What's the difference?
Volkswagen’s new-generation Multivan is the brand’s family-oriented bus, and having just been to its Australian launch the people mover feels more high-end and somehow more practical than ever. But something has changed and it’s only now that it feels as though the final piece of the Multivan puzzle has been found and this van is complete.
Volkswagen’s entire vehicle range is mind-bogglingly big. From hatchbacks, wagons and SUVs to vans and buses, they all have two things in common - a high-quality feel and practicality. The Multivan has always adhered to this theme, as well.
Now, the new-generation Multivan has arrived and it’s clear Volkswagen has stuck to the same recipe of premium and practical, but there’s been a big change in the way it drives thanks to the decision to stop building the van on a truck-like platform and start building it on one used for cars.
You can read more about this below or watch my reaction to piloting the Multivan in my video.
Keep reading for more on the new-gen Multivan.
Cub Campers is Australia’s oldest camper-trailer manufacturer and one of the oldest businesses in the caravan and camping industry, having just celebrated 50 years of operation in 2018.
The company can lay claim to inventing the soft-floor camper trailer, pioneering the rear-fold and championing off-road campers when everyone else was concerned with the on-road market. Amongst all that, though, it was late to the game when it comes to forward-fold campers, not releasing the Frontier until early in 2016, well after the flood of Chinese manufactured versions became immensely popular. So why did Cub wait so long and was it worth it?
The Australian launch of the new generation Multivan was confined to the Life grade with the 2.0-litre diesel engine. Later in 2025 the Style grade will arrive bringing a hybrid powertrain and even more features. We’ll be able to test both more thoroughly once we have them in the CarsGuide garage.
From this first drive, however, it's clear that while slightly pricier than its Kia Carnival rival the new generation Multivan is more practical than ever, and now that it rides on a car platform, far better to drive.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.
All in all, the Frontier is the best forward-fold camper on the market, although it is also the most expensive. If you were making a buying decision purely based on features, you’d probably look elsewhere, but if you are prepared to pay a little more because this camper-trailer is Australian made, you get a very functional camper that’s easy to set up, reliable, strong and light.Â
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