The Volkswagen legacy
The people’s car holds a special place in our hearts. For many of us, a VW was our first car and our introduction into the world of motoring. Many, many thousands of Volkswagens have been sold in South Africa - and many of them are still going strong, a testament to the longevity of the brand’s products.
Related: Are Volkswagens good for new drivers?
VW prides itself on quality and reliability, and that has made composing this list difficult, to say the least. Using data from consumer resources such as Hello Peter, IPSOS, JD Power and the Kinsey report, we have listed some of Volkswagen SA’s models and ranked them by reliability, from worst to best.
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10. Touareg
VW’s entry into the premium SUV segment leaves many weighing up their options against the likes of Audi Q7 and BMW X5. First-generation Touareg's had reports of engine faults, turbo failures and electronic issues, but these have been resolved in later incarnations. It’s still a very complex vehicle, however – so there’s always some potential for some bugs to rear their heads.
9. Amarok
VW’s answer to the bakkie segment, the first-generation Amarok’s had known transmission and differential issues that cause it to be placed quite low down the list. The issues have since been effectively addressed, and the Amarok does enjoy a certain amount of success, although its pricing still keeps many at bay. With an imminent arrival of a new 2023 model made by Ford under a joint venture, the Amarok is sure to go from strength to strength.
8. Passat
The Passat name has come a long way since the late seventies. What was once an ungainly station wagon/sedan hybrid has become a classy, luxurious, executive saloon. However, it struggles to find traction in our market: whether due to the rise of the Audi range or because its buyers are moving into SUVs, the Passat languishes in sales volumes, and has been dropped from VW SA’s lineup. At least the mechanically similar (but much more stylish) Arteon was around to pick up the slack, and already filled the gap left by the earlier departure of the under-appreciated CC.
7. Jetta
At first glance, a sedan version of the Golf wasn’t such a bad idea, but as hatchbacks became more popular and the demand for SUV’s surged, it sadly became a non-mover. The Jetta didn’t really present with any faults or service issues but rather its lack of popularity makes getting some parts difficult.
6. Tiguan
In the mid-size SUV segment, the Tiguan is a very popular choice. Superb styling and performance place it well ahead of its competitors - it was a WesBank South African Car of the Year finalist in 2017, and with good reason. The latest-generation Tiguan has a more generously sized boot, or if you need space for more people, the Tiguan AllSpace comes with seating for seven. 2022 saw the late introduction of the Tiguan R, a sportier version of the popular SUV, but reliability reports are scant to say the least.
5. Golf
From its two-door hot hatch days in the early 80s to it being a somewhat bloated five-door hatchback in the late 90s, the Golf has stood the test of time. The mid-2000s saw the introduction of the Polo Vivo to replace the old Mk1 Golf, allowing the entire model range to take a step up from being an entry-level car to being a grown-up car. A testament to their reliability, there is every conceivable generation of Golf still driving around our country today. 2023 will see the introduction of a new Golf R model that is sure to set the cat amongst the pigeons.
4. Caddy
Initially sold as a half-ton bakkie, the Caddy transformed into a closed-top MPV and compact van in recent years. Used mostly as delivery vehicles for small businesses, the Caddy is proven reliable and durable, thanks to its robust construction and frill-free mechanical bits. Think of it as a sturdier, simpler Golf, and you’ll get the idea.
3. Polo
These days, the Polo is what the full-cream Golf used to be: the next step up from your first car, with a little bit more refinement, a few more extras and undeniable reliability. You cannot drive anywhere, park anywhere, or sit in traffic without seeing at least one Polo. It's the second-biggest seller in our local passenger vehicle market, and for very good reason.
2. Up!
The Up! might be an unusual choice for second position here, but there’s good reason for that: it’s fairly simple in terms of features, the little 3-cylinder engine doesn’t use direct injection or a turbo (both of which might lead to reliability issues), and it’s really well-made. Upon these virtues was the Volkswagen reputation for a long service life built, which makes this a worthy runner-up to the (similarly simple) Vivo.
1. Polo Vivo
The Polo Vivo takes the top spot here as it is the most prolific model in the VW range, and fills the market gap previously held by the immortal Citi Golf. The Vivo is essentially the previous generation of Polo, and if that isn’t an indication of how reliable these cars are, then I am not sure we can be friends anymore. The Polo will continue to be the first car many SA drivers will look at for their first or second car. It is likely to remain SA's best-selling passenger vehicle for quite a while yet...
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