Test Drive Opel Combo since 2002 Minivan

With benefit for business

For many years, the concept of the heel was associated with us with the nettical creation of the Izhevsk Machine-building plant and the Rodonachar of the domestic class of light trucks IL-2715. The tribe of entrepreneurs originated in our time also used this unpretentious old man in their market and larcous purposes for a long time. Our today's guests are a kind of reincarnation of the Udmurt car. They completely reflect the western vision of commercial vehicles. This is no longer just ton of iron plus the engine. We present to your court Opel Combo, Volkswagen Caddy and Citroen Berlingo Cars with a lifting capacity of up to 600 kg.
All three cars are absolutely different: Opel Combo cargo, Volkswagen Caddy cargo-passenger and Citroen Berlingo passenger with wide frequency transformation capabilities. Why did we take such a kit for the test? In order to enable those who need it, choose a van precisely with the functional set that will be most useful in the farm. Opel Combo. The all-metal van is based on Opel Corsa units, a reliable carburetor 8-valve motor volume of 1.4 liters is taken from it. This car also has a cargo-passenger version and an option with a low luggage compartment.
Driver's workplace and a passenger seat are separated from the trunk with a metal partition that prevents the shipment to the salon, which can happen during emergency braking. The driver's cabin itself is the front of Corsa. The instrument panel made of sufficiently solid plastic with burrs, is not devoid of pleasant little things, such as an electronic thermometer and clock. Dashboard is three large and easily readable dial: speedometer, temperature sensor and fuel level index. Electric drives are absent, as well as the cover on the glove compartment. Without this, you can live in the traveling car. It is convenient to get a driver of any growth allows a fairly wide set of adjustments, including adjusting the seat in height, which is carried out with the help of a handle rotating as the handle of the scarmer. Even with basketball growth, the driver does not rest on his head into the ceiling, and back in the partition. Above the driver's head is a pocket for trifles and documents divided into two parts.
Having settled in a driver's seat, you begin to understand why sometimes drivers of truck drivers behave so strangely during rebuildings. Despite even the large rearview mirrors, the side visibility leaves much to be desired. The appearance of the back door strongly limits the joint between its isometric sash. Upset and the absence of electric external mirrors. The cargo compartment of this modification at the rear axle has a height of 115 cm, in the driver's zone is 20 cm less. Rear doors swing with glazing, but without a heater and wiper. The width of the doorway is 130 cm (this is the best indicator among the participants in the test), and in the wheeled arches 10 cm less. Combo without problems will transport a load of up to 175 cm long (for example, a two-chamber refrigerator), and the loading height of the empty car is 55 cm. Before downloading the vantor, erupt on the COMBO empty.
The motor barely audibly crumbled under the hood, the first transmission is turned on. In the cabin, of course, it is noisy to hear how the gasoline is splashing in the tank and tires rustle. On the first empty kombik accelerates to 40-45 km / h, after that it begins to protest, demanding the transition to the second. Alas, it is impossible to not be noted that the gear mechanism is not clear for clarity. Nevertheless, on the Combo highway, you can easily disperse up to 140 km / h. Stop the light van is easy, the brake pedal although it is soft, but it does not affect the efficiency of braking. The car, which is simply obliged to ride the loaded, with an empty luggage compartment prone to vertical swinging, and at the entrance to the rotation to the demolition of the rear axle is not burdened. The suspension is tough, all the joints and other charms are immediately transmitted to the body. The vortex of sensations from taxiing on Combo does not arise not that car. However, a 69-strong motor is characterized by a very good burden and even at a speed of 40 km / h and the fifth gear confidently accelerates the car.
It's time to load. Ballast weighing 250 kg will be enough to understand the difference in the behavior of the empty and loaded Combo. The car with a partially loaded rear axle behaves much more confidently not swinging vertically and does not dance in turns. The acceleration time, of course, is increasing, but non-imminent, and the small travelery heart works as if the car did not load at all. With a load of 250 kg, the maximum speed for COMBO lies within 120 km / h. Someone will tell little, and I believe that this is more than enough, especially for a loaded commercial car. At the same time, the fuel consumption in any modes of movement has never exceeded eight per hundred, and the A-92. Economic benefits are evident. The only thing that clearly lacks this car is at least some upholstery of the cargo compartment. He is too iron ...
Volkswagen Caddy. Caddy is such a boy on bliss on a golf course. The last word can be put in quotes, and then the meaning of the phrase will be changed: Caddy on blisters at Golfa. From the previous participant of the race, it differs more than the area of \u200b\u200bglazing and the presence of a second row of seats. All-metal version is also available. Boy for washing balls, as well as Opel, flesh from the flesh of the city kid. In this case, the edge took from Adam named Polo 94th model year. It got a 1.4 liter injection motor with a capacity of 60 hp. Plus four human. Inside Caddy, the embodiment of the German practicality and tender care of Europeans about themselves. Cheerful and high-quality seat upholstery, ergonomic instrument panel of soft material and a single piece, not dressed in plastic. The instrument panel (speedometer, large arrow hours, fluid temperature pointer, fuel sensor) and steering wheel from the basic modification of Polo.
The driver of Caddy should be a person not higher than the average growth, since the height of the roof over the front seats is standard, Polovskaya, and therefore not very big. Driving seat adjustments three. With their help, you can feel comfortable enough, there will not be enough only one thing at least a hint of lateral support. It is completely absent here. On the rear row of seats, passengers fall through the front. The lifting mechanism handle on the passenger seat is traditionally in the back, face to the door. But the driver will have to bend, because for some reason the same handle on his chair is located on the inside of the back. Rear can accommodate two people of the average set and any growth, because the height of the roof over the rear seat is 120 cm. At their disposal, a separate lighting ceiling, head restraints and personal vents. With visibility, due to the larger area of \u200b\u200bglazing, VW is fine. The rear door is divided into unequal parts, most is equipped with a wiper, there is a heater.
Making empty flight. Caddy, like Combo, also does not induce the driver with the clarity of inclusion of gears and good course stability in the absence of loading. And the same vertical swingings on a blank machine, excavating for this working pony. However, the steering on the cargo-passenger folk car works in sports clear and sharply, even without a hydraulic device. And the same Children's delight can be experienced from the drive of the engine. You can touch from the first three gears, practically without killing the clutch, and on the fifth motor just creates miracles. The engine, as a train from Romashkovo, will only drink from time to time, but in general, very confidently pulls the car forward. Since the car is cargo-passenger, it is necessary to fold the rear sofa to load it. It is possible to do this after removing the rear head restraints and a five-minute fight against the retainer. The folding back is resting in the front seat, which you need to move forward, thereby violating the adjustment. It will not be possible to achieve an absolutely smooth cargo space, for this there is a complete version, and in the rest ... The height of the luggage compartment is 120 cm, the width of the doorway 120, the wheel arches 110 cm. The loading height of the empty machine is 60 cm. Barrel with butter is better Do not put, otherwise you can scratch plastic and spoil the tissue upholstery. Caddy is better to download boxes that we will do.
250 kg in the trunk significantly worsen the dynamic characteristics of the engine. It is no longer so vigorously accelerates the car, but still perfectly pulls in the lower range of revolutions. Loaded Caddy on a liter-half-and-and-and-and-long self without cargo: 8.5 l / 100 km with an empty trunk and 9-10 liters with full. Gasoline, which is nice, 92nd. Caddy, unlike Opel Combo, not such a unconditional truck, however, in addition to the carriage of small batches of cargo, it is great for trips to the garden plot, and for leaving a small company to the river and kebab. Citroen Berlingo, he is Peugeot Partner, he is Doninvest Orion. Absolutely independent and original concern of the PSA concern. Also produced in the all-metal variant, as well as in an option with three doors. This is not just a van, but almost control. Body layout bus, rear shift doors, and fifth rises up. Motor with a volume of 1.4 liters with a capacity of 75 hp, the maximum carrying capacity is 550 kg. Inside this car is even more original and peculiar than outside. Orange-blue seat upholstery and door panels, the blue dial dials and the blue insert under the marble on the torpedo. Everything is so cheerfully and vividly that in the car I want to sing and have fun, and not cargo to carry. And you have ...
Salon is a five-seater with the possibility of transformation and the same roof height over the entire length. The driver's seat is rather reminded by the place of the tram tram. The chauffeur sits as if over the dashboard, controls and almost sees the front bumper. At the same time, the deer man risks not to see the tops of the dials. The driver's seat adjustments are four, and the height of the cabin and the design of the backs of the front seats allow any Arvidas to feel a full-fledged Sabonis. The instrument panel is pleasant to the eye and extremely functional. The instrument kit consists of a speedometer, a tachometer with an electronic clock and a standard set of two pointers. In addition, there is air conditioning, immobilizer and front electric windows. Passengers fall into the beliefs through not very wide sliding doors and slightly touch the arches of the rear wheels. Inside to their services, numerous vents, cup holder and pockets for trifles. Empty Berlingo on the road is a good front-wheel drive car with clear reactions on the steering wheel and efficient brakes. Since he is the most powerful thing in our close company, it lies quickly, and the maximum speed is above 150 km / h. The rear suspension at Berlingo is fully independent, which saves it from scattering and trouble at the entrance to the turn. Carefully removed asphalt strips and open sewer hatches The small bus slips like oh oil, swinging on its screw springs and gas shock absorbers.
There are also revealed minuses of his bus, most of all this concerns visibility back. Imagine that the rear view mirror on the windshield is located at a distance of 75 cm from the top point of the instrument panel. That is, that in the hatch (hypothetical) that there is no difference in the mirror. Anyway, it is necessary to pull the neck in a goose. The process of folding the rear seat takes a couple of minutes. Headrests are cleaned into the back, and the seat disappears without visible problems. It turns out a cargo platform with a smooth floor of 140 cm long and a width of 117 cm (and in the doorway, and in the wheeled arches). Loading height 60 cm. The barrel in the trunk could not be delivered to us, prevented the fifth door, which opened almost parallel to the earth, but our boxes were useful and this time. 250 kg This download that Berlingo practically does not feel. The engine, however, becomes more capricious to the selected gear, and the fuel consumption increases with a significant increase in 10 liters vs. 8.5 cooking. And again gasoline ... right, 92th! Berlingo perfect family car for farmer.
All three cars are completely different, they are distinguished by a completely different life credo: Opel of working and ascetic, Volkswagen also loves to work hard, but tries to do it in white gloves, and Citroen head of a big family, not having hard work. What is closer to you and relative? Choose ...
 
Maxim Rakitin
Photo by Alexander Nosdrin
 

How do they look:
Nikita Rozanov
 
Outside:
Immediately make a reservation that the measurements of the sub-training as they look to the Trinity of these utilitarian automobile users were used carefully and without emotions. After all, it is unlikely that anyone will buy a hammer in weight and grasp, but only on the basis of his color. Although, however, someone may need a bright red tool so as not to forget it and not confuse with the neighbor.
It is difficult to confuse these cars, in particular the Citroen stands out, which in the cargo-passenger modification rather looks like a comfortable minivan than a utilitarian van. But Opel, and VW True workers who have a humpback silhouette of a real heel, indicating the priority of the function of transportation of goods, and not passenger boosted.
The awareness of the car from the face is good, and in the case of Opel and VW, it is obliged to the well-known progeniba of these vans: Corsa and Polo hatchbacks with branded lines of radiator and characterized by an expressive glance of headlights. True, VW is allocated here, whose body-colored bumpers make its appearance somewhat playful in comparison with the functionally black and matte bumpers Citroen and Opel. The same two cars are more functional in detail: Citroen has a wide protective plastic belt, and the cargo volume Opel is decorated with expressive ribs. Although the most utilitarian silhouette of Opel, in which the aerodynamic fairing of a cargo compartment protruding is introduced into the image of the car, Citroen looks better, having a sliding side door in the cargo compartment. Behind the design of such cars is determined solely by the design of the doors and the size of the opening, and the rest gets something that will remain. The rear optics of the whole troika is functional, but is miner, and the most organized and stylish behind the back looks Citroen, the design of which once again confirms that we are rather Ven, rather than a small indoor truck.

Results:
Citroen Berlingo (in the all-metal van modifications) The expressive design is perfectly associated immediately with two brands of manufacturers: Citroen and Peugeot. It has the most convenient and rational diagram of loading-unloading, as well as a pronounced utilitarian focus of general style and parts. Opel Combo is a good and German reasonable design, in which the purpose of the car is easily guessed, and the stylistic heredity of the CORSA model highlights the utility of the deliver car. Volkswagen Caddy in comparison with the other review participants This van does not look so harmonious, and the marriage of the Polo hatchback with the covered freight platform (especially its glazed version) makes the impression of not quite equal marriage
Inside:
An assessment of the interiors of this triple is similar to an assessment of appearance with accuracy to the opposite. Citroen Berlingo is somewhat surprised by the fact that although successfully combines the function of Wen and the van in its appearance, the instrument panel has a purely hatch-baking, style and composition of which they do not strongly relate to the needs of a commercial car. The functionalism of the Polo instrument panel has more faced the place, and its verified and a bit of dry design is almost what is needed by a delivering car. In comparison with them, the Opel itself utility plus a bit of acutely characteristic style. A wide tray of a comfortable top shelf is working on this image to the entire width of the panel and the expressive form of a two-spoke steering wheel. Door upholstery is also the most characteristic of German cars. And Opel, and VW, the door opening handle housing is organically moving into the handrail of its closing, and then in a convenient armrest, and it all looks like a single and functional block.

Results:
Citroen Berlingo The interior of this car is designed to satisfy the two appointments: cargo-passenger Wen and van. 50/50 did not succeed, although everything is whole and even stylish. Opel Combo Although the instrument panel is taken from the Corsa passenger model, it walked around both style and utilitarian equipment and finishing. Volkswagen Caddy In-Spartansky Functional Polo interior faced as it is impossible. True, it is almost no shelves that use the shelves, pockets and tanks, but this drawback is somewhat compensated by the technological design and quality.
 

A source: Cars