What is it?
Volkswagen’s Multivan appeared as a refreshingly striking option to the Caravelle that it changed. Now, we’ll confess that some of its limelight might have been stolen by the electric ID.Buzz but, for lots of drivers – particularly those people searching at a long-length persons carrier – an electric powertrain still is not the most practical solution.
We have analyzed the Multivan in plug-in hybrid sort before but below, we’re hunting at the traditional diesel-run model. It could flip out to be an excellent mile-muncher, but need to you opt for it more than the hybrid? Let’s come across out.
What is new?
The Multivan is based upon the same underpinnings as you will discover underneath the Golf, relatively than a single tailored from a van as the outdated Caravelle was. The concept behind this is that you get a much more automobile-like driving practical experience, without having forsaking outright practicality or spaciousness. The amount of scalability in these new platforms is pretty impressive, presented that the Golfing is so a great deal smaller than the Multivan, nonetheless shares so substantially with it.
It is readily available in a range of various colors – which includes a alternatively eye-catching break up orange-and-grey colourway – although our test model arrived in a a lot more subdued all-black. It presently looked fitting for a non-public automobile employ the service of business.
What is below the bonnet?
As now talked about, you can get the Multivan with a intelligent e-Hybrid setup, combining a compact 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol motor with an electric motor and battery. It is a fantastic option for people motorists who normally do shorter commutes – in which its 29 miles of electric powered-only battery will no question occur in helpful.
Having said that, for lengthy-distance motorists this diesel version will no doubt be additional appealing. It is a acquainted 2.-litre turbocharged setup, sending 148bhp to the entrance wheels through a seven-velocity DSG computerized gearbox. The economic climate figures are particularly extraordinary for a auto of this dimension, with Volkswagen saying up to 42.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 173g/km.
What is it like to travel?
With a diesel engine plonked up front, the Multivan enters into extra familiar territory than its electrified stablemate. It is a silent and fairly refined engine, way too, while it can feel a minor gruff beneath major programs of throttle. The design we’re wanting at is a Long edition, far too, so you do want to be a minimal cautious of its prolonged extremities when you’re reversing or parking.
The DSG gearbox is a touch hesitant to get the electric power down, but when up and working it is silky smooth and really soothing. The only thing we did discover was that the journey could feel a little agency – notably close to city – with the prolonged wheelbase of this extended edition no question participating in into this a little bit. However, at the time on the motorway it remains snug and refined, with only a slight volume of wind noise created as a final result of that fairly upright design and style.
How does it appear?
This new generation of Volkswagen people-movers is the most futuristic-hunting to date. It’s leagues ahead of the old Caravelle and seems significantly departed from the more mature van-based mostly model. In fact, we really like the two-tone colour set up that you can get with the Multivan, as it assists to give it a a bit funkier, much less straight-laced look.
It is why the black-on-black glance of our take a look at vehicle, although stealthier, didn’t seriously include a great deal ‘fun’ to this design. Nonetheless, neat touches this kind of as the super-thin headlights and rear lights do provide an further element to the van’s exterior structure.
What is it like within?
Room is the identify of the match for the Multivan and which is just what you get, especially in this lengthy wheelbase variation. There’s acres of room, building it a confident-fire hit with larger households as nicely as motorists who have the need to have to routinely transport a selection of passengers.
The amount of suit-and-end is great, though there are some marginally decreased-high quality plastics to be observed here and there. The basic architecture of the forward portion of the cabin is straight out of the most current era of Golfing and, just as we’ve located in that car, it’s allow down in areas by the more than-major use of gloss black plastic which does not truly feel excellent to the contact and draws in dust and fingerprints extremely quickly.
What is the spec like?
Multivan rates kick off at £43,720, with entry-level ‘Style’ types obtaining seven seats, a 10-inch central touchscreen technique and adaptive cruise handle all equipped as typical. Go up to ‘Style’ grade – which our exam van was concluded in – and you’ll locate options this kind of as electrical sliding doorways, heated entrance seats and a entire electronic dashboard setup involved as portion of the van’s value, although this is increased to £55,510 in the method.
In actuality, on ‘Style’ versions there’s pretty much as well substantially conventional gear to point out. Importantly for tech-loving travellers, there are loads of USB-C charging points, way too, with two ports in the entrance of the cabin and 4 accessible for individuals in the back again, so there should not be much too numerous arguments about who receives to top rated up their unit initial.
Verdict
In diesel variety, the Multivan feels as however it’ll be a pretty interesting prospect for lots of motorists. Of study course, people masking more compact day by day routes will no question lean in the direction of the plug-in hybrid and its first rate electrical array, but if you are travelling additional afield, it’s this version that will no doubt prove the most productive.
In ‘Long’ type, it’s very spacious and simple as well, whilst all 3 rows of seats provide hundreds of legroom. Toss in its higher-velocity refinement and you’ve acquired a package deal that’ll be up for tackling all kinds of adventures.