Volkswagen Reinvents Multivan People Carrier

Volkswagen has given its Multivan people carrier a major makeover, with a new sharper look, an enhanced interior and the first petrol-electric hybrid version, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Photo Insert: The 2021 Volkswagen Multivan

The new seven-seater is no longer based on the T6 commercial vehicle underpinnings but sits on an extended version of the Group's MQB platform, which is also used by the Tiguan.

Up front, the new Multivan looks like a cross between the current Golf and VW’s range of ID all-electric models. It has a blunt nose and a full-width grille flanked by LED headlamps. The horizontal taillights are also LEDs.

There are new quarter windows at the A-pillars which have been slimmed down to improve forward visibility and the large glass area makes it feel roomy inside. The Multivan now comes in two lengths, measuring 4,973mm and 5,173mm.

The Multivan plug-in hybrid mates a 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine to an electric motor driving the front axle to give a combined output of 218 horsepower. With its 13 kWh battery the Multivan can cover up to 50 kilometers purely on electric power, making it ideal for “short, urban trips,” said VW.

The electron-sipping version gets a six-speed automatic gearbox with an eight-speed version reserved for the petrol variants.

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