New Opel Combo Cargo voted International Van of the Year 2019

• Commercial vehicle IAA: Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller accepts coveted award
• IVOTY jury: 25 international journalists from 25 European countries
• Previous Opel winners: Opel Astra Van in 1999 and Vivaro in 2002

New Opel Combo Cargo is International Van of the Year 2019

The new Opel Combo Cargo is International Van of the Year 2019 (IVOTY), the most coveted title in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) business. Awarding the Combo 127 points, the jury of 25 specialist journalists from 25 European countries put the new Opel well ahead of the second-placed Mercedes Sprinter (92 points). The high driving pleasure, the innovative assistance systems and the economy of the Opel van played a decisive role in the new Combo bringing this prestigious award to Rüsselsheim for the third time since its introduction in 1992. Opel previously won the International Van of the Year award with the Astra Van in 1999 and with the Vivaro in 2002. The new Opel Combo has been developed by Groupe PSA and optimised to meet the needs of the brand. The prize-giving took place at the IAA commercial vehicle show in Hannover. Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller accepted the award for the Combo from IVOTY President, Jarlath Sweeney.

New Opel Combo Cargo at the IAA commercial vehicle show in Hannover.

“We are very proud of this award,” said Michael Lohscheller. “The victory also shows the possibilities for Opel within Groupe PSA. With the Combo we are now attacking the C-van segment – until now we have not played a prominent role here. There is great growth potential for Opel in the LCV business. It is therefore appropriate that we have received the responsibility for developing a new LCV platform for the whole Groupe PSA in Rüsselsheim.”

The IVOTY jury was highly impressed by the talents of the Opel Combo: “The engineers and designers succeeded for the first time in the history of LCVs to create a multi-brand cooperation van, where all brands maintain their core values and brand personality without almost any compromise. The PSA models are redefining the entire segment of modern compact vans, with a fresh approach in design, fit and finish on par with compact cars and a unique feeling of comfort.”

Groupe PSA LCVs

The jury also praised the numerous assistance systems of the Opel Combo, such as the sensor-based overload indicator and the excellent all-around visibility – the second camera in the passenger-side mirror, for example, reduces the blind-spot on this side of the vehicle. The Combo Cargo additionally scores with the equally new sensor-based Flank Guard.

The jury of journalists thus concluded: “The Groupe PSA small vans are convincing in more ways than one. They feature real novelties that are modern, comfortable and full of today's safety technologies. In use, they display a driving pleasure and generally very good levels of behaviour, without yielding anything to their utilitarian vocation. They offer professionals a wide choice of bodies and engines. Clearly a new reference in the world of vans.”

Highly efficient in every way

The new Opel Combo celebrates its world premiere at the IAA for commercial vehicles in Hannover (booth C 64, hall 13). The new Combo has been developed with the ambition of offering top efficiency to professionals and the lowest cost of ownership in the segment, thanks to an all-new architecture, ingenious packaging and a unique range of assistance systems resulting in an extremely efficient transporter.

New Opel Combo Cargo XL

From the start, the Opel Combo is available in numerous variants including the 4.40-metre standard version, the 4.75-metre XL type and a spacious five seater crew cab with two sliding doors as standard. Opel’s new compact transporter also outshines most of its main competitors with a load volume of up to 4.4m³, a payload of up to 1,000 kg and a loading length of up to 3,440 mm for objects and work material. The cleverly designed loading area is wide enough between the wheel arches to enable the loading of up to two Euro pallets – even in the Combo with short wheelbase. And extremely long utensils such as wooden planks can be stowed at an angle thanks to the optional roof hatch.