Volkswagen Multivan 2007 Review

Think of Volkswagen and many people think of small cars such as the Beetle and Golf. Even the highest-priced Passat from Europe doesn't break $57,000. Yet VW does have vehicles in the prestige market for buyers with around $80,000.

It's the Volkswagen Multivan, a seven-seat luxury people mover based on the T5 light commercial vehicle but well sorted and with extensive features. So VW ought to be represented right at the top end of the people-mover list.

Ask someone to name the first people-mover van from decades ago and there's a good chance they'll nominate the VW Kombi. But here's a chance to get a new people mover with a touch of luxury.

The Multivan in its Highline trim comes with electrically operated sliding doors, a multi-function rear table, satellite navigation (about $4000 extra on lesser models), leather trim, heated front seats, 17-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors plus front and rear fog lamps.

A six-stack CD with eight-speaker sound system, cruise control, power windows, 'climatronic' three-zone climate control and swivel seats in the middle row are other touches to make the Multivan even more pleasurable.

VW Multivan in this Highline version is available with a choice of petrol or turbodiesel engines and with all-wheel drive that Volkswagen calls 4Motion. The engines are mounted transversely in the front. The petrol unit is the 3.2-litre V6, rated at 173kW of power at 6200rpm and 315Nm torque at 2900rpm. These figures are obtainable when premium (98RON) unleaded petrol is used.

The 2.5-litre diesel is VW's five-cylinder unit with intercooler, giving 128kW of power at 3500rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2000rpm. With 4Motion AWD either engine has to drive through a six-speed manual gearbox. But in front-wheel drive they come with a six-speed tiptronic automatic.

The Multivan Highline 4Motion is priced at $76,990 for the V6 petrol and $73,990 for the 4Motion diesel. The front-wheel-drive diesel automatic is $72,990 or as a V6 petrol, $75,990.