Following Stellantis’ Commercial Vehicles Ambition Day, showcasing its overhauled and regrouped LCV portfolio last October, the different brands have commenced releasing their new models.

Next in line is Opel, which has unveiled some further details – but no price – on the face-lifts of the Combo Electric and Zafira Electric. These models, offering room for up to seven and nine passengers, respectively, come with extended ranges and the distinctive Opel Vizor brand face.

They are marketed as new, but both LCVs are thorough face-lifts and share most – if not all – of their technical solutions with their sister models at Citroën, Peugeot, Fiat, and Toyota.

The most significant change is for the Combo, featuring a new battery pack with LFP chemistry (lithium-phosphate-ferro) unveiled by the previously released Citroën Berlingo. This should positively impact pricing, which is essential for families on a budget as this is the only available driveline in Belgium, but these haven’t been made public yet.

50 kilometers more

The refreshed Combo Electric, equipped with a battery of 50 kWh, now achieves a WLTP range of up to 330 kilometers, approximately 50 kilometers more than the outgoing version. Opel attributes this improvement to optimizing the electric driveline and installing an efficient heat pump.

This aligns with Stellantis’ commitment to fitting vehicles with a heat pump as standard for enhanced electric operation efficiency. The extra mileage also comes from the battery’s additional net capacity, which has risen from 45 to 50 kWh.

The Combo Electric retains its 100 kW power, 260 Nm torque, and a top speed of 135 km/hour but now features three driving modes, three-stage regenerative braking, and a standard three-phase 11 kW onboard charger.

The Combo comes in two lengths, offering up to seven seats. The good news is that the load volume of 775 to 4 000 liters and 27 storage options remain unaffected by the electric driveline.

Two battery packs

Let’s move to the Zafira Electric. This van sits on the same architecture as the Combo and is available with 50 or 75-kWh batteries. Opel promises a WLTP range of up to 350 kilometers with the larger pack, a notable improvement of 20 kilometers compared to its predecessor. The autonomy of the smaller pack remains disclosed.

The Zafira Electric is optimized for up to nine passengers, with sensor-controlled, electric sliding doors for easy access to rows two and three. The bigger van uses the same electric motor as the Combo with 100 kW power and 260 Nm torque, but the top speed sits slightly lower at 130 kph. It also features three driving modes, three recuperation levels, and an 11 kW onboard charger.

Both Opel electric MPVs introduce new technologies, like full LED headlights, up to 18 assistance systems, an optional 10-inch digital driver information display, and a 10-inch color touchscreen for infotainment.