Vauxhall is entering the leisure activity vehicle (LAV) segment with the all-new Combo Life, which is set to arrive in the showrooms late 2018. The Combo Life is is equipped with two rear sliding doors and can be ordered as a five or seven seater.

There are three individual rear seats, all with ISOFIX child seat brackets, and an optional panoramic glass roof. Vauxhall says the Combo Life is fitted with technologies and driver assistance systems that are more commonly seen in the compact or SUV segments, such as Driver Drowsiness Alert, Rear View Camera with 180° bird’s-eye view, Head-up display, and IntelliGrip, as well as improved comfort features such as heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

Technology and safety features include:

• The Head-up display, which reduces the danger of distractions and projects the most important driving data into the driver’s direct line of sight.
• Forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and Automatic Emergency Braking that issues an alarm and a visual warning, and will brake automatically if the driver does not react to the alerts.
• Front camera system, which gathers and processes data for additional driver assistance systems such as Speed Sign Recognition and Lane Keep Assist.
• Automatic Cruise Control adapts to the speed of the vehicle in front. It works in conjunction with Intelligent Speed Adaptation, which informs the driver when a new speed limit is detected and prompts the driver to adjust the speed accordingly.
• Driver Drowsiness Alert detects for signs of driver fatigue and suggests the driver takes a break at the next service station.

Parking manoeuvres are made safer and easier by Advanced Park Assist and the Panoramic Rear-View Camera. The new Flank Guard system supports the driver while turning at low speeds, providing a warning when there is a risk that the flank of the vehicle will collide into an obstacle, such as pillars, barriers, walls or other vehicles. Flank Guard consists of twelve sensors that analyse the surrounding area and warn the driver though the infotainment screen if a potential collision is detected. The Combo Life is also equipped with IntelliGrip traction control for safer handling, while a heated steering wheel and heated front seats keep the chill at bay. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible infotainment systems with colour touchscreens, are available to keep drivers connected.

The Combo Life is available as a 4.4-metre standard length version or a longer 4.75-metre long model, with two sliding rear doors as standard. Both variants have a height of 1.8 metres and will be available with either five or seven seats.

The five-seat, standard length version has a minimum luggage volume of 597 litres, while the long wheelbase model has a minimum luggage volume of 850 litres. With the rear seats folded down, the boot volume of the standard version more than triples to 2,126. The longer version of the Combo Life offers even more capacity when the rear seats are folded down with a whopping 2,693 litres.

Combo Life customers will have the choice between a variety of turbo-charged, direct injection petrol and diesel engines. The engines are available with either five or six-speed manual transmissions, or an eight-speed automatic.