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Combo
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Easytronic is Vauxhall's other self-shifting gearbox, now fitted to the Combo for the first time. Like the Vivaro's Tecshift, it's a clutchless manual with all the drawbacks and advantages that brings.
Advantages first. An urban driver gets all the benefits of a regular automatic - no clutch action needed. And because it's based on a regular manual it'll be as economical as the regular three-pedal van, if not more so. It's only available on the 75PS 1.3 CDTi, so that means it's very economical indeed - over 50mpg potentially.
The usual drawback of the clutchless manual is sluggish, jerky changes, but it's good to report the Combo largely avoids this fate. Whether in auto or sequential manual mode (the driver bashes the gear lever up or down), the changes come relatively fluidly. The Easytronic is also found in the 1.3 diesel and 1.2 petrol Corsa, so it's passed the consumer test to Vauxhall's satisfaction.
Unlike the Tecshift, the Easytronic gives the driver much more of say in the shifts. Unless pushed into a higher gear, the Combo's lively 1.3 will bump against its 5000-odd rev limiter for as long as the gear stays selected. In automatic mode it will have shifted earlier of course, but this manual control is either a positive according to the driver or a negative to the person responsible for maintaining the fleet in the face of driver punishment.
The optional Easytronic adds just under £400 to the standard £10,280 1.3 Combo - not a bad figure, but it becomes another option to join the long list needed to bring the Vauxhall to a spec you and your driver will approve of. That list starts with the £235 sliding side door and continues from there.
The Combo itself is in the middle of a lifespan that started in 2001, so there's still a way to go. The arrival of a new Corsa doesn't mean it's about to get replaced anytime soon, even with a new Berlingo and Kangoo to contend with shortly. That said, the little big Vauxhall is holding up well, with satisfactory build quality, frugal engines and a decent ride/handling mix. The Easytronic 'box just adds to the appeal.
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