2009 Volkswagen Multivan Reviews

It feels like everyone has a VW bus story. Someone’s sister converted their Multivan into a home-away-from-home, Uncle Ern had a pop-top kombi and Macca at the pub has had his since 1982.Which is no surprise because many peoples’ favourite VW has been around, in one form or another, for over 75 years. And this limited ‘Edition’ package has been applied to the most recent, seventh-generation version of the Multivan.Exactly 300 will be available, each costing $79,990, before on-road costs, or $82,990, drive-away as an introductory offer.That price puts it between the short- and long-wheelbase Multivan Life ($77,990 and $80,290 MSRP, respectively) and adds additional standard fruit including a black roof and gloss black 18-inch alloy wheels, LED matrix headlights (with dynamic cornering function), darkened (LED) tail-lights, dual-tone synthetic velour and synthetic leather seat trim, heated front seats and the Digital Cockpit Pro instrument display.There’s also puddle lamps, ‘easy open and close’ power sliding doors and tailgate, built-in nav, a 360-degree camera view and a sliding multi-function table.Put the Multivan Edition next to rivals like the Ford Tourneo Titanium ($74,590), Hyundai Staria HEV Lounge ($73,740), Kia Carnival GT-Line HEV ($76,840) and Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer ($89,672), all before on-road costs, and the VW puts up a compelling value-for-money pitch.There are two colours, Pure Grey and Candy White, both with a Deep Black Pearlescent roof and door mirror combination and aside from Edition graphics this limited edition’s fundamental design is unchanged.It’s kind of like an expanded Golf with head- and tail-light treatments in particular clearly connecting it to the current VW family.The Multivan’s close to 5.0m length, near 2.0m width, 1.9 metre height and lengthy 3124mm wheelbase provide a comfortable interior for seven (an eight-seat Life is available). And while the interior has that typical VW look of teutonic efficiency it also feels welcoming thanks in no small part to the synthetic microfibre and synthetic leather seat trim. I’m guessing Shaquille O'Neal would have enough headroom in the Multivan, because at a lowly 183cm tall I had what felt like metres between my scone and the headliner.And it’s the interior layout’s incredible flexibility that makes this VW such a practical multi-passenger proposition.There’s a flat, walk-through floor and we’d need a separate website to detail all the available seating and storage combinations but suffice it to say rails running the length of the Multivan’s floor allow the seats to move easily so they can be adjusted to best accommodate the passengers onboard.With the driver’s and second-row captain’s chair seats set to my position I still have enough space in the third row, although toe room under the seat in front is a little tight. Up to teenage kids will be more than comfortable back there.Storage is everywhere including cupholders, bins and flip-up tray tables but the highlight in the Edition is its sliding multi-function table which can serve as a front centre console but has the ability to slip backwards, rise in height and sprout large tabletop surfaces for the second row. There’s Qi-compatible wireless phone charging up front as well as six USB-C ports and three 12-volt sockets spread across the interior and cargo area which is more than enough to keep everyone happy with fully charged devices. With all seats upright there’s 469 litres (VDA) of luggage space, expanding to 1316L with the third-row folded and a van-like 3672L with the second and third rows removed. The seats are lightweight and slide easily so removing them isn’t as hard as you might think. Maximum braked trailer towing capacity is a useful 2.0 tonnes. A 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine sends 110kW/310Nm to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission with the current Multivan riding on VW’s MQB Evo platform which also underpins the Golf and Tiguan.And the Edition feels far more car-like than any of its predecessors. Don’t get me wrong, this is a boxy bus but the way it drives, rides and steers is exceptional.The engine feels responsive and strong, picking up acceleration quickly without a hint of turbo hesitation and works hand-in-glove with the super-smooth auto. The front seats are comfy, ride quality is terrific for this class of car, freeway cruising is effortless and road feel from the steering is good. Even winding B-roads didn’t unduly upset the Multivan’s handling or stopping power.Unsurprisingly, wind noise starts to make its presence felt around the A-pillars and exterior mirrors at around 100km/h, but never to an alarming degree. The Multivan scores a maximum five-star ANCAP assessment to the latest protocols with seven airbags (including a front centre bag) and the Edition boasts a laundry list of ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) crash avoidance tech, the highlights being AEB (auto emergency braking) Park Assist (with front and rear proximity sensors), adaptive cruise, lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.There are child seat top tethers on the second row captain’s chairs and across the third row, with ISOFIX anchors on all of those except the centre rear position.  The official fuel economy figure for the Multivan on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle is 6.2L/100km which puts it ahead of all key competitors and translates to a theoretical range of around 1160km. On the roughly 350km launch drive program which took in urban, B-road and freeway running we saw an average of 7.3L/100km, which would translate to a real-world range of around 950km. Not too shabby for a roughly 2.0-tonne bus.The Multivan is covered by Volkswagen’s five year/unlimited kilometre warranty which is now being overshadowed in the mainstream market with many brands at seven-, eight- and 10-year terms. Roadside assist is included for the first year.Servicing is recommended every 15,000km or 12 months with fixed price and pay-as-you go plans available. You’re looking at an average of around $650 per workshop visit over the first five years. Not the cheapest but not outrageous.Volkswagen operates a network of around 180 dealers and service centres across the country.

Volkswagen's Mulitvan has always been a practical people mover but something important has been missing until this new-generation version came along.

People movers are not just vans anymore. These days they’re less box-on-wheels and completely decked out with all the fancy equipment to make them as comfortable as possible.If you’ve got more than five children, you’ll probably need a people carrier like one of these. And if you’re always moving large, bulky items that’s another good reason to get one. But which is the best? Today we’ve got a people mover comparison lining up two stand-outs, the top-of-the-range Kia Carnival Platinum, costing $64,680, before on-road costs and extras, and the Volkswagen Multivan Comfortline Premium, which is second from the bottom of the range and costs $61,990, before on road costs and extras. The Carnival seats eight people while the Multivan seats seven, they’re both technically 'vans', and are huge inside. But which is the best people mover to suit your needs? Let’s get into it so you can decide! 

The Volkswagen Multivan sticks to its traditional shape while some competitors move more toward an SUV-like vehicle. It's also as customisable on the inside as ever.

The 6.1 update for Volkswagen's Multivan (and Transporter) series vans seemed like an opportunity to celebrate 70 years of the Kombi. Short of actually doing another Kombi (which is, allegedly, coming after a number of false starts), the German giant gives us the Multivan Cruise Edition.

Whether you need a van for work or because you have a large family, it’s about how driving a van makes you feel, ammiright?I was stopped on the street by a complete stranger, a mum with three small boys in tow who said, “do you like your van? My husband wants to buy one but I really don’t know.” Because, I mean, it’s a van. Until you have five kids, you don’t absolutely need one, right?Volkswagen is trying to dispel that theory with its Multivan. It’s cooler, has nicer interiors and draws on VW's old Kombi heritage in the hope you’ll even buy one when it’s not particularly necessary.I drove the Volkswagen Multivan Black Edition this week. At $63,490, before on-road costs it’s almost $15,000 more than a Hyundai iMax. So how different is it? I drove it for seven days with my family to find out.

Richard Berry road tests and reviews the new Volkswagen Multivan Generation Six with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Richard Berry road tests and reviews the 2016 Volkswagen T6 Transporter, Caravelle and Multivan with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch

Volkswagen has spiced up the Multivan with a powerful TSI 350 petrol engine hooked up to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. Until now the people carrier Multivan was only offered with diesel engines, so the addition of the petrol engine broadens appeal. The ‘350’ indicates the maximum torque available from the engine.VALUEThe new Multivan TSI350 features the same equipment levels as the TDI 400 (diesel) models in either Comfortline of Highline. Bluetooth is optional on Comfortline and standard on Highline. Our test Multivan was the Comfortline specification starting at $54,990 (before on roads) with the Highline TSI 350 starting at $71,990.TECHNOLOGYThe 2.0-litre petrol engine with turbo intercooler and direct injection is a sophisticated piece of machinery that at no times suffers under the 2.1 tonnes of the Multivan. The new engine packs a bigger punch than you would expect from that smallish capacity. This is due to direct injection technology along with a little intercooled turbocharger.There's 150 kW of power on tap with maximum torque of 350 Nm available from a low 1500 rpm. Driveability is excellent. The engine is mounted transversely and sits low over the front wheels. The fact that maximum torque of 350 Nm is on tap over a broad band of 1500 to 4000 rpm means it is never found wanting. There is little turbo lag and torque steer is non existent.DESIGNThe last freshen up in styling came two years back when the commercials adopted the corporate VW appearance with a broad, horizontal grille which is simple, yet effective. We are not a fan of the huge rear cargo door as you need at least two metres of rear clearance for the door and the person opening it. This is because this type of door is needed for the van's role as a cargo holder in the Transporter line.The interior is all about functionality for carrying seven passengers in a 2-2-3 format, plus luggage, in as much comfort as possible. What facilitates this is sliding doors on either side and the second and third rows of seats running on floor rail system. You can have almost as much cargo area as you want - or as little - depending on where you slide the second and third row of seats. Or, you can fold the third row altogether and make it a four seater with a bundle of cargo space.Both the second and third row of seats get overhead consoles with air conditioning and lighting controls. So there's three-zone air-conditioning and four drink holders and three 1.5-litre bottle holders. We like the step inserts provided for passengers in both the front and rear plus the fact they are illuminated. There are 12 v sockets for all three passenger rows and retractable blinds on the side windows for the second and third rows. We also like the grab handles above all passenger doors, as it's a vehicle that you need to climb into.SAFETYThe Multivan seems to have just about every bit of safety apparatus going around - but not one of the most important for a vehicle of this size and use: There is no standard reversing camera on Multivan although there are front and rear parking sensors. As a seven seater you would expect to see this vehicle at hotels, airports and resorts - places that abound in people chaos, including little people.A reversing camera is available as an option. What there is, is impressive: front and side airbags and rear curtain airbags, stability program, ABS brakes, brake assist, anti-slip regulation, hill holder, rear fog lamps, auto locking after take off, electric child safety locks on rear doors and child anchor points on back of rear seats.DRIVINGOne of the things that has not changed with Volkswagen vans is the forward vision from the driving position. It has always been excellent. The interior layout of the instrument panel and dash is very Volkswagen, easy to navigate and use. The seating position is like a pilot's chair in a ship: comfortable with arm rests and support where you need it. The only reservation we had from a driving perspective is the gear lever that comes out from the dash is close to the steering wheel and indicator stalk.Three times in the first two days we knocked the gear shifter into neutral when reaching for the indicator. It didn't happen again after this, so it's something you become accustomed. During our test we recorded 8.3 litres/100 km on the open road and 10.5 litres/100 km around town. For most of the time we were one-up, so this consumption would rise with passengers or cargo aboard.Volkswagen’s DSG transmissions seem to vary a lot - some are uncertain at low speeds, others not - but we found this one performed well at all speeds. It is a lovely combination with the engine and no doubt plays a major part in making the Multivan TSI 350 feel light and lively. Despite its ride height Multivan really has good road manners. Body roll is minimal making for a comfortable ride for passengers. The straight-line acceleration is quite remarkable and this is one van that will not be embarrassed off at the lights. This is a well balance package that rates among the more enjoyable vehicles we have driven this year.VERDICTA must drive for large families looking for seven seats and those needing a commercial passenger vehicle.

You have to drive one kid to soccer, another to dance lessons and a third to swimming, and they’ve each turned up with a friend in tow AND all their gear. Time to call in a bus? Not if you have VW’s Multivan.A roomy seven-seater, the Multivan is an effective people mover that doesn’t drive like a bus. Parking the behemoth Multivan next to a group of rowdy tradies was a tad intimidating during our test drive, but after an impressive two point parallel park, the silenced working heroes gave us the nod of approval.The surprisingly maneuverable Multivan has admirable functionality, flexibility, and comfort – if perhaps less impressive looks.Price and EquipmentThe automatic, Multivan Comfortline TSI350, priced at $54,990, comes with front and rear parking sensors, ESP, ABS, ASR, MSR, EDL, Hill Holder, leather multi-function steering wheel, three-zone climate control air conditioning, alloy wheels, three-year unlimited km warranty, full size alloy spare wheel, retractable sun blinds, sliding side windows, 12-volt sockets, multi-function trip computer, brake pad wear indicator, eight speakers, MP3 and iPhone integration, and cruise control.TechnologyThe four cylinder, DOHC 16-valve engine develops 150kW of power and a handy 350Nm of torque. The Multivan Comfortline TSI350 has seven-speed DSG, front wheel drive, and a capable turning radius of 11.9 m. The petrol engine’s official combined fuel economy is 10.1/100km though we found 13.4/100km was the result with a fairly full load.DesignIf you’re attracted to sleek, streamlined vehicles, you’ll be punching below your weight on this one. But if you like vans big and chunky, then you’ll fall in love with the Multivan’s full bodied design. Externally the Multivan isn’t impressing anyone, but it’s what’s inside that counts.The Multivan doesn’t view its passengers as mere lumpen cargo. Dual side sliding doors, sliding side windows in the second row, retractable sun blinds, roof lighting, climate control, and reading lights in back evict the idea of second class seating.Yes, this people mover is definitely built for people . . . who need to be moved. The seating layout of 2/2/3 keeps a large aisle to access the back, doing away with the need to scramble, crawl, and expose too much backside while trying to clamber into the third row.The front seats have height and lumbar adjustment. Second row seats can swivel to face the back row, slide forward or back, or be removed, and have storage drawers beneath them. The third row bench seat can fold and slide forward, giving you the flexibility for transporting people, luggage, and any combination inbetween.The boot is large but so is the door, so you need plenty of room behind you to open it. Unless you’re a family needing an exceptional amount of headroom, the Multivan’s height of 1970mm (and width of 2,283mm including door mirrors) offers plenty of space in both directions.SafetyIt doesn’t have an ANCAP rating, but there are driver, front passenger, and curtain airbags, safety cell with front and rear crumple zones, ABS, ESP, BA, ASR, EDL, Hill Holder, child seat anchor points, and three-point seatbelts for all passengers keep everyone inside the vehicle safe, though a rear view camera as standard would help keep people outside the vehicle a bit safer.DrivingRack and pinion power steering is responsive, and the driver’s seat gives a clear view of the road. The gear lever feels awkward positioned up near the steering wheel, but otherwise the controls are comfortable and easy to use.Independent McPherson struts on the front axle and semi-trailing independent on the rear give a fairly smooth ride. The cabin is very quiet, even at highway speeds.The Multivan has surprisingly good pickup and handling for its size – and little body roll considering the height.Parking is easy using the sensitive front and rear parking sensors and electrical door mirrors (you can opt for the rear camera), though the vehicle’s height will keep you out of lower garages.VerdictThe Multivan caters to all passengers rather than just the front row. Everybody rides in comfort and as a people mover it doesn’t disappoint.