Volkswagen Caravelle SE 2.0 TDI LWB 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The interior of the Caravelle is well laid out and very functional. On the dash, all controls and switches are within easy reach and simple to use. There’s ample adjustment on the driver’s seat and steering wheel, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding a good driving position. Visibility all round is excellent, especially up front.

This version of the Caravelle is powered by Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine producing 138bhp maximum power and providing 251lb-ft of low down torque. Top speed is 107mph and it will take the Caravelle from 0-62mph in a respectable 14.2 seconds. It offers plenty of power to move the huge MPV, yet manages to return a decent average fuel economy of 36.7mpg. The six-speed manual gearbox works well and has a nice positive feel to the changes.

The Caravelle is based on the VW Transporter, with the addition of windows and seats, so the handling is more what you’d expect from a van than a large car. There’s body-roll when cornering and uneven surfaces make it a bouncy ride.

In general it may be more refined than you’d think. Engine noise isn’t too bad – even when you’re working it hard and road and suspension noise are reasonably well suppressed in the cabin. At cruising speeds, not surprisingly due to its van-like aerodynamics, wind noise is evident especially around the large door mirrors

The Caravelle can’t hide its Transporter van roots, but inside its well finished and the cabin is comfortable and airy.

The Equipment in the Caravelle isn’t particularly generous bearing in mind how much it costs. The SE comes with power steering, central locking, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, alarm, immobiliser and CD. Volkswagen offers plenty of optional extras including climate control £860, metallic paint £595, cruise control £215, rear parking sensor £420, leather/Alcantara seats £1,325 and satellite navigation £1,935.

As you’d expect, there’s an enormous amount of space inside. It’s a real seven-seater and all the seats are rail mounted and the seats in the second row are also swivelling to provide maximum flexibility. However, if you want access to the maximum load carrying space you’ll need to remove the seats completely - and they are heavy.

EuroNCAP gave ratings of four-stars for adult occupant safety, four-stars for child occupant safety and one-star for pedestrian safety in its crash-tests of the Caravelle (all out of five). Standard safety equipment fitted includes the usual twin front, side and curtain airbags, and stability and traction control systems. While its overall safety rating is good, it has some rivals that come with additional airbags fitted as standard.

Anti-theft measures include remote central locking, deadlocks, an alarm and engine immobiliser.
As many of the mechanicals are borrowed from the VW Transporter, they are well tried and tested and should provide no reason for worry in terms of reliability. The quality of the interior is, without question, what you’d expect from Volkswagen, with quality materials used throughout and it all feels very durable.

The Caravelle comes covered by Volkswagen’s three-year 100,000 mile warranty.

With a list price of £35,190 the Caravelle SE 2.0 TDI LWB is anything but cheap, and the running costs are high too. It is a very large MPV, but its fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 203g/km make it less economical to run than some competitors. Insurance is in group 26 and Road Tax in VED band K.

It’s enormously practical, reliable and durable; and while its residual values are typical of a Volkswagen, it’s not a common choice outside of the normal commercial applications related to hotels and airport shuttle runs, so it may not be so easy to sell it on in the future.