Got a load of people to move this holiday? These vehicles will help
It’s time for you and your family to get moving for the holidays, but if the thought of cramming suitcases and surfboards – and your children – into the family sedan is a unnerving one, perhaps it’s time to consider adding a ‘people mover’ vehicle to your garage.
Adding a whole new dimension of space, safety and comfort to mom’s (or dad’s) taxi, people movers give you and your family room to move, whether it’s on cross-country journeys, or around the block trips to fetch the kids, their friends, and all their sports kit from school!
Imperial Auto has done a round-up of three of the best people movers on the South African market, to give you an idea of what to look for when you’re shopping around.
The Mercedes-Benz Vito Crewbus 113 CDI
RRP from R542 526
With eight seats supplied as standard with the potential to add a ninth – all of which can be easily configured to your needs – the Mercedes-Benz Vito Crewbus with its ample luggage space can be used as a luxurious passenger vehicle, or a large load van, depending on your needs.
The Vito Crewbus boasts Mercedes-Benz BlueEFFICIENCY technology, which includes a range of innovative features that combined help to significantly reduce fuel consumption to an average 7.3 litres per 100km, and CO2 emissions to 193g/km, all without compromising on the 100 kW engine’s capacity to deliver powerful performance.
Child safety locks on rear-compartment doors and grab handles for rear passengers offer extra safety measures, over and above the excellent standard safety features for which Mercedes-Benz is renowned.
An interior height of 134 cm and two wide manual sliding doors make access easy, and seating extra spacious, while air conditioning in the front and rear keeps things cool – or warm – as ambient conditions outdoors dictate. The cabin is finished with class-leading workmanship and materials, including the soft easy-care plastic floor covering in the passenger compartment, as well as Radio Sound 5 with CD/MP3 that offers superior quality sound.
The Mercedes-Benz Crewbus also comes standard with a towbar – 750 kg unbraked or 2000 kg unbraked trailer capacity, adding to the vehicle’s versatility.
The VW Kombi 2.0TDI Trendline Manual SWB
RRP from R447 900
The VW Kombi seats eight people comfortably in its 1.317m high passenger compartment, in a vehicle that is loaded with safety features, including ABS, EBD, and ESP. Add in front air bags and you’ve got a safety winner!
Extra features include daytime running lights and step illumination for the sliding doors, while sun roller blinds on the side windows of the passenger are a welcome addition for those riding in the back.
Power steering and semi-automatic climatic air-conditioning add to comfort levels, while the 75 kW 2.0 TDI engine offers a pleasing 7.2 litres per 100km fuel consumption and 190g/km CO2 emissions. The 80 litre fuel tank makes for long journeys between refuelling, while the 1,018 kg payload capacity means that this vehicle is as much a work horse as it is a fun ride.
Ford Tourneo Custom Ambiente
RRP from R419 900
A multitude of flexible seating options makes the Ford Tourneo a super-flexible choice – seating eight people on seats that are foldable and detachable. The Tourneo achieves an impressive fuel consumption of 6.5 litres per 100 km and CO2 emissions of just 172g/km off its 2.2 litre four cylinder diesel engine.
Safety features include driver and front passenger airbags as well as side and curtain airbags as well as three ISOFIX child seat attachments. ESP with Hill Launch Assist, Rollover Mitigation and Adaptive Load Control add to the list of safety features, while ABS with Emergency Brake Assist and an Emergency Brake Warning Light round off the list.
The driver’s and front passenger’s seats are heated and adjustable, offering added comfort with armrests, while the car’s alarm with immobiliser and remote power central double locking keep it extra safe and secure.
Are you ready to go?
Now that you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping for your people mover, you could book a test drive at any Imperial Auto dealership that stocks Mercedes-Benz, VW or Ford vehicles. If you’re struggling to make a choice, however, you could call the experts for help: the Imperial Auto Concierge team will help you source quotes for the various makes and models that you’re interested in, and will find an Imperial Auto dealership close to you, that can arrange the vehicle of your choice.