Sector: Compact MPV Price: €17,800–€25,540 Fuel: 3.9–5.1l/100km CO2: 95 –130g/km

Stretching dimensions seemed to work for the original compact MPV, the Renault Megane Scenic, back in the early 1990s. It was 2005 before the Golf Plus came along, using much the same idea, but somehow the stretched proportions did not look so comfortable. Revealed at the Geneva Show earlier this year, its successor, the Sportsvan, or SV in some markets, looks more purposeful and the more angular lines give it a greater family resemblance with the five/seven seat Touran.

Not surprisingly, the Sportsvan is based on Volkswagen’s MQB architecture. At 4,338mm long, it is 134mm longer than the Golf Plus and 83mm longer than the current Golf, while being 224mm shorter than the Golf estate. Compared with the current Golf, the wheelbase is 48mm longer, helping to provide more interior space. Maintaining the comparison with the Golf, the Sportsvan is 81mm wider at 1,807mm and 126mm higher, at 1,578mm without roof rails.

To take advantage of the longer wheelbase, the rear seat can slide back and forth through 180mm, providing either more rear seat legroom or more luggage space as needed. Compared with the Golf Plus, there is 76 litres more boot space at 500 litres with the rear seat set back as far as it will go. This compares with 380 litres for the Golf and 605 litres for the estate. With the rear seats set as far forward as possible, luggage space is increased to 590 litres and there’s up to 1,520 with the rear seats folded. The front passenger seat can also fold forward stretching the load space to 2,484mm long on the passenger side. So it can be a practical load carrier – useful for a number of business users, or comfortable passenger carrier, as needed.

It doesn’t have the individual rear seats of the Touran, but a 60/40-split station wagon-style bench seat. To be specific, the seat is split 40/20/40, giving it more of a spacious four-seat bias, which seems an odd choice in a sector where five-seats are the usual selling point. Perhaps this has more to do with a perceived market separation from the five-seven seat Touran.

The engine range brings no surprises, as all are available across the Volkswagen Group model range, from 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre TSI petrol to 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre TDI diesel.

The 1.6-litre TDI is likely to be the popular choice, either with 95g/km CO2 from the BlueMotion or 101g/km from either 90hp or 110hp variants. The car drives in the fuss-free way we would expect from a Golf variant and with the comfort of low noise and a spacious interior. It offers the higher driving position of an MPV too and that will also be appealing to some drivers.

Verdict:

Golf driving characteristics and family resemblance will appeal to customers, but is there too much crossover with the Touran?