Volkswagen Multivan – long term review – Report No:8 2023

We recently replaced our e-hybrid Multivan with a ‘long-wheelbase’ version, now with VW’s familiar 2.0-litre petrol engine. The timing could not have been better. With this extended version, my wife and I had more of a chance to embrace all those gifts during my 1,800-mile road trip to the French Alps and back. Oh, and for the curious the price of lengthening your ride by 20cm, that would be £1,398 – roughly the cost of a French car.

Our journey began with a stop in the charming northern city of Amiens, where the wedding was waiting. Now, you’d think that with this extra long Multivan, I could show off its people-moving capabilities by taking guests to the reception with ease. But there was a twist. Despite this being a long Multivan, it had an optional 6-seat package, resulting in the loss of the middle rear seat. It’s like ordering an extra large pizza and realizing it’s missing a slice. However, all this was for naught as I had selfishly removed two middle row seats before leaving England, giving our personal possessions the space they deserved. Sorry everyone.

Next on our adventure was Bourges – a beautiful clapboard town in the middle of France. Despite the size of the Multivan seems large, it passed through narrow streets and turns with ease. Of course, it starts to hint at its size when you venture into the underground car park, but with its length almost 100mm shorter than its predecessor, the Caravelle (standing 1900mm), the win is slightly reduced. And just to add extra peace of mind, it comes with parking sensors and a reversing camera as standard. Phew.

Well then, on to the Dordogne. Finally sunshine, hooray! And let’s be honest, the Multivan is quite the looker. Our version has a Fortana red metallic paint job, a steal at £954 – well, maybe not a steal, but it needs a lot of paint to cover the car. And it’s significantly less than the £2,850 two-tone option (although that’s what you really want). VW has that magic touch when it comes to making luxury cars.

As you may have noticed, at this point in our adventure, I was impressed with the Multivan. We did not go out immediately after a long journey as weary travelers. It was like traveling to your front room. However, not everything was good, there was one disappointment that I could not ignore. By the time we reached our last stop in the Alps before waving at revoir, it seemed even more so. You see, the 2.0-litre petrol engine hadn’t even cracked 30mpg, which meant the fuel bill was rising rapidly. Not only that, but it was also clearly struggling with a heavy load of, well, ‘French condiments’ at steep altitudes.

This makes me wonder why anyone would choose the petrol version. This combination offers the convenience of electric-only operation for everyday use, can achieve around 35mpg on long journeys, and provides an extra boost of electric power before the engine starts. On the other hand, the diesel option is worth offering. you more than 40mpg and offers the low-down torque necessary for heavy lifting. So, to me, diesel seems like the way to go if you plan on driving long distances. But whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed with the Multivan’s great off-road capabilities.