2009 Volkswagen Citivan Reviews

Volkswagen Australia has reduced the payload of its Amarok ute range.But don’t panic, it’s actually good news for a lot of would-be buyers.The change has come about as VW brings its method of calculating payload into line with the rest of the dual-cab ute industry.Volkswagen Australia Amarok Product Manager, Ben Triebels, told CarsGuide that the change involves using the kerb weight of the Amarok rather than the tare mass when calculating the payload.Simply put, this involves weighing the vehicle with a full tank of fuel, rather than the 10 litres of fuel the tare weight method involves. There are no other physical changes whatsoever.“It’s a simple as that,” Triebels said.Of course, a heavier vehicle (one with a full fuel tank) reduces payload, but rather than that being a problem for the Amarok, Triebels sees it as an advantage.“We made the move to bring our specifications into line with what everybody else in the ute market does,” he said.“But then we had a few dealers and fleet managers contact us and tell us what a great thing the payload reduction was.”Which begs the question: Why?It turns out that in the case of many Amarok variants, that slight reduction brings the official payload below 1000kg. At which point, the vehicle is suddenly eligible for a novated lease where, previously, it wasn’t.Since many high-end dual-cabs are, in fact, user-chooser decisions purchased on just such a leasing plan, this has the potential for a sales uptick for Amarok.While the Aventura model already featured a payload under 1000kg thanks to its heavier 21-inch wheels and tyres and roller-cover for the bed, the Amarok Core, Style and PanAmericana have now all fallen below the 1000kg payload threshold for novated leasing.

Volkswagen adds a new ID.3 variant with a longer range as part of range-wide upgrades, but Australian launch still as far out as 2025.

The next 12 or 18 months will be a busy time for Volkswagen Australia as it launches multiple new EV models into its line-up.One of those is the ID.Buzz, the latter-day Kombi with an all-electric driveline, which is expected to begin deliveries by the end of this year as a zero-emissions alternative to the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Staria.And while we’re now waiting for pricing details, VW has let slip that the fastest ID. Buzz variant, the GTX, is also destined for Aussie shores.The performance version of the ID. Buzz will likely cost well north of $100,000 when it arrives, but its performance should balance that out.So would the presentation with VW Australia’s head of marketing, Nathan Johnson, confirming the GTX would feature a sporty, dark interior and would be available in two versions of two-tone red (black over red and silver over cherry red) harking back to the original Kombi.We’re likely to see the all-wheel-drive, long-wheelbase version when it arrives.More specifications were not forthcoming form VW Australia, but the GTX reportedly uses a 250kW all-electric driveline and can reach 100km/h from rest in a claimed 6.4 seconds.Mr Johnson also confirmed that the GTX would be the brand’s fastest ever MPV.The ID.Buzz will join the ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs, which are due to arrive in the middle of this year, in the brand's expanding EV range.The small ID.3 electric hatchback is expected to arrive in showrooms next year, too.

The VW Kombi and camping have gone together like a horse and carriage for more than half a century. And this imposing Crafter Kampervan is the brand's latest pitch to dedicated Aussie holidaymakers. Are you ready to take it on? Dave Morley has the lowdown on its pros and cons.

Hyundai is committed to the hot hatch with plentiful stock of its i30 N hot hatch available in Australia. 

Here are the popular models no longer available in Australia that are living an extended or second life elsewhere.

While the T-Cross is getting on in years, the MY24 upgrade should help it fend off rivals at all ends of the price spectrum.

The sporty version of Volkswagen’s retro-inspired electric Kombi, the ID. Buzz GTX, has been revealed in Europe and it's coming to Australia next year.

The Volkswagen Crafter has been updated with a new cabin and... ChatGPT

Volkswagen's range of fully electric models expands again, but is this a China-exclusive or something more?