Volkswagen Multivan

While the vans are perceived to be basic on the inside, Volkswagen has done a commendable job in equipping the Multivan with decent upmarket features and sturdy build quality, which doesn’t make the cabin feel as if it is designed to a limit.

The cabin has a simple layout but feels solidly built with a leather-wrapped multi-functional steering wheel along with a simple looking instrument console with an MID screen in between. The dashboard has a flat design with a medium-sized 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto taking the centre stage, flanked with large vertically aligned rectangular AC vents on either side.

The Multivan is equipped with some really premium features for its category, like automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated and powered front seats and outside rearview mirrors, electric tailgate, power sliding doors, multifunction table, leather upholstery, and a cooled glove box.

In terms of space and seating configurations, the Volkswagen Multivan offers multiple ways of seat layouts, with an ample amount of space for seven passengers and capacious boot space at the same time. The long-wheelbase versions of the Multivan do offer best in class seating arrangements with incredible amount of room on the inside.

Being a van, one can expect the Volkswagen Multivan to be true to its business of being a boxy-looking vehicle with little focus on aesthetics. While the Multivan isn’t designed to turn many heads on the road, Volkswagen has tried to make it look as premium as it can, which is evident from its premium features.

The Volkswagen Multivan too comes with the same flat rectangular grille with two chrome slats on the front, like in many Volkswagen models. And here too, the grille comes attached with big blocky headlamps on both of its sides, which pleasantly come with full LED lighting along with daytime running LEDs.

The side profile of the Volkswagen Multivan is unabashedly boxy, with large squared window panels and flat doors with their sliding pattern for opening and closing accentuating its van-like appeal. However, the large 18-inch wheels do manage to add some substance to the side look of the Multivan.

The boxy appearance of the Volkswagen Multivan continues at the rear as well, with the MUV coming with large rectangular rear windshield and vertical tail lamps on the outer edges – very much van-like.

The Volkswagen Multivan is armed with a suspension combination of independent Macpherson struts with coil springs and gas-filled dampers at the front and semi-trailing independent rear axle with coil springs and anti-roll bar at the rear. While the anti-roll bar very much tries to keep body roll under control, it still feels a bit at higher speeds, however, the softer suspension setup makes the low-speed ride quality very good.

The Volkswagen Multivan is being offered with a single 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, which is offered with auto start-stop technology and a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox as standard. However, this engine is available in two states of tune – the engine in base Comfortline variant produces 140 PS of power and 340 Nm of torque, while in the other two variants, it makes 204 PS of power and 450 Nm of torque.

The Volkswagen Multivan has been given a plenty of safety features, which consists of front, side, and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, multi-collision brake, electronic stability program, traction control, electronic differential lock, hill hold control, hill descent control, fatigue detection alert, front and rear parking sensors, lane change assist with blind-spot monitoring system, forward collision warning with city emergency braking and multi-angle reverse camera.

The Volkswagen Multivan might not be a visually striking vehicle, however, it feels premium for a van in terms of features and build quality. Serving true to its purposes, it ferries people with utmost comfort and refinement, and the presence of premium features make the in-cabin experience even more worthy.