2021 Volkswagen Multivan, Caravelle pricing and specs detailed: People mover gets facelift to rival Hyundai iMax

Volkswagen has your next family road trip transport sorted with the release of its updated Multivan and Caravelle models.

As part of its update to the Transporter commercial vehicle range, the German giant has given its people movers the same 6.1 series upgrades. Both models have enjoyed a mid-life refresh to try and continue their family appeal.

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Multivan

The range begins at ,990 for the Multivan Comfortline Premium TDI340.

There is plenty of choice for people mover buyers with the Multivan 6.1 range, with a variety of powertrain and wheelbases options.

The range begins at $61,990 (plus on-road costs) for the Multivan Comfortline Premium TDI340. It’s powered by a 110kW turbo-diesel engine and paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG). If you prefer, you can get the Comfortline with 4Motion all-wheel drive for $64,990.

If you want more performance and equipment you can opt for the Multivan Highline TDI450, which has a 146kW turbo-diesel engine under the bonnet. It too comes standard with a seven-speed auto and the option of 4Motion. 

The Multivan is available with a 110kW or 146kW turbo-diesel engine.

Pricing for the Highline starts at $84,990 for two-wheel drive and $87,990 for all-wheel drive.

For those who want even more room, Volkswagen is offering long-wheelbase variants of the Comfortline Premium and a Comfortline Exec trim line.

The former gets the same TDI340 powertrain option as the SWB variant, while the Comfortline Exec gets the TDI450 and TDI450 4Motion options.

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The Comfortline Premium TDI340 LWB starts at $64,990, while the Comfortline Exec TDI450 LWB sits at the pinnacle of the range with a $87,990 sticker price.

Volkswagen has only revealed standard equipment for the Comfortline Premium, but it’s an extensive list.

The Multivan wears 17-inch alloy wheels.

Included among it are 17-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights, body-colour front and rear bumpers, chrome-effect grille trim and chrome-coloured ‘Multivan’ badge on the sides.

Inside it will get tri-zone air-conditioning, black cloth upholstery, carpeted floors and front seats with height and lumbar adjustment. There’s also a multimedia system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that integrates navigation, Bluetooth, two USB-C ports and six speakers.

The 8.0-inch touchscreen features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Access to the second and third row seats is via electric sliding doors on both sides. The second row seats are able to be rotated, while the third row is a bench that can recline. There’s also a power-operated tailgate as standard.

To keep your family and friends safe, Volkswagen will equip all Multivan with a raft of active safety items. Driver fatigue detection, Cross Wind Assist, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are all included. There is also a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Optional equipment available for the Multivan range includes metallic/pearl effect paint ($1720 - it's a large vehicle, after all!), an electric tailgate ($820), front seat heating ($720), a multi-function table (Comfortline - $990), Nappa Leather seat trim ($4590), Digital Cockpit ($900), LED headlights ($1990), adaptive chassis control with drive modes ($1990 - Highline only), and plenty more. 

2021 Volkswagen Multivan 6.1 pricing:

Caravelle

If the Multivan isn’t big enough for you and your family or business, then Volkswagen has you covered with its nine-seat Caravelle, based on the T6.1 platform.

Unlike the extensive options for the rest of both the Multivan and Transporter line-ups, there’s only a single Caravelle to choose - the long-wheelbase TDI340. It gets the 110kW engine and seven-speed DSG, and is priced from $58,990 (plus on-road costs).

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The key to the Caravelle is its space and seating, accessed by sliding (but not powered) doors on both sides. There are four rows of seats for the Caravelle - two individual seats up front, a two-seat bench for the second and third rows, and a three-seater bench in the last row. Both the second and third rows also boast child seat anchor points. And being that this is based on a longer-wheelbase Transporter, it's nice to see that curtain airbags are standard fitment (used to be only on Multivan).

The interior also comes with LED lighting, sun blinds and tri-zone air-conditioning.

Safety is the not quite the same as the Multivan, but does incorporate driver fatigue detection, Cross Wind Assist, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera and parking sensors all standard. Optional safety tech includes lane-keep assist ($1290) and adaptive cruise control ($690).

Optional equipment for those who need a nine-seat van includes the premium paint finishes ($1720), dual electric sliding side doors ($1580), an electric tailgate ($890), heated front seats ($720), leatherette mesh seat upholstery ($520), the Discover Media sat nav screen ($1600), Digital Cockpit driver's info screen ($900), front armrests ($510), LED headlights ($1990), and park assist semi autonomous parking ($400). 

2021 Volkswagen Caravelle 6.1 pricing:

UPDATED: 09/02/2021