• Wide range from petrol and diesel to plug-in hybrid
• For fully electric, wait until the I.D. Buzz
• Good performance across the board

At the time of writing VW offers the Multivan with a range of four engines – two petrol, one diesel, and one plug-in hybrid. All of them are mated to a DSG automatic gearbox, with six ratios for the plug-in hybrid and seven for all the others. This is a quick-shifting automatic and pairs well with all the engine options – it really makes driving the Multivan effortless.

Petrol engines

Proceedings kick off with a 136hp 1.5-litre petrol. We’ll be honest – it feels sluggish and not quite up to the task of ferrying around the Multivan’s vast bulk, especially if you add passengers to the mix.

If you’ve got your heart set on a petrol then the 204hp 2.0-litre is far more muscular, though it does need revving hard to make the most of its extra muscle.

Both of these engines are smooth and, at low revs, very quiet, making them decent motorway cruisers. However, the diesel or plug-in hybrid options suit the Multivan much better.

Diesel engine

The diesel in the Multivan is the same hardworking 2.0-litre TDI as you’ll find in thousands of VW’s passenger cars. It’s not quick, but it feels muscular enough and has plenty of torque to cope with a full load. It’s also very efficient in comparison to the petrols.

Plug-in hybrid

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The Multivan eHybrid uses the same plug-in powertrain as many of VW’s hybrid passenger cars, and you might be surprised to hear how well it works in such a bulky vehicle. When the battery and petrol engine work in conjunction there’s more than enough shove for a fully-laden van, whether overtaking or punting down a sliproad at high speed.

The electric motor is powerful enough to pootle around town though if you’re heading onto faster roads you won’t find yourself achieving the full 29 mile range it’s officially capable of.

Still, even when the battery is discharged there’s some in reserve to make the Multivan eHybrid a responsive, relatively quick and refined cruiser.

What’s it like to drive?

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• Set up for ride comfort
• Light and accurate steering
• Far more car-like than predecessors

There’s no escaping the sheer size of the Multivan, but the driving experience is far more polished than it was in the old Caravelle.

The driving position is less upright and more car-like, and the steering more direct and requiring fewer turns of the wheel to get the same result. This makes it reasonably relaxing to pilot on twisting roads and around town.

With limited body roll for such a tall vehicle, the Multivan is confidence-inspiring to drive and shouldn’t result in too much carsickness from its rear occupants. At the same time, it’s very comfortable, with a stiff structure that reduces rattles and shimmies. Optionally available is Dynamic Chassis Control which can control how stiff the suspension feels – but the regular passive setup is so good we wouldn’t bother.