As soon as I got in and turned the key, it dawned on me. Something terrible had happened... I had become a ‘white van man'!
Now, if you are from the UK, then you will know this is a stereotypical description used for aggressive drivers of light commercial vehicles, such as the Ford Transit. But after a quick Google search, the term took on a much more sinister meaning. In Australia, the term relates to an urban legend where white van drivers abduct children.
Remember The Silence of the Lambs? What did mad-man Buffalo Bill drive? Yes, a van. OK, it wasn't white. But, still.
I was scared. Scared to be seen in a van. Scared I would suddenly start driving like a maniac, but most of all, scared I would become a psycho killer.
Thankfully, that did not happen. And as for the fear factor of being seen behind the wheel, well that wore off as soon asI stuck the gear lever into Drive.
Why? Because I was sitting in the driver's seat of the no-fuss-looking new Volkswagen Multivan Highline.
It's simply huge inside. Look over your right shoulder and it feels like you are hauling a five-bedroom villa. But the amazing thing is, it never feels extraordinarily large.
Somehow, VW have managed to make this van, which is the size of Germany, feel no bigger than a CUV. How? Well, by fitting it with a 3.2-litre petrol V6 that has 235bhp at the front wheels.
The tiptronic gearbox swaps the six cogs in smooth determined shifts. Add 17in wheels, electric sliding doors and side-view mirrors so big you can see yourself from head-to-toe, and VW has for itself a winner. But it's not all good.
The position of the steering wheel is awkward and my right hand kept catching the gear lever which sticks out of the dashboard. The handbrake is under the driver's seat and yanking it up proves tricky because, well, you have to find it first. The arm rest is so thin that the slightest bump on the road and my elbow would slip. It's difficult to get comfortable because of the high seating position and my ankle started hurting from the feeling of driving on what felt like my tip-toes.
The noisy three-zone AC sounds like it is working so hard that you could be forgiven for thinking it would get as cold as London in February. The reality is the air becomes warm before it hits you in the face because there is so much space for it to travel through.
It offers superb visibility when you are looking forwards and sideways, but looking back calls for squinting of the eyes; you just can't see that well. But it's easy enough to park. There is a very good reason for this: you select reverse and simply keep crawling back until you hear a thud.
Even though it has parking sensors, you can't help but feel this is the sort of vehicle that needs a rear camera and an LCD monitor the size of a cinema screen to assist you.
However, the van deserves its ‘Executive Carrier' status thanks to its rear window blinds, a floor rail system, built-in DVD player with wireless headphones and sunroof.
It even has a folding table inside while the amount of compartments, trays and storage space is simply astounding.
The Multivan Highline has seven seats, smothered in luxurious black leather and attractive mahogany trim on the doors and dash. When peering out from the front it is possible to look so far ahead that you can see into the future.
I predict this VW offering is going to be quite a success.
Specs and Rating
Model Multivan Highline
Engine 3.2-litre V6 Transmission Six-speed Tiptronic
Max power 235bhp @ 6,300rpm
Max torque 320Nm @ 2,500rpm
Top speed NA
0-100kph NA
Price Dh199,000
Plus Loads of room, versatile and nippy, fully loaded
Minus Could do with a rear- view camera
