo Cargo Buying Guide
The Vauxhall Combo Cargo is the small van of the Stellantis stable in Vauxhall clothing — mechanically a sibling of the Citroen Berlingo Van and Peugeot Partner — and since its 2018 launch it has been a fixture with tradespeople, couriers and utility fleets. It even collected an International Van of the Year gong at launch, and the used market is now well stocked with ex-fleet examples. For buyers it’s a thoroughly modern compact van: car-like to drive, efficient, and available with clever load-through options that let it carry surprisingly long items.
Engines and trims
The workhorse engine is the 1.5 Turbo D diesel in outputs of roughly 75, 100 and 130PS, with the 100PS striking the best balance for mixed work; the 130 gets an eight-speed automatic option. A 1.2 turbo petrol was offered and suits low-mileage urban users, though it’s rare — and note the petrol uses PSA’s wet-belt design, so evidence of timing-belt and oil maintenance matters if you find one. The all-electric Combo-e arrived later with a 50kWh battery for city duties.
Body choices are L1 and L2 lengths, with payloads on many versions approaching or, with heavy-duty specifications, around the tonne mark — always confirm the individual van’s plated payload. Crew-van versions add seats at the expense of load length. Trims run from basic Edition to Sportive and Elite, with Sportive the used sweet spot: air conditioning, better infotainment and body-coloured trim. The FlexCargo load-through bulkhead flap is a genuinely useful option worth hunting for.
What to check before buying
Most Combo Cargos worked for a living, so the history file is your best friend: on-time servicing, oil changes at correct intervals and AdBlue system health on diesels. Urban multi-drop vans are prone to DPF and EGR complaints — watch for warning lights and sluggish, smoky running on the test drive. Check clutch take-up for judder and listen for flywheel rattle, both classic hard-use wear items.
Inspect the load bay for damage beyond fair wear: gouged floors, bent tie-down points and dented inner panels suggest careless loading. Sliding doors should run and latch sweetly; check the bottom door tracks for debris damage. Look underneath for scrapes and tired rear suspension from habitual overloading, and check tyres — including inner shoulders — for uneven wear. Confirm locks and door skins show no break-in damage, and run a finance and mileage check, as ex-lease vans dominate the market. On automatics, shifts should be smooth and prompt; on the Combo-e, ask for a battery health indication and check remaining battery warranty, typically eight years/100,000 miles from new.
Running costs
The 1.5 diesel is impressively frugal for a working van, particularly the lower outputs on steady routes, and shared Stellantis mechanicals keep servicing and parts costs low at any competent garage. Insurance is small-van territory and driven mainly by use and driver history. The Combo-e slashes fuel costs for urban operators with off-peak charging but needs route lengths matched to its realistic range. Budget for brakes, tyres and the occasional bulb-and-wiper realities of fleet life.
Verdict
The Combo Cargo is one of the best small vans of its generation and a low-risk used buy when the paperwork stacks up. A 1.5 Turbo D 100 Sportive with full history and an honest load bay is the sensible target; scrutinise DPF health on town vans and payload plates against your actual needs.
Browse more used Vauxhall models.