VW Golf Sportsvan 2.0 TDI, road test (exterior design, interior and boot)

Now that we have got to know how it drives the most family-oriented and versatile Golf in the range, it is time to analyse its design and practical capabilities.

Our Sportsvan 2.0 TDI handles well, consumes little and is very pleasant to use, but how does it cope with luggage? Does its new design convince?

Exterior design

Without a doubt, the arrival of the Sportsvan as successor to the previous Golf Plus has been a great leap forward for this Golf. The Golf Plus was never the most eye-catching or desirable model in the wide range of the German compact, but the Sportsvan presents a much more pleasant and attractive look than before.

It is no longer just a simple “bloated Golf”, but has a personality of its own and a mature, elaborate design, without forgetting its “Golf identity”, making it fully recognisable both to fans of the German brand and to those who are less fond of it.

The front has many similarities with its hatchback sibling. The grille has become a signature feature, and the chrome-finished slats together with the large logo give it a commanding presence. The headlights have a design very similar to that of the regular Golf, with those of the Sportsvan being slightly larger. The chrome details also extend to the lower part of the bumper, while the fog lights are positioned at the extremes, enhancing the sense of width.

The side is possibly the part that bears the greatest resemblance to the previous Golf Plus. We still find—and thankfully so—a large glazed surface, which in our particular case is complemented by a panoramic roof that will delight the occupants of the second row. In addition, on the Sport trim, both the second-row windows and the rear windscreen are privacy-tinted, improving thermal protection.

The standard wheels on the Sport trim are 17 inches, but our unit had the optional 18″ “Durban” model wheels, which together with the sport suspension that lowers the ride height give it a very interesting look.

The rear of the Sportsvan is similar to that of a five-door Golf, with the difference that we find a larger tailgate which, logically, gives access to a much more capacious boot. The light clusters do not use LED technology and, like their siblings in the range, are split in two, with one section on the wing and another on the tailgate.

Interior design

The Sportsvan can boast one of the best interiors in its segment. The overall design of the dashboard has improved substantially compared with the Golf Plus, which had one of the oldest interiors in the brand, shared with the Tiguan. The Sportsvan now has a dashboard much more similar to the Golf’s, with smooth lines and first-rate ergonomics. Only some hard plastics slightly detract from the final result, although it must be acknowledged that VW has made a great effort in this respect.

Anyone who has driven a regular Golf and then sits in a Sportsvan will not take a minute to feel completely comfortable and at home. All the controls are where one expects them to be. There are numerous storage compartments, all of good capacity, including large door pockets lined to prevent rattling of whatever we place in them. We also have a recess in the upper part of the dashboard, as well as one below the air conditioning controls, behind the gear lever, behind the steering wheel and, of course, in the centre console armrest.

The interior space is more than remarkable, with enough room for five people to get comfortable without problems. Naturally, the front seats offer both width and height dimensions that will comfortably accommodate people of any height.

In the second row we have every kind of comfort. The seatbacks can be reclined to improve occupant comfort or cargo capacity. These two options also apply to longitudinal space, as the 60:40 split rear bench can slide to adjust the available room. Visibility is excellent from every angle, which helps make life on board much more pleasant.

Boot

To begin with, the boot has very squared-off proportions, which always benefits practicality. The loading aperture is of an adequate size, making it easy to load heavy or bulky objects. The floor is movable, as it has two positions, one higher and one slightly lower. We can make use of this depending on our needs. On either side there are two very useful recesses, as well as a power socket and hooks from which to hang bags or garments.

The Sportsvan’s boot capacity ranges from 500 litres (a five-door Golf has 380 litres while a Golf Variant has 608 litres) up to 1,590 litres with the rear seats folded down.

Photography | Daniel Valdivielso