Volkswagen has had a model called Multivan in its range for a long time. The car is based on the Volkswagen Transporter, and for tax reasons it has hardly been sold in Finland at all. Now a new era is dawning.

Volkswagen has unveiled a completely new Multivan model, which has been designed from the outset as a minivan, and there will be no equivalent van.

The Multivan is a true multi-purpose minivan, ideal when you need more space than a 5-seater passenger car can offer.

The car is based on Volkswagen’s MQB chassis, the same as many other Volkswagen passenger cars.

Very versatile

The car’s seating system is new, with the passenger seats being attached to rails in the floor.

The car is available in either six or seven-seat versions, and all the seats in the passenger compartment can be removed individually. Each seat is an individual seat, and the car does not even come with a two-seat bench.

The models coming to Finland are always 7-seater models, but you can also get the car as a 6-seater if you want.

All four or five seats in the back can be slid along the entire length of the cabin. The two front seats can also be swivelled either backwards or face forwards.

The car will initially only be available as a charging hybrid with a petrol engine. The car is very passenger-friendly to drive, with plenty of power. We test drove the car in Germany on winding roads and motorways at speeds that you don’t get to experience in Finland.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about driving the car was its quietness. Of course, the better condition of the German roads contributed to the silence, but there was very little wind noise, for example, even at speeds above 150 km/h.

However, under hard acceleration, the engine noise was clearly audible.

Seating arrangements proved to be very easy. The single bench seat is quite heavy, even though it is lighter than in the previous Multivan. Turning the passenger seats was easy in the test.

The passenger compartment has a handy table system that can be slid into the desired position. It can also be placed between the front seats, but then it only acts as a centre console and the table tops cannot be opened.

Under each seat is a small storage box for small items.

The cabin can also enjoy a two-piece panoramic roof. It allows light and space to enter the rear. According to Volkswagen, the glass roof does not require a separate sunshade as it reflects 95 percent of the sun’s rays.

The roof rails are not part of the car’s equipment list, but can be installed on roofs without panoramic windows. This way, you can have a ski box if you need one.

The cabin is very digital and there are not many buttons.

The instrument cluster and infotainment display are very similar to those in Volkswagen’s electric cars.

The dashboard is very good at monitoring the charge and discharge of the battery.

Always automatic

The Multivan eHybrid has a combined output of 160 kW (218 hp) from the electric motor and petrol engine. The electric motor produces 85 kW (116 hp) and the TSI petrol engine 110 kW (150 hp).

The car will always run on electricity if the battery is even slightly charged. The petrol engine only comes into play at speeds above 130 km/h (130 mph).

The Multivan is always equipped with a dsg automatic gearbox. It is a six-speed in the hybrid model and a seven-speed in the other models.

The cab lacks the traditional gear selector. The Multivan has the so-called Shift by Wire system, which means that there is a small lever on the dashboard to change gears.

The system worked well during the test drive.

Under hard acceleration, the engine revs got quite high before the gearbox changed to a larger one.

Volkswagen promises a range of around 50 kilometres on electric power alone, and that should hold true for leisurely driving.

The battery also recharges during slowdowns.

The car has sliding doors on both sides, and in the test car they were electric. The tailgate was also electric in the test car.

CvB (CvB). cvB: Three trim levels are available, Multivan, Life and Style. In addition, a Business trim level is available in Finland.

The car has a maximum boot capacity of 4 053 litres and a trailer of up to 1 600 kg can be coupled to the rear.

Significant price reduction

The current Multivan costs over €100,000, but the new model costs just over €63,000 at its lowest price. This is a significant difference which, according to the importer’s representative, will boost sales significantly.

In terms of value for money, Volkswagen must have made a good decision. Even with the basic equipment, you get a very versatile car at this price. If necessary, all five passenger seats can be removed and the car can be turned into a decent van in no time at all.

The low CO2 emissions of the plug-in hybrid also make it possible, for example, for public procurement, where total emissions must not exceed a certain limit.

The car could also be seen as a taxi. Especially as the 7-seater is still quite comfortable to sit in and can easily accommodate luggage.

Based on the test drive, it seems very likely that the Multivan will grow in popularity. The new Multivan will arrive in Finland in early 2022.