Volkswagen PH has steered away from the hippie-van image of the iconic Kombi, dispensing with the flower artwork and the peace logo, and instead bunched it up with captain seats and a movable table. They also added the suffix Highline to denote both luxury and versatility while offering it to smart, bespoke executives as a tool for freedom, with amenities that bring office work on the road.
At the announcement of the availability of the first units of the Multivan Kombi, VW Philippines president Felipe Estrella highlighted the owning the Volkswagen Multivan Kombi becomes an executive decision–one ruled by power and presence, luxury and elegance, a functionality that is geared for success, a showcase of success and a vehicle that means business.
By meaning business Estrella pointed out how the van becomes a mobile office–away from the crowd and socially undistanced boardrooms and free to have meetings while on a road trip to a location to view or just making the most productive use of time spent in traffics. The availability of captain’s chairs that can face each other and a round table/footrest/laptop desk allows for a presentation or a deliberation over a project.
The Kombi, once a unique fixture of Philippine streets during the second half of the 20th century, endeared itself to the colorful motoring and socioeconomic culture of Filipinos. At the time, the Kombi had often become Filipinos’ first and longest-lasting encounter with a true people carrier, a vehicle originally designed, engineered, and manufactured in the late 1940s to encapsulate in its own way the very definition of community. This new Kombi doesn’t reflect that hippie car transported vibe–it has exceeded that specification.
The Multivan Kombi exudes power and authority in its own subtle way. And it does not hide this. Its price tag expresses its German precision, with its top-of-the-line technologies and safety features, and an ownership experience that minimizes the worry and maintenance costs yet maximizes comfort, luxury, and efficiency. The standard retail prices (SRPs) of the VW Multivan Kombi Highline start at P3,595,000 for the monocolor variants while Bi-Color models go for P3,640,000.
It runs LED daytime running lights (DRL), headlights and taillights and 17-inch alloy wheels. Without being loud about it, the Multivan Kombi still gets its message across: the prestige of success awaits anyone who wishes to ensconce themselves within its spacious and ultra-comfortable cabin.

That prestige is expressed in a Nappa leather interior, to the front and second row captain seats, electric dual sliding and a power tailgate that offers hands-free opening and closing of the rear hatch doors, the Multivan Kombi’s premium amenities, comfort, convenience, and connectivity features. The second row captain seats can swivel for face-to-face meetings while in transit. A multifunction folding table positioned between the second and third rows offers a stable spot for laptops, meals, and other tools of the trade. The 3-zone Climatronic Air Conditioning provides optimum comfort for passengers, wherever they may be seated. No time is wasted when it comes to parking the Multivan Kombi, as the rear camera and park distance control (PDC) eases backing maneuvers, while the park assist enables the vehicle to fit into tight parking slots without resorting to second guesses.
The 8-inch Discover Media with navigation, Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay Connectivity, coupled with the Active Info Display, simultaneously provide the driver with invaluable information to better manage road awareness and enhance alertness and the occupants with connectivity and entertainment options.
It runs on a 2.0-liter TDI engine and the 7-speed DSG transmission, down to its slew of innovative safety systems, the Multivan Kombi offers an exceptionally smooth and stable ride. The Tiptronic function and coasting feature lessens driver fatigue on long trips, while the 150 PS of power and 340 Nm of torque emanating from the powertrain guarantee adequate power, optimum fuel efficiency, and smooth shifts regardless of the load.
Faithful to its premium character, the Multivan Kombi makes occupant safety among its highest priorities. Apart from its 6 airbags (front, side, and head curtain) plus Driver Alert, Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), and Hill Start Assist (HSA), is the one-of-a-kind Crosswind Assist feature of the ESP that automatically applies gentle, course-corrective braking whenever strong crosswinds are encountered and the van is running above 80 kph, thereby helping keep the vehicle stable and running within its lane.
Despite being aimed at the bespoke businessman, the Multivan Kombi is a weekend family car–the same features that allow it be a versatile executive transports also makes it perfect runbout for family. VW PH says that there are less maintenance and ownership costs for this luxury transporter.
The Multivan Kombi comes with the 2-year warranty coverage, 2-year spare parts warranty, and a 12-year no-through corrosion–all with unlimited mileage. Its once-a-year visit for maintenance translates to less time spent for the vehicle to be serviced at the dealership who have at least a 3-month stock availability on fast-moving parts, either for general repair or for collision parts.
The Multivan Kombi Highline comes in four standard colors: and an additional 12 colors are available for special orders: Fontana Red, Ravenna Blue, Starlight Blue, Mojave Beige, Bay Leaf Green, Copper Bronze, Indium Grey, Candy White, and the Bi-Colors Reflex Silver/Indium Grey, Mojave Beige/Black Pearl, Candy White/Bay Leaf Green, and Candy White/Copper Bronze.