New Vauxhall Combo-e Life MPV priced at £31,160

• Huge boot
• 100kW fast charging
• On sale now priced from £31,160

Pricing and specifications for the new Vauxhall Combo-e Life MPV have been revealed. The new electric people carrier is on sale now starting from £31,160 after the plug-in car grant.

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The Combo-e is based on the regular Combo van-based MPV and is a direct rival to other electric MPVs, including the Citroen e-Berlingo, Nissan e-NV200 Combi and the new Volkswagen Caddy MPV. It promises a range of 174 miles on a charge.

2021 Vauxhall Combo-e Life: trim levels and standard equipment

Buyers can only spec a Combo-e Life in SE trim with a choice of five or seven seats. Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and automatic windscreen wipers.

Interior features include a digital dial cluster and an eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Air conditioning, LED interior lighting and a panoramic sunroof are also standard.

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Vauxhall has fitted an array of safety systems, including a 180-degree reversing camera and an e-Call system, which automatically connects the driver to an emergency helpline in the event of an emergency. Driver assistance tech includes cruise control, lane keep assistance, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and traffic sign recognition.

Every Combo-e gets Vauxhall’s ‘Intelligrip’ electric traction control system, which boasts unique off-road settings for mud and sand, as well as a snow mode for winter conditions.

Size, dimensions and practicality

Vans are often available in multiple sizes and lengths, and there are Medium and XL body styles to choose from on the Vauxhall Combo-e Life. The former can be specified with five or seven seats and the boot is huge at 597 litres. XL versions all come with seven seats; even so, the cargo space is even more vast at 850 litres. With the rear seats folded, you can fill 2,126 and 2,693 litres in the Medium and XL models respectively. There’s even an additional 36 litres of storage space in an overhead bin.

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The front passenger seat can also be folded forwards, meaning you can carry long items like surfboards in the cabin. A 750kg towing limit isn’t great but it’s better than nothing, and there’s trailer stability assistance. We’re pleased Vauxhall has fitted three ISOFIX points for child seats across the middle row.

Powertrain, performance and charging

Like Vauxhall’s other electric models - the Corsa-e, Mokka-e and Vivaro-e Life - the Combo-e Life is powered by a 136bhp electric motor, which is linked to a 50kWh battery. Here, it gives a range of up to 174 miles between charges and an 11.2-second 0-62mph time.

Using a 100kW public charger sees the battery topped up to 80% in around half an hour. As standard, the Combo-e features a single-phase 7.4kW charger for use with a home wallbox, which can be upgraded to a faster three-phase 11kW charger as an option. A regenerative braking system is also fitted, which allows the battery to recover small amounts of energy during braking and deceleration.

What does it mean for car buyers?

For buyers who want a practical family-sized electric car with the option of seven-seats, the Vauxhall Combo-e Life could be an excellent option. It offers a decent official range figure and, while it lacks the badge appeal of more premium models, it offers value for money thanks to a long list of standard equipment and safety features. Providing Vauxhall can offer it on competitive finance deals, the Combo-e should be an attractive proposition for those looking for an electric family car.

Read our guides to the best small vans and best large MPVs.