A GREATER CONQUEST OF SPACE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 91

Serious about space? So is Volkswagen's Caravelle. In contrast to the largest conventional MPVs on the market, it'll not only take seven people but all their luggage too, thanks to commercial origins refined by decades of development that have created a quality car-like feel for driver and passengers alike. This sixth generation T6 version sold between 2016 and 2021 was smarter, safer, more efficient and better connected. Ultimately though, the reason you'd buy one never changed. Namely that there isn't much from this period that can do what a Caravelle can.

Modelsword count: 12

(5dr MPV 2.0 TDI 150PS, 204PS / 2.0 TSI [SE, Executive, Business])

Historyword count: 432

The Volkswagen Caravelle. It was in its time in almost every way, the definitive extra-large people carrier. At its launch in 2016, this T6-era Caravelle was the latest instalment in over half a century of history that had seen this vehicle and its predecessors share and change the lives of countless families in almost every country of the world. Such a simple concept you'd think - a windowed van for people rather than packages - but then the best ideas always are. This one came from a Dutch vehicle importer called Ben Pon who just after WW2, spotted workers at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg factory using a stripped-down Beetle to move parts around. Inspired, he sketched out a platform for a versatile commercial vehicle that would brilliant for business and, with seats and windows, fine for families too. Following the 1950 launch, it was the seated versions that most captured the public's imagination, early versions of which were known by a whole variety of names - the Samba bus, the Kombi, the Microbus or even, in the swinging Sixties, the 'hippie bus'. In America, it was simpler: a people carrying Transporter was just known as a 'Volkswagen Bus'. These vehicles offered simple, utilitarian people transport but by the time the third generation T3 Transporter model was introduced in 1980, Volkswagen thought it had identified an extra market amongst buyers who liked the size and versatility but wanted to move their passengers around in more car-like surroundings. So was born the Caravelle. The version launched in 2016 was based on the sixth generation T6 Transporter series that had been introduced back in mid-2015 and was of course a far cry from the crude but characterful original buses. It was one of three people-orientated Transporter derivations that Volkswagen was offering in this period, the other two being the California camper van and the more utilitarian nine-seater Shuttle minibus. The Caravelle was primarily based around a seven-seat configuration and needed the T6 package of updates to keep pace with the fresh standards being set by key van-based rivals in the super-large People Carrying segment, most notably the Mercedes V-Class. Hence a range of more powerful and efficient Euro6 engines, extra electronic safety equipment and a substantial upgrade in media connectivity. Plus, as before, there was the unique-in-class option of 4MOTION 4WD. The result, in this guise, could be just about anything buyers wanted it to be - a huge go-almost-anywhere family runabout, an up-market taxi or even a business limousine. This T6 generation Caravelle range sold until late-2021 when it was replaced by the replacement Multivan model.

What You Getword count: 434

There's something a little more up-market about a Caravelle, a class and quality that marks it out from mainstream brand rivals. Visual updates to this T6 generation model included restyled headlights with optional LED illumination. But of course, what matters is found inside. What you get is three-person rear bench right at the very back that was re-designed for the T6 generation; and two single chairs in the middle that will usually be swivelled around to face it so that passengers can talk directly to each other rather than to the back of peoples' heads. From new, the front seats could optionally be turned to face those at the rear too and all models have a natty multi-function table that clips in and out of the floor and sits between second and third rows. Whether the plan is for an impromptu business meeting on the M1 or it's just about keeping the kids quiet on the way to your weekend holiday cottage, these are features that really do make a huge difference to the way this car can be used, versatility further aided by the four floor-mounted rails. These enable the various rear seats to slide into just about any position you want, depending on the vehicle application you have in mind and the amount of people carrying or packaging space you're likely to need. You'll have a bit more flexibility when it comes to doing that if you opt for the long wheelbase body style. This variant, only available to 2WD diesel customers, adds 20mm more roof height and another 400mm to the length. And luggage space? Well this is where a super-large People Carrier like this comes into its own. With a conventional car-like large MPV, if all seven seats are occupied, it's unlikely that you'll also have enough space for everyone's luggage. With a Caravelle, it's different. Once you've negotiated the lifting of the huge rear tailgate (something you'll need to have left plenty of space behind the vehicle in order to be able to raise), the cargo capacity with all the seats in use is about double that amount that you'd get in a similar scenario with a large MPV, say like a Volkswagen Sharan. And at the wheel? Well, you certainly sit high up - to the point where there's a feeling of sitting on top of the car rather than in it. For sure though, it's a commanding perch. The main interior change made to this T6 generation model related to infotainment connectivity. All models got a 5-inch 'Composition Colour' touchscreen that controls an eight-speaker DAB+ audio system.

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