Volkswagen Multivan Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

We reckon the Volkswagen Multivan will appeal to quite a wide audience. You might be a rapidly growing family that needs something more versatile than a Nissan Qashqai, a tradesperson who needs to carry passengers at the weekend, or just a mountain bike enthusiast who doesn't want the faff of a roof rack. Its improved road manners (compared to the Volkswagen Caravelle) mean it's easier than ever to recommend.

The plug-in hybrid makes a lot of sense on paper, but a lot of buyers will find it's not worth the additional outlay. It's thirsty when not fully charged, while the weight of the batteries means it's not as comfortable to drive as other models.

Therefore, we'd recommend the Volkswagen Multivan with the 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engine. Both have enough power for motorway driving, although you'll have to be prepared for fairly high fuel bills. The 2.0-litre TDI is likely to be a good alternative if you cover a lot of motorway miles – or, if you want electric family transport, the Volkswagen ID Buzz.

While the Volkswagen Multivan might be based on a car platform, it rivals a wide range of van-based people carriers. These include the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Citroen e-SpaceTourer, Peugeot E-Traveller, Toyota Proace Verso EV and Ford Tourneo Custom. There's also the Dacia Jogger and the Skoda Kodiaq. 

How happy you'll be with the quality and finish of the Volkswagen Multivan's cabin depends largely on your expectations. It certainly looks generally very smart, and we're sure it won't prove too fragile for family life. You can sense the 'however' coming.

There are a few quite harsh plastics that wouldn't look out of place in a van, but if you're considering the Multivan as an alternative to a posh SUV, they appear a little less acceptable. The sliding centre console slash pull-out table is a case in point - it's got more than a touch of Fisher-Price 'My First Kitchen' about it.

A 10-inch Digital Cockpit display replaces conventional dials, while a head-up display is also available, providing information like current speed conveniently within the driver's eye line. Further tech highlights include wireless smartphone charging and an eight-speaker sound system. Buyers can add Digital Cockpit Pro, a Harman Kardon sound system, and a navigation system at extra cost. 

The Style gets Digital Cockpit Pro and the "Discover Pro" navigation system as standard. All cars get wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to boot. 

As you'd expect for something as big and boxy as the Volkswagen Multivan, it's massively practical. Whether the family's outgrown your Touareg or you're looking for the ultimate versatile Uber car, the Volkswagen Multivan is one step down from a minibus when it comes to interior space.

There's enough room for up to seven seats, with those in the rear given the ability to be moved about to cater to your needs. The rear seats can't be swivelled about like in the old Caravelle, but that means they're 25% lighter, making it easier to lift them out and spin them around or leave them in the garage if they're surplus to requirements.

The seats slot into electrified grooves in the floor (that means they can be heated, if you splash the cash on the options list). There's also a trick multi-function table which also slides into the tracks. This can be used as a centre console for those in the front, or a fold-out table complete with cup holders and storage bins for those in the back.

There are two different lengths of Multivan on offer. The standard car has a very usable 469-litre boot space behind the third row of seats, extending to up to 1844 litres behind the second row. Remove the rear seats entirely, and it can swallow a van-like 3672 litres of luggage. Buy one with the panoramic sunroof and extra room in the roof means it can carry 3710 litres.

The Volkswagen Multivan measures 1941mm wide, 4973mm long and up to 1909mm high. It’s that latter figure that’s perhaps the most significant – it’s marginally lower than the Volkswagen Caravelle, which might be just enough to help you squeeze into a multi-storey car park.

It has a wheelbase of 3124mm, while there’s also a longer model available with an extra 20cm of rear overhang (taking the total length to 5173mm). Depending on which engine you choose, the Volkswagen Multivan has a towing capacity of up to 2000kg.

The big news, in engine terms, is the addition of the plug-in hybrid model. Badged the Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid, the PHEV variant uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with a 19.7 kWh battery and 85kW electric motor. 

Skip down to the efficiency section to find out how economical it is, but it produces a combined 245PS. The potent power is offset to some degree by the Multivan's weight (in PHEV form, it weighs up to 2391kg with a driver) – still, it'll lumber to 62mph in 9.4 seconds, a slight increase over the 204PS' 11.6 seconds.

Entry-level cars are offered with the previously mentioned hybrid and a 150PS 2.0-litre TDI, while Style buyers can choose a 204PS 2.0 TSI. All engines are DSG only and range between six and seven speeds.

Refinement is generally very good, although the Volkswagen Multivan's blocky dimensions mean there is a fair bit of wind noise at motorway speeds.

The Volkswagen Multivan was tested by EuroNCAP in 2022 and received a five-star safety rating. Drilling down, it also received a 90% adult occupancy rating, an 89% child rating, and scored 87% in safety assist. 

It also comes packed with safety tech to boot, like autonomous braking, LED headlights, lane change assist, lane keep assist, a rear-view camera, side and curtain airbags, and eCall Emergency System.

The Volkswagen Multivan is still a very new model, so we’re yet to find out how reliable it’ll be in the long term. Its predecessor, the Volkswagen Caravelle, proved to be a very dependable choice, though, and we doubt the Multivan will be any different. 

Its engines are used in a wide range of Volkswagen Group models, many of which have ranked highly in the annual HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.

Volkswagen was 17th out of 33 manufacturers in the latest HonestJohn satisfaction index. Volkswagen also offers a three-year/60,000-mile warranty with its cars.

Insurance groups start at 23 for earlier 1.5 TSI Life cars. The newer 1.5 hybrids are Group 35 and stretch to 38 for Style models. 2.0-litre diesels start at Group 26 while 2.0-litre TSI cars are Groups 36 and 37. 

All Multivan models cost £40,000-plus, meaning expensive car tax applies. First-year savings are possible if you opt for the right van. 1.5 hybrids cost £110 in showroom tax and default to £620 per year. Steer clear of TSI Style models unless you're happy to pay £3,300 in showroom tax, followed by £620 per year thereafter.

2.0-litre diesels fetch from £1,360 to £2,190 in showroom tax, depending on the selected model, before defaulting to £620 per year. 

Specification on the entry-level Volkswagen Multivan Life includes 16-inch alloy wheels, seven seats, two sliding doors with power latching and a 10-inch infotainment system.

The Volkswagen Multivan Style introduces the IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, the Discover Media navigation system, Park Assist, electric sliding doors and a tailgate with the easy-open feature, and 17-inch alloys.