OPEL COMBOTiming chain or Belt?

The Opel Combo is a small van (segment M) from the German brand Opel. It has been marketed since 1994 with a total of 5 generations. Its first version is considered the Opel Combo B since it replaced the Opel Kadett Combo. This model was based on the Opel Kadett E and was sold between 1986 and 1994. Currently, that Kadett is considered the original Combo A.

The second generation or Opel Combo B is based on the Opel Corsa B platform (GM4200). It existed both as a panel van and a family variant that would come out later (LAV or Leisure Activity Vehicle), which would be called Opel Combo Tour.

This van has been marketed under various brands, especially during the time when Opel was owned by General Motors. Therefore, depending on the market, the Opel Combo is sold under a different brand, being Vauxhall Combo in the United Kingdom, Holden Combo in Australia, and Chevrolet Combo in Argentina, Chile, and other Latin American countries. In China, it was sold as the Shanghai Auto Saibao SAC6420, with production handled by SAIC.

The third-generation Combo was launched in 2001 and its production lasted until 2012. The Corsa C platform was used, meaning the original GM Gamma platform, also shared with the Opel Meriva A. The door opening was side sliding, with 4- and 5-door versions featuring panel van (cargo) and LAV (family, called Tour) body styles.

For the manufacturing of the Opel Combo D, which is the fourth generation, Opel partnered with Fiat Professional. Between 2012 and 2018, the Opel Combo was a practically identical vehicle to the Fiat Doblò (FCA's SCCS platform). It was manufactured at TOFAŞ, Fiat's Turkish subsidiary. The main reason for this move was to reduce costs in order to compete with the vans from PSA and the Renault-Nissan Alliance. However, this partnership was short-lived, as Opel would eventually end up in the hands of PSA.

The Opel Combo E hit the market in 2018, already out of General Motors and under PSA's small van platform (PSA EMP2 platform). The Opel Combo E is a van identical to other models assembled in the same Vigo factory, such as the Peugeot Partner / Rifter, Citroën Berlingo, or the Toyota ProAce City. Additionally, there is an electric version called the Opel e-Combo.

The alternatives to the Opel Combo have been very varied over the years, since by changing automotive groups, many of the models that have been rivals to this small van (those mentioned in the previous paragraph) are now owned by the same conglomerate, so they do not directly compete. Other rivals of the Opel Combo are the Dacia Dokker, the Mercedes-Benz Citan, the Volkswagen Caddy, the Ford Transit Courier / Connect, the Renault Kangoo, or the Nissan NV250.