You might think that the switch to a car rather than a van platform would make Volkswagen's largest MPV a little smaller. In fact, the opposite is true. It's wider and longer than the old Caravelle (and sits lower). To be specific, it's 1,941mm wide and 1,903mm tall and, in standard-shape SWB form, 4,973mm long. There's an even bigger extended wheelbase LWB version that's 5,173mm long. Style-wise, the Multivan looks, well, much less like a converted van, helped by its smart full-width grille and sharp LED headlights. Plus you can have the split two-tone paint finishes that typified so many previous Caravelles.
But what Volkswagen thinks will really sell larger families this model is its more flexible interior with its new modular seating system. All the seats are now individual chairs which sit on three rails running the length of the cabin. The seats are now 25% lighter, making them easier to remove and reposition (especially compared to the old 90kg rear bench). Unfortunately, the middle seats no longer swivel on their bases, so if you want to turn them to face those at the very rear, you'll have to unclip them, lift and turn them round.
Up front, because Volkswagen has removed the conventional handbrake and gear lever, there's no centre console, but if you miss that, the passenger cabin sliding table can be pushed right up to the front to function as one. There's a smarter multi-function steering wheel through which you view a 10.25-inch digital instrument display. Infotainment is taken care of by a 10-inch centre screen. With all the seats in place, boot capacity is 469-litres on the SWB model and 763-litres with the LWB version. Maximum load space with all seats folded on models without a sunroof is rated at 3,672-litres for the SWB model and 4,005-litres for the LWB version.
