You've moved on in your life, levelled up and the days of jolling and galavanting are now behind you. You've found a great partner and things are going well. You're thinking of starting a family and considering all the things that need to change to make this happen. Your little runabout or two-door sports car may not be suitable for this task, but what about the Volkswagen brand? Do they have something that would be a better fit?
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The answer is in the name. Translated from German, Volk - People and Wagen (wagens) - Car. The people's car. Therefore it's safe to say that there will be something in the Volkwagen range that suits your pending life change. If one looks at the current VW lineup, there's very little that isn't suitable as a family car. Take a look below to see what model ranges you can expect to find and how they will suit your family needs.
Hatchback
It all started with the VW Beetle, so it makes sense that Volkswagen would know how to make a compact hatchback. Locally you can choose from the Polo Vivo, Polo and Golf. The Polo Vivo is a South African special and a continuation model of the previous generation Polo. This makes it more affordable but it doesn't skimp on the value. For those looking for a little more tech, the Polo offers similar dimensions and space as the Vivo but with updated convenience and safety features. The flagship hatchback is the Golf. In South Africa, you will only get the performance Golf GTI.
The Polo Vivo and Polo are perfectly suitable for young families. As your family grows, you may find that you require a little more space and will appreciate the convenience features of the Golf, which is slightly larger. Polo Vivos are fitted with ISOFIX mountings in the outer rears, have two airbags and a 280-litre boot. The Golf offers 374-litres of boot space.
Prices from: R227 900 (Polo Vivo)
Crossover
The Volkswagen crossover range is extensive, starting with the Polo-sized T-Cross, moving up to the Golf-sized T-Roc and wrapping up with the larger Tiguan and finally the Touareg. All of these offer an increase in ground clearance, providing a more compliant ride quality and offering improved visibility over the road. The smallest offering, the T-Cross, gives you 6 airbags at minimum, ISOFIX mountings and a 377-litre boot. As you move further up the chain, these specifications improve.
Prices from: R357 900 (T-Cross)
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SUV
While the line between Crossover and actual SUV is a blurry one, most will admit that the Tiguan and Touareg are the closest South Africa will get to the full-scale SUVs that VW offer. The Tiguan is a comprehensive offering with 6 airbags, ISOFIX mountings and a 520-litre boot, making it a great family vehicle for those with larger families and greater numbers. Should you need even more space, the 7-seater Tiguan All Space ups the ante even further.
The Touareg improves on this further with even more space, its boot coming in at 810-litres.
Prices from: R528 800 (Tiguan)
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MPV
Needing to cart even more people around? VW has you covered with their longstanding T-range consisting of the Transporter, Caravelle and California. These multi-seater MPVs offer the most space and flexibility, perfect for the larger family that loves going on long journeys. The Transporter Crew Bus is a no-fuss solution to multi-person mobility while the Kombi has slightly better features. The luxury side of things sees the Caravelle and California kitted out to cater for all your needs.
Prices from: R651 900 (Transporter Crew Bus)
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Double Cab
For those that lead an active lifestyle or need a vehicle that can serve double duty, trekking to the construction site, farm or bush, the Amarok is the ticket for you. The double cab arrangement means that there are seats in the rear with adequate space for the little ones, replete with ISOFIX mountings on the outer rear seats and a complement of 4 airbags.
Prices from: R738 800
