The new one Volkswagen T7 Multivan is on sale and it can now be used with a diesel powertrain. The 148hp 2.0-liter TDI unit joins as the fourth engine variant, sitting above the 134hp petrol 1.5-liter TSI, but below the 201hp 2.0-liter TSI and the 1.4 TSI. liter TSI eHybrid 215 hp.
As such, the diesel is also just 1.5-litres higher than the TSI in terms of price, starting at £44,410 in entry-level Life specs. Like the rest of the Multivan range, the front-wheel drive diesel uses a seven-speed DSG transmission. With diesel engines currently on sale, the entire T7 Multivan line-up is available to order now with the first cars arriving at the end of March.
Rather than being positioned as a direct successor to the T6 Caravelle, the T7 Multivan is being introduced as an all-new model that will also replace VW’s Touran and Sharan MPVs. However, the upgraded T6 – the T6.1 – will continue to be produced as a commercial vehicle. Both models will be complemented by All-electric ID. Buzz. This repositioning means that the Multivan has been updated to the latest, with a new tech interior and new running equipment, including dip into the mixture Driver.
The valve-based MPV is available from £43,160 for the 134bhp 1.5 TSI Life model. Standard equipment on the Life trim includes 16-inch alloys, dual power sliding doors, a 10-inch infotainment system and VW Digital Cockpit TFT dial. Active safety technologies such as Front Assist and Lane Assist are also available. Next is the diesel model, which ranges from £44,410 to £56,300 for the long-wheelbase Style version.
Spec your T7 Multivan with the 201bhp 2.0 TSI petrol engine and prices will start from £58,130 as it is only available in Style spec. This adds a toolkit like VW’s IQ. Matrix LED headlights, satellite navigation, parking assist, all-electric sliding doors and electric tailgate with easy opening and closing; 17-inch alloys are also included.
The last is the 215 hp plug-in hybrid model. Priced from £48,835, it offers equipment such as a Harmon Kardon sound system, privacy glass, panoramic glass roof and 18-inch alloys. The eHybrid system uses a 1.4 TSI turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor to produce a combined 215 hp – similar to the Golf and Passat GTE systems, while the 13kWh lithium-ion battery will run solely on power. electricity for about 30 miles.
On the outside, the new Multivan has styling that falls somewhere in between Golf and VW’s ID line of electric vehicles, with a slim grille and standard LED headlights, a relatively smooth nose, clean bodywork and a new horizontal taillight design. The narrow A-pillar improves forward visibility, while the large glass area creates a spacious feel for the interior.
Inside, VW has updated the seven-seat interior layout. There are now five individual chairs – so Caravelle’s big and heavy three-seater is no longer available – and the seats themselves are up to 25% lighter than their predecessors. As in the Caravelle, the seats can slide back and forth thanks to rails on the floor, the two middle rows of seats can rotate 180 degrees and there is a multi-position table between them.
The Multivan’s completely flat floor means that the table can now be moved between the front seats. For the first time there is an optional panoramic glass canopy.
In-vehicle technology includes VW’s 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit dial, touchscreen controls and USB-C connectivity, while an optional overhead display is a first for vehicles VW commercial. An integrated eSIM means that the Multivan is always connected, while sat-nav and connected services – as seen elsewhere in VW’s range – are available.
Elsewhere inside, the Multivan has an electric parking brake as standard, while all models do DSG automatic transmission. The removal of the gear lever and handbrake lever has created more space in the cabin. There’s 469 liters of luggage space in seven-seat mode and 1,844 liters when the last row of seats is removed. The Multivan comes in two lengths, measuring 4,973mm and 5,173mm, and these models have a maximum capacity of 3,672 liters and up to 4,053 liters, when equipped with the panoramic glass.
While the T7 Multivan offers improved passenger capacity, it is not currently expected to be the basis for a series of California campers – these will continue to be based on the T6.1 Transporter truck.
The safety suite follows those of other MQB-based models, with City Emergency Braking, road signs and lane assist, while the Multivan also features Car2X, a system that allows local communication with vehicles other facilities and highway infrastructure to warn of potential collisions and delays. A 360-degree camera and IQ.DRive Travel Assist semi-autonomous driving assistance are also available.
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