Vauxhall Combo Cargo 4x4 review

The Vauxhall Combo Cargo 4x4 is special. Unique, in fact. Not words you’d expect to be associated with a Vauxhall van, but it’s true, because it’s the only four-wheel-drive small van you can buy at the moment.

Yes, there are bigger alternatives, such as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4 and Ford Transit All-Wheel-Drive, and a Volkswagen Caddy 4Motion is just around the corner, but if you need a small van right now, the Vauxhall’s your lot.

The Combo Cargo 4x4 is actually built by 4x4 specialists Dangel, but it is fully backed by Vauxhall and you can order it from a dealership just as easily as you would a regular model.

It uses Vauxhall’s 128bhp 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine and Dangel’s own traction control system, and can be switched between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive in an instant, using a rotary control on the dashboard.

There are two body-length options, giving you up to 3.9m3 of loadspace and a maximum payload of 892kg. 

The suspension has also been raised by 90mm over that of the standard Combo Cargo van. A 4x4 Plus Pack further increases the Combo Cargo’s off-roading potential with a rear differential, mud-and-snow tyres, and a ride height raised by a further 20mm.