"The Volkswagen Caravelle has carved out a niche as a premium people mover since its Australian debut in the 1980s. Evolving from the long-running Transporter van series, the Caravelle offered a more refined take on the workhorse formula, prioritising passenger comfort without compromising the brand’s signature durability and practicality.
Globally, the Caravelle shares its roots with the Volkswagen Multivan and Transporter, often overlapping in name depending on the market. In Australia, it’s known for its spacious cabin, car-like handling and strong diesel performance. Generations have introduced more tech and safety features, helping it remain competitive against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz Vito and Hyundai Staria.
By the time the T6.1 generation arrived, the Caravelle featured updated infotainment, advanced driver assistance and improved ride comfort, making it ideal for families, shuttle services and adventure seekers. It remains a key player for those needing versatile space in a stylish European package."
The line-up currently starts at $69,290 for the Caravelle Trendline Tdi340 Lwb and ranges through to $69,290 for the range-topping Caravelle Trendline Tdi340 Lwb.
The Volkswagen Caravelle is available with up to nine seats, with various configurations. The double fold three-seater rear bench is completely removable for increased versatility. All variants come with Titanium Black cloth seat trim.
A modern automatic transmission is an incredibly complex piece of equipment and failure to select gears can be anything from low fluid level to broken clutches or bands, right through to a problem with the valve body.
A trip to a transmission specialist will probably be worth the investment, if only to rule out the cheap fixes from the potentially expensive ones. As you’ve already discovered, changing random parts in the hope that the problem will disappear is a fast way to empty your wallet and still have a faulty car.
The first thing to do, however, is to check the fluid level in the transmission. This is often overlooked, but can produce the symptoms you’re seeing.
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Caravelles sold new in Australia are claimed to be 1990mm tall.
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