A Seriously Capable Compact Minivan

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen will unveilGolf Familythe concept car for the new Golf Sportsvan. This is the third production-ready model line-up, following the hatchback and variant, and it's a compact minivan that succeeds the Golf Plus. Sales are expected to begin in mid-2014.


The Golf Sportsvan features a longer wheelbase and increased height compared to the Golf, offering a more spacious cabin and the practical, enhanced functionality befitting a minivan. The rear seats can slide fore and aft by 180mm, and the luggage capacity exceeds 1,500 liters.

Its exterior, which doesn't immediately suggest a minivan, is also a distinctive feature. This can be attributed to clever design; upon closer inspection, one can see additional windows just behind the A-pillars and just before the C-pillars on the body sides. However, because the overall design adheres to the Golf's aesthetic, the impression isn't significantly altered unless viewed side-by-side.


The wheelbase is approximately 50mm longer than the base Golf (hatchback model), at 2,685mm. The overall length is 83mm longer than the hatchback but 224mm shorter than the Variant, measuring 4,338mm. The width is only 8mm wider than the hatchback at 1,807mm, and the height is 126mm greater at 1,578mm. Compared to the Golf Plus, it is 134mm longer, 48mm wider, and just 2mm lower.


The extended wheelbase and rear overhang provide over 30mm more legroom in the rear seats. The rear seats can slide independently fore and aft by up to 180mm. The backrests are split 40:20:40 and can be folded. In standard configuration, the luggage capacity is 498 liters; sliding the seats forward increases it to 585 liters, and folding them down yields a maximum of 1,512 liters. Furthermore, by folding down the front passenger seat backrest, a length of 2,484mm can be achieved, making it easy to accommodate long items.

Like the 7th generation Golf, innovative driver assistance systems are also employed in the Golf Sportsvan. These include the Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, the "Front Assist Plus" pre-collision braking system that avoids and mitigates collisions with obstacles, City Emergency Brake that automatically activates emergency braking, Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The enhancements in safety equipment are numerous.


The engine lineup consists of four gasoline engines ranging from 85ps to 150ps, and two direct-injection diesel engines at 110ps and 150ps, for a total of six options. All models come standard with an engine stop-start system. This results in a fuel efficiency improvement of over 19 percent compared to previous engines. Notably, the 1.6 TDI BlueMotion, compliant with Euro 6 standards, boasts a fuel economy of 27.0 km/l and CO2 emissions of 95g/km, achieving top-class environmental performance in the compact minivan category.