Test drive VW Sportsvan 1.6 TDI: the first reason

First impressions of the 1,6-liter diesel version paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

To be frank, an expression like "sports van" sounds like an oxymoron to me personally. As can be seen from the simple layout of the body, the VW Sportsvan undoubtedly shines with valuable qualities, which, however, are far from sporty impressions. Which, in fact, does not negate the fact that these qualities will appeal to any family that needs a quality vehicle - one word "Sport" causes unnecessary discussions about the purpose of the car.

Van - yes. Sports are not.

Words such as "clean", "discreet" and "simple" are often used to describe the styling of VW products, and in the case of the Sportsvan they are quite appropriate - it has no chance of winning a car beauty contest, but the likelihood of its legs swinging from excitement at the sight of it is zero, but for some reason it is not quite normal to expect this from a van. The Sportsvan's strength is quite logical in that it is as practical as possible in the daily life of the family - with its higher body and more flexible internal architecture, it offers additional transformation options compared to the Golf station wagon, and also offers a little more space. for passengers - especially in height. On the other hand, the Golf Variant wins the volume comparison, offering more luggage space for both used and folded rear seats. However, the rearrangement of furniture in the Sportsvan is logically richer and, just as importantly, simple. Overall, the ergonomics – typical of a VW – are top notch, from the seated position to the infotainment system and a host of additional assistance systems. By the way, the offers for additional equipment are wonderful for a car of this class - you can even order a (correctly working) assistant for automatic high beam control for Sportsvan. A very pleasant impression is made by the presence of a sensor under the touch screen - it is enough for the driver or his companion to bring only one finger to it and it automatically gives the system a command to display its main menus. When not in use, they remain hidden so as not to clutter up the display with unnecessary information.

Behavior on the road depends on safety and comfort - absolutely the right solution for a family hauler. However, that doesn't mean the Sportsvan is tolerant of faults such as lack of driving precision or hesitant response when moving faster - entirely brand-style, the steering and suspension are tuned so that the car can be handled with precision and precision. , giving the driver accurate information about the contact of the front wheels with the road.

The 1,6-litre TDI engine is a smart and absolutely sufficient choice to equip the Sportsvan. The presence of a maximum torque of 250 Nm, which is available in an extremely wide range between 1500 and 3000 rpm, makes traction under acceleration energetic and pleasantly smooth, while consumption in the combined driving cycle remains within about 6 liters. per 100 km.

CONCLUSION

Sportsvan is a representative of compact vans, in which everything is in its place - except for the name, since the model is far from any sporting achievement, and this is not the strength of this type of car. With a practical and high-quality interior, safe and balanced road behavior and a wide range of optional assistance systems, the model is an excellent solution for a safe and modern modern carrier. The 1,6-litre diesel engine performs well in all respects and casts doubt on the need to invest in a more powerful unit.

Text: Bozhan Boshnakov

Photo: Hans-Dieter Zeifert