Vauxhall’s new Combo van will be available in showrooms from December, priced from £15,630 (ex VAT).

All Combo variants have a lower list price compared to their predecessors. The Edition Diesel is available from £15,630 (ex. VAT) and the Sportive Diesel is priced at £17,703 (ex VAT). The LE NAV is available from £18,905 (ex VAT).

Vauxhall aims to double its market share in the van market over the next two years (potentially more than 40,000 annual registrations), to become the second largest brand in the van market.

“It’s a 350,000 vehicles market come rain or shine. That’s bigger than the Dutch car market and the same as Belgium’s, but few people even talk about vans. And we’re taking a miserly share of it, so that’s where the opportunity lies,” said Vauxhall managing director Stephen Norman in a recent AM interview.

Its light van sales are meagre currently and Norman wants more Combo vans on Britain’s roads.

Combo Edition features a four-way adjustable driver seat and a passenger seat with under-seat storage. A fixed steel bulkhead, a kerbside sliding door and overhead storage is also standard along with Bluetooth and DAB, one-touch windows and electric and heated exterior mirrors.

Sportive models gain a six-way adjustment for the driver’s seat with lumbar support and armrest, 16-inch wheels with wheel trims, air conditioning, metallic paint with body-colour bumpers, rear parking sensors, cruise control and an alarm.

Range-topping LE NAV adds body colour exterior mirrors, exterior door handles and side protection mouldings, plus alloy wheels and an eight-inch touchscreen with sat-nav.

The Combo is also available as a Crewvan, with a fold-flat passenger seat, as well as a two-position caged bulkhead that moves forward when the second row seats are folded down. A protective bag is included to prevent damage to the interior and dashboard that may be caused by longer loads.

Under the floor, the new Combo combines a passenger car modular front chassis with an upgraded commercial vehicle rear chassis. Vauxhall says this provides a passenger car-like driving experience.

Smart driver assistance and safety features in the Combo include Lane Keep Assist, forward Collision Alert with Pedestrian Detection, Drowsiness Indicator, Traffic Sign Recognition and Automotive Emergency Braking.

The Combo also features numerous technology innovations, such as Surround Rear Vision, providing a digital rear-view mirror, and Flank Guard, helping to prevent side damage from low-level obstructions. Overload Indicator ensures that the driver does not exceed the vehicle’s load capacity, while Intelligrip provides grip assistance in adverse driving conditions.

The engine line-up includes a Euro 6c 1.6-litre diesel with 75PS or 100PS and CO2 emissions ranging from 109g/km to 111g/km.

There is also a Euro6d-Temp compliant 1.5-litre unit with 130PS and CO2 emissions from 113-116g/km. This engine is available with a six-speed manual or eight speed automatic transmission.

From next year, a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 110PS or 130PS will be available.