2003 Volkswagen Caravelle Reviews

Richard Berry road tests and reviews the 2016 Volkswagen T6 Transporter, Caravelle and Multivan with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch

The 2008 model includes stability control and a choice of wheelbases to give eight or nine seats. Caravelle disappeared from VW showrooms four years ago but the new model is back with a choice of 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engines, with 96kW of power and 340Nm torque or 128kW and a strong 400Nm.There's a six-speed manual on the short wheelbase with the entry-level engine, or $2500 more brings a six-speed auto with Tiptronic shift which is standard on other versions of the front-wheel-drive vans.The only other manual version is the Caravelle with the 128kW engine in short-wheelbase form and with the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, useful for soft off-bitumen duty and on slippery roads.As well as stability control, which includes a trailer stabilisation program, Caravelle has ABS, an electronic differential lock, traction control system and engine braking control.Power front windows, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, bumpers in body colours, trip computer, cruise control and leather-clad steering wheel are also standard equipment.Depending on wheelbase, the Caravelle length is 4890mm or 5290mm and it has 16in alloy wheels, all-disc brakes and full coil-spring suspension.The eight-seater has a driver's seat plus front two-seater, a second row of a two-seat bench and a three-seat rear bench seat. The nine-seater has separate front seats, a two-seat bench seat for each of the second and third rows plus a three-seat fourth row.The Volkswagen Caravelle range starts at $50,490 for the SWB 96kW manual and goes to $57,490 for the 128kW LWB. 

Mum, dad and five kids (yes, I'm crazy) ... and the dog, going away for the weekend.Bags and bags of "stuff" five boys just can't do without.And, we're going fishing. So add wet-weather gear, rods, the mother of all tackle boxes and its matching bucket for the big catch.Now food ... for teenage boys, remember, so double what you think you might need. And drinks ... bring on the gigantic Esky.Two cars are called for ... or are they? Not when Volkswagen comes to the rescue with its Caravelle."Oh, my God, it's huge," is the first reaction. Bus proportions, even. But don't let the size put you off.This big beast is like putty in your hands, easy to steer with loads of grunt and, believe it or not, a breeze to park.As a people mover, Volkswagen has it all figured out in a 2 x 2 x 3 seating setup in the Caravelle. This is a real seven-seater.Two people sit up front, two directly behind (facing forward or back) and three more on a bench seat in the rear.On the road, despite the fact we're loaded to the brim, everyone has plenty of room – and individual lights mean the kids can do what they want: read, snooze, play or send text messages to girlfriends back home. And each seat has its own storage tray underneath.There are no fights; all are happy in their own "space". In fact, they're raving about the comfort and how "cool" and "awesome" it is – especially when I turn our multivan into a little cocktail lounge.Remove the luggage, push the bench seat all the way back, flip the second row of seats around, push a button and pull a lever to transform the centre console into a table.Voila!But wait, there's more ... those in front also sit high and mighty 'cause this is a pretty flash dash we're fronting, with instrumentation and "extras" to rival most sedans. It's got:A six-CD stacker with a sound that matches the size of this beast; dual air controls front and rear; auto-transmission with Tiptronic option plus a sports mode which lets the gears rev out a little longer between each shift; cup holders (seven) and compartments galore; butt warmers (gotta love those after a few hours on the jetty); airbags, ABS and ESP for safety; cruise control; and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.... and this is just the entry-level.LOVE IT LEAVE ITVolkswagen Caravelle (T5 Multivan) 3.2-Litre V6 Petrol Six-Speed TiptronicPrice: $69,698 (on road)LOVE ITEasy to drive. Loads of room.Adaptable – converts into mobile party room or the back seat folds out to a bed. Tiny turning circle. Parking assist. Easy on petrol.LEAVE ITThe dash lights look pretty but red is really hard to read.Doors can be hard to close.

Topping out the range is the Caravelle Business model which could be described as a people mover limousine but our focus here is on the penultimate model called the Caravelle Highline which is also jammed with luxury kit.There is no point in having one of these large and weighty vehicles (2412kg), unless you intend taking full advantage of its design.This is precisely what we did on test, exploring the Caravelle's capacity to cart a tribe and their gear and barely feel it in performance, ride, handling or fuel economy.What better way to do this than to cater for a teenage boy's birthday with all his mates at go karts and then home for a sleepover.We sure needed that dual Climatronic aircon with those young blokes in there after racing each other.And the Caravelle didn't feel a thing with seven lumps aboard. The 3.2-litre, petrol V6 engine, lifted from the high performance Golf R32, kicks out 173kW and 315Nm which is sufficient to move this big vehicle with plenty of get up and go with the air on and all seats occupied.That is a real test for a people mover, many of which fail dismally when fully laden.Drive is to the front wheels via a six speed automatic transmission after being massaged by various controls to prevent wheel slip and other untidy stuff.And though you could hardly describe it as being a sleek aerodynamic machine, respectable fuel economy is within reach with a little care. But it requires premium 98 octane fuel.The boys really enjoyed mucking around with the electrically operated sliding side doors (one each side) and the seat rows can be moved forward and back to tailor the passenger space. The Highline scores plenty of useful features including a table between the centre row seats, folding adjustable arm rests, acres of leather upholstery, dust and pollen filter package on the ventilation system, trip computer and heated front seats to name a few. The audio falls short of the mark by having a CD stacker under the driver's seat and not in-dash.Drivers will enjoy using the auto shift selector which is mounted in-dash like a rally car and offers sequential shifting.The Caravelle turns on a two bob piece – really handy in tight city driving and parking.Though boxy, the Caravelle has plenty of style and comfort and is well built. Even the steering wheel is upright like a car and not flat like a bus.And most important, it fits into the average garage, no problems.

...of handling this lot: two adults, five children, enough luggage for a long weekend (with plenty of room to spare), food and drink to sink a fleet, and a 2000km trip.  We had a Volkswagen Caravelle which gave the children the initial impression that they were about to enter a school bus.But the comfort, space and nimbleness of the van soon won them over - and happy children on a long trip is any parent's priority.  Volkswagen's Caravelle, which returned to the local market last year with a seven-seat capacity, does not have the highest profile among the so-called people movers.But it proved ideal for the purpose, with children and adults appreciating the space for themselves and their assorted gear as well as the easy access from the huge sliding door.  Caravelle is derived from Volkswagen's worker Transporter van, a heritage that immediately conjures up thoughts of a few seats bolted into a commercial vehicle.FeaturesDriving 2000km requires more than big seats and electric windows to keep everyone happy.  The seats, arranged in a 2-2-3 pattern, are comfortable. The layout allows passengers to walk through the vehicle.Standard equipment also includes central locking, cruise control, power steering and electric mirrors.  The Caravelle has had the benefit of the 2.5-litre engine since its introduction. Unlike its predecessors, the engine is now mounted transversely at the front, driving the front wheels.You can choose a five-speed manual gearbox or, as with our vehicle, a four-speed automatic transmission. A trick with the auto gear lever is that you cannot select lower gears if you depress the button in the normal way.Appointments for the driver are also good. The gear changes are smooth, the engine is refined and provides plenty of power to carry seven people and their gear.  Negotiating city traffic and twisty country roads is easy, and a bit of planning has the Caravelle overtaking easily.It was also a hit on the Hume Freeway, eating up the kilometres with much of the time spent in the outside lane passing slower traffic.  Cruise control is ideal on a trip like this: you maintain the speed you want and don't spend the whole time worrying that a momentary lapse will land you with a big fine.  Build quality and attention to detail are admirable, but the lasting impression left by the Caravelle is the space. Glorious space.The competitionCompetitors in the people-mover segment range in price from less than $30,000 to almost $60,000.  The cheapest entrant is the Mitsubishi Starwagon with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine at $29,575, or an extra $5000 for the 2.4-litre engine.Toyota's Spacia wagon is also under $30,000 (by $10). The new name attempts to disguise the fact that the vehicle is the old-model Tarago with some improvements.  Mitsubishi has another entrant with the Nimbus which starts at $32,625 - a truly car-like vehicle with seating for seven.While the seating arrangements are varied, its main drawback is that it is too small, and there is little luggage space with seven occupants.  Nissan's Serena wagon, while being taller than the Nimbus, suffers from the lack of luggage room and is not a great handler, especially with cross winds.Starting at $34,435 for the ST and $39,435 for the TI, there are better vehicles for the money in this group.  Toyota's Tarago remains the trend-setter among people-movers offered in Australia with its modern shape, high seating position, roominess and ease of driving.But the strong yen has caught up with the Tarago, and the GLi starts at $39,633 while the GLX auto is $47,915 and the Ultima auto is $58,803.A final contender is Mazda's MPV which has the most powerful engine in this class, a 3.0-litre V6, for $42,990.  But the MPV's auto transmission lever is tricky to operate, the luggage area is not big, and the vehicle is showing its age.