There is a stylish aspect and a new name for Volkswagen’s largest van-based minivan, as the VW T7 Multivan has been revealed as the replacement for the T6 Caravelle.
While the Caravelle was the people-carrying derivative of VW’s mid-size Transporter van, the new model is presented as an entirely new model that will also replace VW’s Touran and Sharan MPVs, while the T6 will continue to be built as a commercial model. This shift means that the multivan has been updated with a tech-packed interior and a new chassis, including plug-in hybrid propulsion.
Externally, the new multivan has a style that falls somewhere between the Golf and Volkswagen’s range of electric models, featuring a slim grille and standard LED headlights, a relatively smooth nose, clean body panels, and a new design of horizontal taillights. The narrow A-pillars are intended to improve forward visibility, while the large glass area will make the interior feel spacious.
Inside, VW has updated the seven-seat interior design. There are now five individual seats, so the large and heavy three-seat bench of the Caravelle no longer exists, and the seats themselves are up to 25 percent lighter than their predecessor. Like in the Caravelle, the seats can slide forward and backward thanks to floor rails, the two seats in the middle row can be rotated 180 degrees, and there is a multi-position table located between them.
The completely flat floor of the multivan means that the table can now be moved completely forward between the front seats. An optional panoramic glass roof is also available for the first time.
Onboard technology includes Volkswagen’s 10.25-inch digital cockpit dials, touchscreen controls, and USB-C connectivity, while an optional head-up display is the first in a Volkswagen commercial vehicle. An integrated eSIM means that the multivan is always connected, and satellite navigation and connected services, as seen in other parts of the Volkswagen range, are available.
In other parts of the interior, the multivan has an electric parking brake as standard, while all models are automatic-only DSG, and the removal of the gear lever and handbrake has created even more space. There is 469 liters of luggage space in seven-seat mode and 1,844 liters without the rearmost row. The multivan comes in two lengths, measuring 4,973 mm and 5,173 mm, and these models have a maximum load capacity of 3,672 liters and up to 4,053 liters when equipped with panoramic glass.
Leading the powertrains is a plug-in hybrid system similar to that found in the Golf and Passat GTE models. The eHybrid configuration uses a 1.4 TSI turbo petrol engine and an electric motor to generate a combined power of 215 bhp, while the 13kWh lithium-ion battery will offer electric-only operation for about 30 miles. The eHybrid is available at launch along with two petrol engines, a 134 bhp 1.5 TSI, and a 201 bhp 2.0 TSI. Interestingly, the 148 bhp 2.0 TDI diesel, once a ubiquitous engine in the world of Volkswagen commercial vehicles, will not be available at launch but will arrive in 2022.
The safety kit follows that of other MQB-based models, with city emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, and lane-keeping assistance offered, while the Multivan also features Car2X, a system that enables local communication with other vehicles and road infrastructure to warn of potential hazards and delays. 360-degree cameras and the semi-autonomous IQ Drive Travel Assist are also available.
