2006 Volkswagen Golf Plus Preview

In back, the Golf Plus also features quick-lighting LED taillamps in a bold white and red circular design. General shapes,

Elements of the Golf's interior have been intertwined with the higher driving position and layout of the Touran. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

such as the lower front valance, rear-window bar and triple-tier grille are clearly derived from the Golf, but have been slightly modified to give the Plus a distinctive, modern look.

Inside, elements of the Golf's interior have been intertwined with the higher driving position and layout of the Touran. The central panel, which holds the controls for the stereo and the optional LCD display and navigation unit, has been moved closer to the driver, with the upper half of the dashboard located in its own separate unit. The simple digital climate control cluster was relocated to a lower, more ergonomically-correct position. New to the Golf Plus are eight circular chrome-lined vents which add a touch of class to the interior's dark color scheme.

Ultimately, the purpose of the Golf Plus isn't to astound would-be buyers with a different exterior or interior design; it's all

The Plus is all about providing buyers with a vehicle that has additional cargo space and versatility. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

about providing buyers with a vehicle that has additional cargo space and versatility. The Golf Plus's body doesn't feature an extended rear overhang or a revised wheelbase, so all the gains in cargo-carrying capacity come from the body's extra height.

The car boasts 395 liters (13.95 cu ft) of trunk space with the rear seats upright, and up to 1,450 liters (51.21 cu ft) when the rear seats are folded down. As one might expect, the Golf Plus fits right between the Golf which has 350 to 1,305 liters (12.36 to 46.09 cu ft) of trunk space, depending on whether the rear seats are upright or folded flat, and the Touran which features 695 to 1,989 liters (24.54 to 70.24 cu ft) of volume.