My First Auto Show Was A Smashing Success Thanks To Volkswagen Canada!
I attended my 1st ever auto show this past weekend as I made my way to Toronto for the Canadian International AutoShow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. As someone currently in the market for a new family vehicle, the timing couldn’t have been better. Frankly, I was shocked by the sheer size of the show and how they managed to get all those cars in there but that’s a story for another time.
I was invited to the show by Volkswagen Canada for a sneak peek at their lineup of cars for both family and fun, and they certainly did not disappoint. Before I get to the cars though, VW had set up a very cool virtual reality experience for all the attendees and having never tried it before I was very excited to give it a go. Because I love you all so much, here is an embarrassing look at me in the VR simulation, throwing invisible snowballs at a tree.
Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about cars! Realizing that all car buyers are not created equal, Volkswagen created an event to appeal to all different lifestyles. They also had some amazing speakers lined up to discuss topics such as Tech (Amber Mac), Travel (Heather Greenwood Davis) and Style (Afiya Francisco) as it relates to their line of vehicles. Without further ado, here are my thoughts on Volkswagen Canada’s offerings from the Canadian International AutoShow.
2017 Volkswagen e-Golf
The Volkswagen e-Golf is 100% electric and, according to Amber Mac, by 2040 electric vehicles will make up 40% of all vehicles, so consider the e-Golf an opportunity to hop on the trend early on. The cockpit of the e-Golf is fully digital which means the Active Info Display presents data and information about the vehicle directly in the cockpit. With its energy-saving technology, this car will be very popular among people who love both technology and sustainability.
From a dad’s standpoint, while the e-Golf would certainly be sufficient for getting a 4 person family from point A to point B, it’s wouldn’t be the most practical for parents who have children in sports. That said, the inside of the car was surprisingly roomy and very comfortable, so if you are not a sporting family and want to help out with the environment, the e-Golf could be a great addition to the family.
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Redesign
Based on the constant crowds around the redesigned VW Tiguan, this seemed like the star of the show on Friday. With a new sleek design and features such as Pedestrian Monitoring System, 4MOTION Active Control, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Available 3rd Row, the Tiguan Redesign is versatile and capable as it is reliable and safe.
We actually looked at the Tiguan a couple years ago but decided it wasn’t quite large enough to suit our growing family’s needs. That said, with the new increased space and comfort we are going to have a serious look at it next week as we begin our car shopping. We would probably skip the 3rd row option as I’d worry about leg room back there but other than that, the 2018 Tiguan Redesign has everything I would want in a vehicle and just looks fantastic.
2018 Volkswagen Atlas
In the spirit of saving the best for last, I present to you the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas! From the minute I hit the showroom floor I could not take my eyes off the Atlas. This is the first 7 seater offered by Volkswagen and it looks like it’s going to be a homerun. Just check out these notable features:
• Variable seating concept
• Available second row Captain Chairs
• Pedestrian Monitoring System
• Driving Profile Selection with 4MOTION Active Control
• Volkswagen Digital Cockpit
• MIB Infotainment system
• Volkswagen Media Control
Honestly, from the minute I set foot in this vehicle I knew I had to have it. As a family with multiple extra-curricular activities which require us to bring sports bags, lawn chairs, coolers and more on a regular basis, the 2018 Atlas covered everything on our checklists for in-town events and out of town travel. As far as leg room in the 3rd row, I was able to sit comfortably, meaning my kids would be more than comfortable, however, I would not recommend sitting back there if you are in the 6 foot range. Still, everyone knows that the tall people always get the front seat anyway. Trust me.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Volkswagen Canada for giving me a sneak peek at their new lineup of vehicles and for giving me my first AutoShow experience! It was definitely a day to remember and I can’t wait to start taking test drives in the weeks to come! For more information on these or any other Volkswagen products you can visit www.VW.ca or head into your local dealership today!
Disclosure: I was invited to attend this event on behalf of Volkswagen Canada and the opinions I shared are based on my interactions with the vehicles. I have not test driven any of the vehicles listed above.