• Touchscreen controls are awkward
• But interior is high quality
• Generous standard equipment

How is the quality and layout?

You get two digital screens as standard in the Multivan – a large 10.0-inch infotainment display plus a digital driver information display in place of conventional dials. There’s also no conventional handbrake or gear selector – instead you get small switch-like affairs that free up extra space and mean there’s no need for a traditional centre console.

Material quality is high, in the manner of VW’s passenger cars rather than its commercial vehicles. Even the base-spec Life model features a two-tone dashboard, with cream-coloured plastics making the interior feel far lighter and airier than many of its rivals. The driving position is sound, with lots of adjustability, and visibility is excellent. Though if you’re coming from an older vehicle you will need to get used to the touchscreen-centric control layout.

Infotainment and tech

The Multivan uses the same infotainment system as Volkswagen’s other passenger cars – and though most recent version we’ve tested hadn’t yet been upgraded to the latest software, we know what this going to be like via our experience of the fundamentally similar VW California (which is now based on the Multivan).

There are no dramatic changes coming, but the the newer system does include some more visual display options – such as showing all the air-conditioning controls over a picture of the dashboard. This is supposed to make it easier to figure out what your want the air-conditioning to do, but we actually found it more confusing. Certainly this is no substitute for a conventional set of physical buttons.

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Still, the screen and the digital instrument cluster can be configured to show you the information you most want to see, and it’s not especially difficult to do this. Unfortunately, compounding the sense that this is a forced compromise versus a set of proper controls, the software itself has often proven rather buggy and prone to crashing. Sadly we’ve experience issues with the latest version in the California as well.

At least Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard, allowing you to bypass the majority of the factory interface if you prefer. Wireless and wired connections – via USB-C ports – are available, with a grippy rubber shelf usefully positioned to hold you phone in the front.

Comfort

• Loads of space in all three rows
• Comfortable seats with plenty of adjustment
• Very refined, especially compared with van-based rivals

When it comes to passenger comfort for seven people at a time, the VW Multivan’s right up there with the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. Both provide generous accommodation in every seating row, and we’ve always found the seats themselves are supportive over longer journeys.

All three rows have USB-C ports for powering devices topped up while the sliding centre table provides storage and a space to eat or work from. There are climate control vents in the rear to stop things becoming stuffy, though the sliding windows in the rear doors are deleted if you opt for a high-strength window tint.

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Refinement is seriously good, too, with very little wind or road noise despite the bluff front. Engine noise depends very much on which powertrain you choose, with the lower-powered petrols becoming quite vocal when revved. Every version cruises quietly and comfortably, though, giving little reason for serious complaint.