• Seven seats as standard
• Roomy in all three rows
• Luggage room restricted in Standard model

How much space is there?

The VW Multivan’s available in two body lengths – Standard and Long. The two models share the same wheelbase but Long vans have more rear overhang.

Regardless of which you choose, you get a highly flexible interior with seven seats as standard. In most models, the seats are set out in a 2-2-3 layout, while an optional six-seater with captain’s chairs in all three rows adds a further layer of luxury. Accessing the third row is easy, with the centre seats sliding well out of the way.

All the rear seats are on rails and can be lifted out, adding to the flexibility. There’s also a useful sliding storage unit, which provides cupholders and stowage for smaller items as well as a full-height table from which rear occupants can eat or work.

Legroom and headroom are good in all three rows, and there’s space for three adults to sit across the rear bench – though if they’re burly, you can slide the middle seat forward a couple of clicks to prevent their shoulders all bumping together. The cabin width makes this easier than in a Citroen Spacetourer, though a Mercedes V-Class or Ford Tourneo Custom is wider still.

You can also swivel the middle row of seats for a more convivial conference-style seating arrangement, though not all models are capable of this and you do need to fully remove the seats to rotate them.

Boot space and storage

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As with any van-like MPV, the Multivan can carry a vast amount of kit if you remove all the rear seats. However, that’s quite an undertaking, and you do need to store them when they’ve been taken out, unlike rival seven-seaters like the Peugeot 5008 where all seats fold totally flat into the floor.

Luggage space with all seven seats in place is limited. Though it’s quoted at 469 litres and 763 litres for Standard and Long vans respectively, that’s when loaded right up to the roof – space under the rear window is rather less generous. If you’re regularly planning to load the van up with seven adults and their luggage, you’ll want the Long model.

Take all the seats out and you’ll liberate a cavernous 3,672 litres, or 4005 litres in the Long model. There’s a maximum length of 2.43m and 2.63m respectively.

Storage inside is good, with a large glovebox and smaller storage cubbies on the dashtop. Stacked door bins provide space for odds and ends, there’s a useful parcel shelf and a cupholder for every rear occupant. There’s also lots of space in between the front seats and between the two middle seats to seat extra bags on the floor if needed.

Is it easy to park?

The Multivan’s usefully square dimensions at the rear, big mirrors and good visibility make reverse parking easy, aided by standard parking sensors and a rear-view camera. The front is a little trickier to judge, with a more substantial bonnet area than its Caravelle predecessor that’s not especially easy to see from the driver’s seat.

Opt for the Style model and you’ll get Park Assist, which is capable of parking the Multivan with no driver input. Regardless of model, this is a large vehicle, so just finding a parking space big enough is likely to be your biggest challenge.

Safety

• Full five-star score from Euro NCAP
• Adult and child protection exceptional
• Rates highly for safety equipment

Large MPVs don’t come much safer than the VW Multivan. When tested by Euro NCAP in May 2022 it scored the highest-possible five-star rating, scoring exceptionally well in three out of four categories, with a marginally weaker score for Vulnerable Road Users possibly due to the car’s bluff frontage.

Ratings of 90 and 89 per cent for adult and child occupants respectively are highly impressive, aided by a plethora of airbags including a centre airbag between driver and front passenger. A score of 87 per cent in the Safety Assist category, meanwhile, acknowledges the effectiveness of the standard autonomous emergency braking system and lane-keeping aids. We found the latter reasonably unobtrusive on all kinds of roads, a plus point in our books.

Other safety equipment that comes as standard is road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control and automatic post-collision braking, while Style models come with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.