Should you buy one?

The Combo Life is the very essence of a family car, shorn of all pretence to luxury, sporting prowess or performance. This uncompromising approach is admirable, particularly as this is one of the few 4.4-metre long cars that will take three children in appropriate child seats – and two adults as well. Sliding doors are ideal for narrow parking spaces, and the rugged interior can shrug off all manner of abuse.

That it does all this really shouldn’t be a surprise, it’s a formula that is well proven. Where Vauxhall has excelled is in breaking down the dynamic barrier that would encourage drivers towards more car-like, compromised prospects; the Combo Life rides better than many family hatchbacks and has impressive refinement at motorway speeds.

It doesn’t look sexy or even particularly interesting, but it is an excellent tool for the job of family car duties.