IT’S A KOMBI, NOT A TAXI |
Fun fact, did you know that in Zimbabwe, people do not call commuter omnibuses taxis as we do? Instead, the urban name for a commuter omnibus is a kombi. “I’ll take a kombi to the mall”, you will hear a person say. Over the years, the name has become embedded in urban lingo to the extent that the average person may not even know that it originally came from a certain VW minibus that took the world by storm in the 60s. A vehicle so iconic that an entire country associated its name with every vehicle in that segment. An icon that has endured for generations and whose latest iteration I recently had the pleasure of driving.
For the launch drive, I flew to Gqeberha, where I joined fellow journos who were all equally excited about the Kombi launch. The VW team had organised a scenic drive that would take us through Mossel Bay to the Gondwana Game Reserve.
Exterior
I found the new Kombi to be remarkably similar to the more premium Caravelle that I drove a couple of months ago, which makes it an excellent deal for would-be Kombi buyers. As an improvement over its predecessor, the new Kombi comes with a reworked grill and bumper, new daytime running lights and chrome accents around the exterior. In its Copper Bronze metallic paint, my launch tester had one of six new colours that can be optioned on the Kombi. In addition to that, there are seven two-tone paint finishes which I would easily recommend were it not for the R33,300 premium it adds to the price tag. There are also six wheel choices to select from, which, coupled with the paint options, allow for many exciting combinations.
Cabin Impressions
For something based on a commercial van, there was no way the Kombi would be anything but practical. There is more than enough room to seat eight, with ample head-, shoulder- and leg-room, plus plenty of space left for luggage. Unlike the Caravelle, however, there aren’t many amenities for the passengers in the main cabin. There is no fancy pop up picnic table, no cup holders, or USB outlets to charge devices. Even the doors are manual, with no fancy electric motors to do the work. It is an honest back-to-basics setup, which makes sense for its price bracket. It also helps that the cabin is solidly built, with the use of high-quality soft-touch materials making the interior feel comfortable and cosy.
Things get more interesting in the driver’s zone. The dash is adorned with a reconfigured 6.5” infotainment system that doubles as a reverse-view camera and has Android Auto and Apple Car Play connectivity. The driver faces a new multi-function steering wheel with height and reach adjustability. There are also two USB C ports and a 12V socket for charging devices, and a larger smartphone tray which can be optioned with a wireless charging pad.
On the Drive
The T6.1 Kombi comes with three engine options – the 2.0 TDI 81 kW Trendline, the 2.0 TDI 110 kW DSG Trendline and the 2.0 BiTDI 146 kW 4MOTION DSG Trendline Plus. Our tester came with the 2.0-litre turbo diesel unit churning out 110 kW and 340 Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission. On the N2 highway, the Kombi was at ease reaching and cruising at the speed limits. Overtaking was relatively uneventful, with the auto ‘box smoothly engaging the right gear for the task. While the Kombi is capable of moving along with urgency, I could not help but feel at times like a little extra torque was needed. The slight torque deficit was most apparent when the Kombi was faced with inclines on the Garden Route, especially when compared to my experiences behind the wheel of the Caravelle Trendline Plus, which came with 146 kW. I admit I am nit-picking, though, and the 2.0 TDI 110kW should be the sweet spot in the range for most buyers.
Complementing the drivetrain is a sound suspension system that provided comfortable ride quality along the journey. The cabin also has good sound isolation so that the occupants don’t have to shout over the road noise to be heard. Despite the imposing dimensions of the Kombi, it has a short wheelbase which translates to car-like handling, although, as it is quite a tall vehicle, you will experience some lean when taking corners rather enthusiastically. The driver gets a high command driving position, which, coupled with the enormous windows around the cabin, offers excellent outward visibility.
The Kombi proved to be quite efficient throughout the drive, averaging about 7.5-l/100 km against a Volkswagen claimed average figure of 6.6-l/100 km.
Arrival at Kwena Lodge
Our drive took us off the N2 towards Keurboomstrand, where we paused for a heaven-sent lunch at Ristorante Enrico before continuing towards Mossel Bay. By the time we reached the Gondwana Game Reserve, the sun was just starting to kiss the horizon. We made our way to our overnight stop at Kwena Lodge and were treated to elephants strolling around the parking area as we arrived. We duly had to wait for the reserve staff to usher us past these gentle giants – talk about a memorable welcome!
Whoever is in charge of organising launch drives at the VW group has a good eye for theatre and making good impressions. Part of the journey is the destination, and what a destination this was. Situated inside an 11,000-hectare private game reserve surrounded by lush vegetation and beautiful mountain views, Kwena Lodge makes for a lovely escape from urban life.
After a delicious breakfast, we set off for Knysna, where we proceeded to have lunch on Thesen Island. An overnight stay at the Knysna Hollow Country Estate marked the end of our onwards road trip before returning to Gqeberha the following morning.
The Last Word
When the first Kombi rocked the world, it didn’t have many competitors in the market, and it was easy for the bus to become an icon. Nowadays, however, the market is swarming with options, some even creeping in from the SUV segment. Despite this, the Kombi still puts up a solid fight. Starting at R763,500, it offers a great value proposition, taking into account its practicality, build quality and reliable highway performance. We actually found the Kombi to be such great value as to question the need for parting with over a million rand for the Caravelle. That is as good a recommendation as any – given how impressive we found the Caravelle to be!
Report by BRYAN KAYAVHU | Images © VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AFRICA
