By: Denis Droppa
Knysna - David Kramer has written songs about it, flower-child hippies drove to Woodstock in it, and for 65 years millions of families have used it to lug their children to school and soccer practice, and to memorable holidays.
Now the sixth-generation of South Africa’s favourite people-mover has arrived to take over from the T5 as VW’s contender in the minibus and commercial markets.
Over 280 000 units have been sold here since production of Type 2 Volkswagen Kombi started at the Volkswagen manufacturing factory in Uitenhage. The local production of the T-Series in Uitenhage ended in 2002 at the end of the lifecycle of the T3, and now the imported new T6 continues the heritage.
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As with the nearly 12 million units that have been worldwide produced so far, the iconic Volksiebus is still all about space and practicality, but the latest T6 has been jazzed-up with modern technology, added safety and higher equipment levels. It’s also been smartened-up on the outside.
Although its conservative design can’t match the glamour-boy of the minibus market, the swoopy new Mercedes V-Class, the Kombi does get some facial freshening while the range-topping Caravelle Highline acquires sexy new LED headlights. For an extra R29 000 the Caravelle can also be ordered in a retro two-tone paint finish.
Inside is where the bigger changes have taken place in the T6, particularly in the Caravelle which gets a fancy new touchscreen infotainment system along with improved cabin oddments space.
As always, versatility is the Kombi’s calling card. The roomy interiors offer various seating and cargo variations with seats that can be slid forward or backward, folded, or removed altogether to turn bus into panelvan. In the Caravelle the middle seats can be swivelled to face the rear.
The extensive 21-model T6 range includes the standard Kombi and luxurious Caravelle versions as well as a commercial line-up of Transporter buses, pick-ups, panelvans and crewcabs. Next year the range will also be joined by the California Beach campervan version.
The all-diesel engine line-up is carried over from the T5 and comprises a two-litre four-cylinder TDI with a choice of three output levels: 75kW, 103kW and 132kW, feeding the power through either five- or six-speed manual or six-speed DSG automatic transmissions.
Most of the range is tugged by the front wheels but for more adventurous expeditions all-wheel drive is available too.
LUXURY PEOPLE-MOVER
The standard Kombi is a seven or eight seater, while the commercial range offers a model that takes up to ten people.
There are short- and long-wheelbase versions and various spec levels to suit different budgets, with the passenger range priced from R481 800 all the way up to R848 800.
VW’s ultimate luxury people-mover is the Caravelle Highline which seats seven and is luxuriously trimmed with nappa leather seats and a high-gloss piano-black dashboard finish.
It also gets electrically powered front seats, electric sliding doors, and a rear table on sliding rails, among several other high-end comforts.
Bluetooth is fitted as standard across the range, while new touchscreen audio and navigation systems are available either standard or optional depending on model.
Safety has been upgraded range-wide. In addition to existing features such as ABS brakes, stability control, driver and passenger front airbags and electric seatbelt tensioners, all T6 derivatives now come standard with the Multi-Collision Braking System, which automatically brakes the vehicle in an accident to reduce the risk or severity of a secondary collision.
The Kombi and Caravelle are also equipped with a Fatigue Detection system which uses acoustic and visual warnings to urge a tired driver to take a rest.
ON THE ROAD
At the media launch held in the Eastern Cape last week I drove the Kombi 103kW/340Nm short-wheelbase Trend DSG version, the second least expensive of the people-carrying T6 versions with a pricetag of R513 300.
While it doesn’t have the poke of the 132kW/400Nm Caravelle it quite happily hummed along carrying six people and their luggage, with enough torque to ensure that steep hills didn’t significantly hinder its forward progress.
It also averaged a very creditable 8.5 litres per 100km in mostly open-road cruising. The ride quality seemed a little better than the old T5 too.
The improved clutter space includes large door-storage pockets, but only the Caravelle gets nooks in the dashboard that are large enough to accommodate a modern smartphone.
The Caravelle version we drove next had a warm interior ambience with carpets on the floor instead of the Kombi’s plastic covering, and the dash really looked upmarket with its piano-black finishes and chrome-ringed air vents. It’s not quite in the V-Class league but then the Benz is significantly more expensive.
All Kombi and Caravelle models come with a three-year or 120 000km warranty and five-year or 60 000km Automotion Maintenance Plan.
Transporter models are offered with a two-year, unlimited dfistance warranty and a three-year or 60 000km Automotion Maintenance Plan. - Star Motoring
PRICES - PICKUP
2.0 TDI Single Cab Pick Up LWB 75Kw - R293 900
2.0 TDI Double Cab Pick Up LWB 75kW - R332 800
2.0 BiTDI Double Cab Pick Up LWB 132kW - R409 800
PANEL VAN
2.0 TDI Panel Van SWB 75kW- R362 600
2.0 TDI Panel Van LWB 75Kw - R370 600
2.0 TDI Sport Van SWB DSG 103kW - R432 600
CREW BUS
2.0 TDI Crew Bus SWB 75kW - R421 100
2.0 TDI Crew Bus LWB 75kW - R429 100
2.0 TDI Crew Bus LWB DSG 103kW - R464 400
2.0 BiTDI Crew Bus SWB DSG 132kW - R489 400
2.0 BiTDI Crew Bus SWB 4Motion DSG 132kW - R519 900
2.0 BiTDI Crew Bus LWB 4Motion DSG 132kW - R527 900
KOMBI
2.0 TDI Kombi Trendline 75kW - R481 800
2.0 TDI Kombi Trendline DSG 103kW - R513 300
2.0 TDI Kombi Comfortline 103kW - R566 400
2.0 TDI Kombi Comfortline DSG 103kW - R583 900
2.0 TDI Kombi Comfortline LWB DSG 103kW - R591 900
CARAVELLE
2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Comfortline DSG 132kW - R738 300
2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Comfortline 4Motion DSG 132kW - R770 800
2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Highline DSG 132kW - R816 300
2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Highline 4Motion DSG 132kW - R848 800
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