Our opinion
We like
Vault-like solidity, interior space and versatility, excellent ingress/egress via side and rear doors, storage compartments, functional design, ergonomics, visibility, build quality, crisp steering, strong brakes, good grip, fuel consumption
Room for improvement
Lacklustre diesel performance, engine noise, some bodyroll, front-drive understeer in tight turns
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS 06/06/2006
NICHE-mad Volkswagen must have been eyeing the burgeoning weekday-work/weekend-getaway market with great envy and perhaps more than a little regret.
Its new Kombi Beach van is charged with chasing the sales of vehicles as disparate as the Toyota HiLux SR5 Double Cab pick-up, Nissan Patrol 4WD wagon and Ford Falcon XR6 utility.
Yet, as a leisurely stroll through Nimbin or San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury district instantly reveals, it is the ancient Kombis of the 1950s through to the late 1970s that originated the ‘work/play’ vehicle.
In a nutshell (with four wheels and a smoky old engine out back), VW invented the segment. Or at least, came to define a whole automotive counter-culture that endures to this day.
Now the Kombi-as-leisure-vehicle is back (it returned as a nine-seater commuter bus in 2003 which, ironically proved very successful with government agencies) as the Beach, ready to kick some sand in the face of Falcon and co.
To this end the company says there was even some Australian input in the German-developed Beach program, although what exactly that is remains a mystery.
Certainly the ‘Kombi’ name is unique for us, as other markets retain the more accurate ‘Multivan’ moniker since that is the T5 Transporter variant that the Beach is based on.
The van connection is a good one too, since the basic T5 ingredients lend themselves swimmingly to work and lifestyle activities.
There is no denying the handiness and versatility of the big boxy van body that is built like a bank vault, and is easy to get stuff in and out of courtesy of a huge sliding side door and cavernous tailgate.
From the driver’s seat point of view the blocky dashboard is a paragon of function and clarity, with firm but accommodating front seats, easy reach of all switches and controls, plenty of places for storage and great all-round visibility.
In fact, the VW is one of those vehicles that seems much smaller once you begin to drive it.
Car-like steering helps make the handling quick and responsive, although fast roundabouts do induce lots of lean and front-wheel drive understeer.
Yet strong grip from all four wheels tucked in each corner translates into safe and stable cruising abilities, while the brakes bite with reassurance.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the Kombi Beach is its performance, since the 96kW/340Nm 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel TDI, driven in six-speed auto guise, only really performs adequately with a heavy right foot, which in turn seems to double as a volume button to a noisy engine.
If you just keep in mind the 2.5 TDI auto’s promised 9.3L/100km fuel-consumption average, you will find the performance trade-off an acceptable one – for the thirst potential in a petrol-powered van like this is enormous.
Once on the move the TDI does hustle along nicely, and will cruise along fairly quietly, with the diesel clatter only apparent if sudden acceleration or overtaking duties are required of it.
Nevermind. It seems VW has worked hard to make the cabin a fairly quiet place anyway. And there is just enough Golf-like style and class to the dashboard’s presentation to impress whomever you fancy.
In the Kombi Beach, both front seats swivel to face the rear two-seater bench (please don’t try this while driving), which then presents itself with a variety of seating, lounging and sleeping permutations for two friendly souls, aided by a heater, curtains and more intimate lighting availability.
As a work and leisure vehicle then, the Kombi Beach simply has no peer.
It looks good – garish optional fluorescent two-tone colours excepted – drives better than most people expect, and has the added bonus of diesel economy and cruise-ability.
VW’s estimates of finding 100 buyers in 2006 seems conservative, because the Kombi Beach really does have the ability – as well as a rose-tinted and flowers-in-your-hair heritage – to be all things to all people, every day of the year.
