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IVOTY Test Drive Opel Combo-e Cargo: Best as an Electric Vehicle

The Stellantis Group is continuing to advance the electrification of its transporters – now extending the modular drive system to the important 2.3-ton class. The "K9" van, whether as a panel van or a combi, offers considerably more enjoyment with electric power than with internal combustion engines and achieves a range of 275 kilometers despite relatively poor efficiency. We were already on tour as part of the "Van of the Year" event.

Quick in the city: The so-called K9 Van from Opel, Peugeot, and Citroen demonstrates its electric superiority and is the ideal entry into the electric fleet. | Photo: Opel
Quick in the city: The so-called K9 Van from Opel, Peugeot, and Citroen demonstrates its electric superiority and is the ideal entry into the electric fleet. | Photo: Opel
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von Johannes Reichel

One for all: Well, almost – under the stringent leadership of Carlos Tavares, the Stellantis Group is making the next electric step and is currently leading the competition in fully electric vans and delivery trucks. Renault is gearing up to counter this, but only in the second half of next year, together with Mercedes and Nissan. In the entry-level class, the brand-new VW Caddy especially looks outdated against this quartet of rivals: an eHybrid is all that's available electrically, and that too only from next year at the earliest. The consolation might be the TGI natural gas, but even that's not yet available.

The latest addition under the ever-broadening Stellantis umbrella, which will also include a fully electric 3.5-ton truck from PSA/Opel and a standalone Fiat E-Ducato later this year, and from next year the Fiat Scudo and E-Scudo, is the so-called “K9,” available for order immediately as the Opel/Vauxhall Combo-e Cargo, Peugeot e-Partner or Citroen e-Berlingo – all under 30,000 euros as a basic van. After deducting premiums, Citroen claims a price of about 19,990 euros net, Opel estimates 20,700 euros. This might make urban transporters ponder whether it’s finally time to try out one of these legendary electric delivery vans. Available in two lengths, as a van, crew cab, and flexible combi, with a clever multifunction passenger bench and pass-through, all without any compromises in loading space, with up to 800 kg payload and even 750 kg towing capacity.

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No Compromises on Cargo Space, Payload, Extras

No compromises compared to the combustion engine, that was the maxim of the development – and that has worked, apart from the reduced towing capacity, at least on paper. Notably, the formal 275 kilometers of range isn't just on paper, as the first test drive suggests: with 19 kWh/100 km, you can manage a city-country loop, and more than 22 kWh – also the official WLTP value – is not recorded even at highway speeds, at least according to the on-board computer. This is acceptable, but still leaves room for a second generation of e-drive, which according to reports, is already being prepared again with Conti subsidiary Vitesco, likely to become an efficient and space-saving axle drive.

Compared to the considerably higher (7 cm) and wider (7 cm) 3.0-tonne model, which is prudently available with a 50 and 75 kWh battery, the Partner-Combo-Berlingo holds a very city-friendly size and also allows for an easy entry at "eye level" instead of "coach-seat level". Up to 3.9 (4.4 m³ with FlexCargo wall) cubic meters in the L2 nearly match the smallest 3.0-tonne model with 4.6 m³ (5.1 m³ with FlexCargo) capacity, of course at a length of 4.75 compared to 4.60 meters.

Ideal Beginner Electrician

About 6,000 euros more costs the large E-van with the identical drive package of 50 kWh battery (46 kWh net) and 100 kW e-machine as well as 100 kW DC and 11 kW AC on-board charger at Peugeot. With the DC charger at 100 kW power, you should be at 80 percent within half an hour, with 11 kW it takes five hours, with 7.4 kW seven and a half. The price sorting is similar at Citroen. Opel, however, starts with the Vivaro-e Cargo from L2 length, with a 9,000 euro surcharge compared to the Combo.

The advantage of the "small one": Lower weight and especially small frontal area result in significantly lower consumption, especially on highways. Easily 4 kWh/100 km lies between the smaller and the medium-sized E-van. Those who frequently drive on highways cannot avoid the larger 75 kWh battery – and that, as L2, costs about 40,250 euros net at Peugeot, which is quite a price step. In other words: Those looking for an "entry-level model" into the electric fleet won't go wrong with the "small one". You can order the XL version for 1,800 euros more and transport up to two pallets or 3.3-meter-long cargo pieces through the passthrough. Incidentally, the robust EMP2 multi-drive platform from PSA forms the basis here as well.

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Road Handling and Performance Better Than Combustion Engine

An additional advantage alongside the price and the convenient entry: The Combo-Partner-Berlingo is absolutely city-friendly to drive, offering better visibility and more agile handling. Speaking of which: The electric version is actually the better partner (Combo/Berlingo) here. It grips the road excellently, sways significantly less than the conventional versions, and handles bumps smoothly without being overwhelmed. And it accelerates quickly even in normal mode, while in power mode it accelerates very briskly (11.3 s 0-100 km/h) and, if urgently needed, up to 135 km/h. This allows for quick merging onto the highway or overtaking on country roads.

All of this is accompanied by a slight electric symphony of humming, which fades into the background above 30 km/h, leaving room for other driving noises. Although there are not many: The 2.3-ton vehicle rolls quietly, does not stomp, the body feels torsionally stiff and is creak-free processed, and overall of appealing and solid quality.

Bulky Shift Console Has Lost Its Meaning

The recuperation, of course, is somewhat simple and does not allow one-pedal driving like in the Nissan eNV200. But in normal driving situations, additional braking is often unnecessary. Ergonomically, the mode adjustment via slider in the "shift console" is not cutting-edge. It has lost its original meaning and significantly restricts legroom, especially for a potential second front passenger, not to mention the passage through. In the station wagon, this is completely impossible due to the bulky storage console that runs through the front section. In return, the spruced-up station wagon features a completely flat floor in the rear and good legroom, even in the third row, where there is more space than in the VW Caddy seven-seater. In the station wagon as well as in the double cab, the bench can be folded down just as quickly and does not need to be removed.

Full Range of Assistance

Otherwise, the electric variant does not lack compared to the combustion engine and optionally offers a decent level of driver assistance, from blind spot warning to active emergency braking, lane assist, side and rear cameras, and overload display, where highway pilots might only miss the adaptive cruise control. There's also no lack of infotainment or optionally even a fully digital display, nor connectivity via the obligatory app, which also allows various vehicle data to be queried remotely, such as the charging status. The rough terrain traction system is also available for the electric version. No compromises.

And to further alleviate customer concerns regarding electric vehicles, the manufacturers, which next year will likely include Toyota with the identical Proace City Electric, offer an eight-year warranty on the battery with 70 percent capacity and up to 160,000 kilometers. This solidly built compact electric van should easily serve for that long.

Translated automatically from German.
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