5th July 2019
The Best VASS Group Cars of the Past 10 Years
It’s our birthday next month!
Yes, believe it or not, next month Vasstech turns 10. It doesn’t seem that long since we had the idea to create an independent specialist service centre for Volkswagen Group vehicle owners, and do things differently to the main dealers.
Now – ten years and four branches later – we’re still committed to keeping the cars of the North East on the roads – and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
So, as part of our birthday celebrations, we thought we’d pull together a few of our favourite VASS Group cars from the last decade – as part of a series of commemorative 10-year blogs.
Here we go!
#1. 2018 Volkswagen Golf
Unsurprisingly, first up is the Volkswagen Golf. Since its launch back in 1974, more than 35 million models have been sold across the globe, which roughly equates to one every 41 seconds – which also makes it the seventh-best-selling car in the UK since 1965.
The Golf was the second-most-popular car registered in the UK last year – with an additional 65,000 now cruising the nation’s roads. Now in its seventh generation – with the eighth due very soon – the Golf is renowned for being a quiet, comfortable and secure car (that can still give most hot hatches a run for their money) – not bad for a vehicle with an on-the-road price of less than £20,000!
#2. 2019 Audi Q7 45 TDI quattro S line
Next up is the Audi Q7 – which actually won What Car’s Car Of The Year 2019 in the Best Luxury SUV category. The Q7 is a seven-seat behemoth that rides like a limousine and accelerates like a hot hatch. Capable of reaching 0-62mph in less than 7.5 seconds and with a top speed of more than 140mph, the Q7 is definitely a beast.
#3. 2017 SEAT Leon 2.0 TSI Cupra 290
The SEAT Leon is the Spanish manufacturer’s answer to the Volkswagen Golf. First entering production in 1998 and now in its third generation, the Leon is a powerful family car that can give the Golf a run for its money.
While the entry-level Leon is exceptional, the Leon Cupra (its hot hatch sibling) is on another level. The latest body refresh – which was released in 2017 – gave the car a sharp edge, while enhancing its interior features – like a leather steering wheel and alloy pedals. Remarkably, the Leon Cupra can reach 0-62mph in under six seconds and boasts more than 290bhp – taking the hot hatch to new levels while maintaining everyday practicality.
#4. 2017 Skoda Octavia vRS
The Skoda Octavia may have entered production in 1996, but the performance power of the vRS wasn’t delivered until 2001. Originally released with a 1.8 turbocharged engine that could reach 0-62mph in under 8 seconds, the Octavia vRS made the functional family car more fun.
While Skoda may be renowned for being the functional and practical branch of Volkswagen Group, the Octavia vRS proves that the brand can make driving more enjoyable. 2017’s Octavia vRS had a 2.0-litre engine, 242bhp (10bhp more than its predecessor) and could reach 0-62mph in under seven seconds – making it a practical hot hatch that could also settle into family life.