The ultimate lifestyle car? 2025 Volkswagen Multivan people mover priced for Australia in seven-seat guise as it mounts its fiercest challenge yet to the dominant Kia Carnival

Volkswagen has announced pricing for its all-new, seven-seat Multivan people mover ahead of its arrival across dealers nationwide in the second quarter.

Nearly three years after launching in its native Germany, the new-generation Multivan arrives in Australia in short- (SWB) and long-wheelbase (LWB) versions, while riding on VW Group's 'MQB' platform that currently underpins models such as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Golf and Tayron.

It also marks the first time the model has been offered in Australia with seven seats.

Pricing commences at $75,990 for the SWB version, rising $3000 to $78,900 (both before on-road costs) for the LWB version, which extends the model’s overall length from 4973mm to 5173mm. Boot space behind the third row on the LWB also grows from 46.1 cubic metres to 66.1m3.

As the name indicates, the Multivan is highly configurable, allowing for at least five different seating configurations across the front, middle and rear rows.

They range from a 2-0-0, 2-2-3, 2-3-2, 2-2-2 or 2-1-3 set up, making it suitable for anything from picking up the kids on a school run to carting a surfboard around the coast, VW claims.

The same can't necessarily be said for Australia’s most popular people mover, the more family-oriented Kia Carnival, which only comes standard in an eight-seat, 2-3-3 configuration. That said, it starts at just $50,300, before on-road costs.

Powering the Multivan is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine that delivers 110kW/360Nm and a claimed fuel efficiency of 6.4-litres/100km. The Multivan’s sizeable 80-litre tank delivers a theoretical driving range of 1200km.

Standard features on the Multivan include 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, a 10-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital driver’s display and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

Additionally, there are dual power sliding doors for the rear passengers, tri-zone climate controls with roof-mounted second and third row vents, storage bins under each outboard middle and rear row seat, as well as rear cupholders and USB-C ports. A power tailgate gives way to a boot with removable cargo dividers, nets and a portable torch.

Standard safety features include dual front, centre front, front side and curtain airbags that cover all three seating rows, adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous 'travel assist', lane assist, rear cross traffic alert, LED headlights and front and rear parking sensors.

VW has confirmed a second powertrain choice and Style variant (all but certain to be the plug-in eHybrid) will arrive later this year. It will carry a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine, matched with a single electric motor and 13.3kWh battery pack for an electric cruising range of 50km.

Additionally, it will add black 17-inch alloys, matrix LED headlights, adaptive high-beams, interior ambient lighting, heated front seats and microfibre upholstery.

As of March 2025, VW has sold 57 Multivans, a decrease of 52.1 per cent compared to the same period last year in which 119 were sold. Kia, meanwhile, maintains a stranglehold on the people mover segment, having sold 2402 Carnivals this year to date, a rise of 40.7 per cent on last year.