What is it?

A modern tribute to the legendary Volkswagen Kombi celebrating 70 years since the original T1 first went into production. Based on the VW Multivan, the Kombi 70 brings a host of extras intended to attract customers with an eye for history.

How much does it cost and what do you get?

Priced from $64,990 drive-away, the Kombi 70 costs $12,000 more than an equivalent Multivan Comfortline equipped with the same turbo-diesel engine and seven-speed automatic transmission.

The Kombi 70 treatment includes a two-tone paint scheme and 18-inch wheels in a retro polished disc design, along with LED headlights and power sliding doors. On the inside, leather and Alcantara upholstery joins wood-effect flooring and a “Good Night package” bringing blinds, a “multiflex board” which turns the rear bench into a bed extension, along with a rechargeable torch and extra storage drawers.

Other gear includes a six-speaker, 6.3-inch touchscreen stereo with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android auto, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, three-zone climate control with front and rear adjustment.

VW backs the Multivan with a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Servicing for the van is due every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, costing an average of $675 per year over five years.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Kombi 70 is powered by VW’s proven four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine which uses 7.7L/100km to produce 103kW and 340Nm outputs.

Less refined than you might expect from a passenger-focused vehicle, the diesel is louder than similar powertrains found in sedans or SUVs. As is usually the case for a new VW, the Multivan sends power to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch “DSG” automatic transmission which drives the front wheels.

Capable of hauling plenty of cargo in commercial Transporter form, the Multivan’s engine hauls the big van to highway speeds without fuss, settling in comfortably for a long cruise.

A whopping 80-litre fuel tank and claimed 6.7L/100km highway fuel use combine to give the Transporter almost 1200 kilometres of highway range, easily outlasting the bladders of all seven occupants.

What’s it like to drive?

The Multivan’s commercial roots result in a driving position closer to a tradie van than a polished SUV, combining with a 2.2-tonne unladen weight, long wheelbase and full-sized dimensions to make it feel quite large on the road.

Even so, the van offers excellent forward visibility from an airy and spacious cabin combining with light steering and well-weighted pedals to produce a safe and predictable driving experience.

That said, this latest Kombi-inspired machine misses out on the adaptive dampers and more powerful twin-turbo diesel engine of the discontinued (and much more expensive) Multivan Generation Six.

What’s it like inside?

Well-finished if a little behind VW’s usual polish, the van’s multifunction steering wheel is at least one generation behind passenger machines such as the Golf, which feature cruise control buttons on the steering wheel as opposed to the indicator stalk.

The Multivan’s seven-seat layout features two comfortable seats with arm rests up front, met by a similarly equipped pair of chairs in the middle and a three-seat bench across the back.

Those middle seats are particularly clever - VW’s seat rail adjustment system allows you to slide the rear seats forward and backward, swivel the middle row to face the rear bench or remove the central seats entirely.

We also like the use of “Halifax Maple” faux wood floors that form a nod to surfing culture, and the clever folding rear bench that serves as a bed.

Is it safe?

A full suite of airbags augmented by stability control and driver fatigue detection systems makes the Kombi 70 a reasonably safe proposition, though it misses out on modern tech such as Autonomous Emergency Braking ot lne keeping assistance.

That sort of gear might feature in a model year update and subsequent special editions likely to arrive in the near future.

Would I buy it?

The Kombi 70 is a visually arresting, somewhat polarising machine. Many people will make up their mind about this car through looks alone, though it has much more to offer than retro charm.

What else should I consider?

The Kia Carnival is our go-to machine for moving more than a few people, though it lacks the style and flexibility of VW’s more expensive rival. People who want to a car for long road trips could wait and see whether Volkswagen Australia introduces a full-on Kombi Camper to rival the pop-top Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo, and those who want a proper Kombi tribute could hold out for the a production version of the brand’s VW I.D. Buzz electric concept car.

2018 Volkswagen Multivan ‘Kombi 70’ pricing and specifications:

Price: From $64,990 drive-away

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel

Power: 103kW at 3500rpm

Torque: 340Nm at 1750-2500rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive

Fuel use: 7.7L/100km

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