Sales market: Russia.
The Caravelle is the passenger version of the Transporter, Volkswagen's world famous commercial vehicle series. At the heart of the new generation T6 is an upgraded platform from the previous generation, which was a great success in the global market due to the perfect balance of economy, environmental friendliness, safety and comfort. The spacious interior allows optimal use of space, has many transformation options and can be used as a full-fledged mobile office. The car is available in two versions: with a standard and long wheelbase. Depending on the performance, the number of seats is from five to nine. If necessary, Caravelle can easily be turned into a cargo van - all seats beyond the first row are removable. And the "Long" version, with a length and wheelbase increased by 40 cm, is one of the most practical options among the "B" category passenger cars. For the Russian market, cars are offered with gasoline (150 and 204 hp) and diesel (102, 140 and 180 hp) engines, paired with “mechanics” or a DSG box, there are also all-wheel drive versions.
Compared with the previous generation, the exterior of the Caravelle has changed somewhat: the bumpers, the radiator grill, the head optics, the rear fog lights have changed, a spoiler has appeared on the roof, the tailgate has ceased to be double-leaf. Ergonomics of the driver's seat and interior design have also received their evolutionary development. Of course, the minibus was supplemented with high-tech filling: climate control (three-zone in expensive trim levels), seat heating, sun blinds on the windows, electric windshield heating, full power accessories, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Thanks to new communication technologies, you can use the Internet access, the navigation system is able to navigate the route past traffic jams. A closer can be installed on the tailgate, and an electric drive with remote control on the side doors. Other features of the Volkswagen Caravelle equipment include an electronic voice amplifier, a Bluetooth interface for hands-free conversations, an adaptive suspension and a wide range of driving assistance systems.
For the Caravelle T6, turbodiesel four-cylinder two-liter engines of the TDI series with a capacity of 102, 140 and 180 hp, as well as two-liter TSI petrol turbo engines with a return of 150 and 204 hp are offered. In both lines, the initial motors work in conjunction with a mechanical 6-speed gearbox, front-wheel drive. A more powerful 140-horsepower diesel engine can work both with “mechanics” (front or all-wheel drive) and with an automatic 7-speed DSG box (dual-clutch robot) in front-wheel drive. Both top-end engines - a 204-horsepower gasoline and 180-horsepower diesel - are equipped with a DSG "robot" and provide two options: front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. In the most dynamic version 2.0 TSI (204 hp) Caravelle accelerates from zero to hundreds in 9.5 seconds. With the new motors, environmental performance and efficiency have improved even more. Consumption for gasoline engines - from 9 to 10.5 l / 100 km. For diesel - from 5.9 to 8.8 l / 100 km. The volume of the fuel tank is 80 liters.
The chassis of the Volkswagen Caravelle includes both independent suspensions - the front one with MacPherson strut struts, the rear one with double wishbones. Electronically adjustable adaptive dampers improve handling and comfort by changing the stiffness of the suspension. There are modes: Normal, Comfort and Sport. 4MOTION all-wheel drive based on a multi-plate clutch distributes torque between the front and rear axles, increasing safety on slippery roads. As standard, all Caravelles have an electronic cross-axle differential lock (on the front axle or on both - when ordering all-wheel drive). The proposed mechanical locking rear differential (optional with 4MOTION) further enhances flotation. Compared with its predecessor, the length of the Caravelle body has increased from 4892 to 5006 mm, and the long version - from 5292 to 5406 mm. The standard length of the luggage compartment, depending on the length of the body, is 739 / 1118 mm. The second and third row of seats can be folded down for a huge cargo volume of 5800 / 6700 liters, with a maximum loading length of up to 2570 / 2970 mm.
All Caravelles are equipped by default with an electronic stability control system, two front airbags, and an automatic post-crash braking system. Additionally, two high (combined) side airbags are offered that protect the head and chest of the driver and front passenger, as well as curtain airbags in the passenger compartment. In addition, the new generation of Volkswagen Caravelle has adaptive cruise control with a full stop function (for versions with DSG), a frontal collision avoidance system, adaptive high beam, Side Assist lane change assistance systems, Rest Assist driver fatigue monitoring. For all-wheel drive versions, a descent control system is offered.
Read completelyMost motorists attribute autotuning to certain pleasant modifications. With it, the car looks much more presentable than in the standard version. And auto-tuning often not only plays the role of visual decoration, but also improves various properties of the car. It is worth noting that the tuning intended for the 2015-2019 Volkswagen Caravelle undoubtedly refreshes the design of the car.
Thresholds made of steel are in great demand, and aluminum thresholds are also often ordered from us. Such parts protect the car from various third-party reactions.
Autotuning can not only perform the task of decorating, but also be useful. Mounting a towbar is a clear example of such auto-tuning. This part is needed so that the car has the ability to tow another vehicle or use a trailer.
Body kit installation in Moscow
Perhaps the most famous car accessories are seat covers. Almost every motorist uses them, as the covers make life much easier and protect the leather of the seats from various scratches and dirt. The use of specialized covers for Volkswagen Caravelle 2015-2019 is justified, as they are usually more comfortable compared to standard seats.
Interior floor mats are considered a necessary addition for every car. With their help, it is easy to avoid the effects of water and dirt on the skin. The trunk mat will keep your car clean.
The shop closely cooperates with domestic factories. It is worth noting that car accessories come strictly from manufacturers, without intermediaries. Constantly on sale you can find a large line of auto accessories for any model.
We have competent installers and other specialists in our staff, they can easily cope with virtually any accessory designed for the Volkswagen Caravelle 2015-2019. Installation works are offered at excellent prices.
What kind of car does the average Belarusian need? Economical. Spacious. Inexpensive. Here are three whales. The new generation T6 could well be the ideal vehicle for our compatriot, if not for the price. Good configurations of Multivan cost like an apartment in Minsk. Caravelle is cheaper, but you still have to save up for a long time. Therefore, Belarusian families are more likely to buy second-hand "teshki", which have fallen in price several times compared to the original cost. New ones are more often purchased “for the company”. Onliner.by tested the first Volkswagen T6 that arrived in our country. Families with many children, prepare your wallets! Seven years later...
Volkswagen has a sin to pass off a deep restyling for a new generation. We have already seen this on the example of the Passat B7 (in fact, this is a well-updated B6). A similar situation happened with T6. The platform, engines, transmissions and even half of the body parts of the “te-sixth” do not differ from the T5. The Germans changed all the optics, redrawn the front end, transplanted the outside mirrors a little lower and enlarged the rear window. The interior has changed a little more. Interesting versions of the Six Generation with a two-tone body and retro wheels (hello, Beetle) have been added to the line. That, in fact, is all.
On our test - the usual (in the sense - one-color) version of Caravelle with a top-end 2-liter turbodiesel (180 hp, 400 Nm), 7-speed DSG and all-wheel drive, which uses the fifth generation Haldex (the predecessor was the fourth). Eight seats, long wheelbase. Price - more than 70 thousand dollars. Go!
Volkswagen says the T6 is the latest "old-school Transporter" car. T7 will debut relatively soon - in 2020 and will be completely different. It turns out that the T family changes dramatically with every fourth generation. See for yourself: the T1, T2, and T3 were rear-wheel drive, low-cost minibuses with a high margin of safety and a rear-mounted motor. T4, T5 and now T6 - berries of a different variety. They have the engine in front. Drive - front or full. There were high-tech turbo engines, robotic gearboxes with two clutches (there are also conventional automatic transmissions) and a bunch of expensive options. T7, most likely, will be more "passenger".
The rear window is now completely rectangular. It has become larger, but this did not improve visibility in the passenger versions - the third row of seats interferes with the increase in size
In the cabin, as already mentioned above, the changes are more dramatic. Now there are more corners and "passenger" elements. The T6 received a new, very comfortable steering wheel, a seriously redesigned center console, a more compact "process" for the gear lever and improved lateral support for all seats. The power window adjustment unit is now located on a small "rise" of the door, but you still need to reach for it. In general, the "bus" landing at the T6 remained. The steering wheel, pedals and placement of the gear lever will not let you forget that you are in a minibus, which was created primarily for commercial needs (in the Mercedes V-Class, by the way, this is not felt). Landing - strictly vertical. Of course, the back of the driver's seat can be folded back, but then there is not enough reach for the steering wheel. Yes, and the pedals are located directly under the feet, and not brought forward (as in cars).
On the test machine, despite the abundance of options, the simplest front panel is made of oak plastic. The same will be on the cheap versions of the T6 Transporter. In more expensive versions of Caravelle, as well as in various modifications of Multivan, all these glove boxes and containers will be covered with lids. On both sides of the front panel - coasters
A multimedia system is installed on the car that supports synchronization with iPhone and Android devices. I was able to connect my iPhone the first time. You can call, read / write SMS and use the card ... Voice commands are not understood the first time
On our test - the passenger version of the Caravelle with three rows of seats and two sliding doors (on the left side - optional). If earlier an additional door was ordered from the driver's side, then the car was deprived of the third seat in the second row (so that you could climb into the third row). Now this chair can be folded, like the right one. The third row can only be folded in its entirety. As before, all seats (except the front ones, of course) are completely dismantled and leave the luggage compartment with a flat floor.
The back door opens wide. The opening, as before, is not square. Wheel arches interfere
The most affordable versions of the T6 are equipped with a 2-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 102 hp. With. Such a machine is equipped with a 5-speed "mechanics". The 140-horsepower version of the same diesel boasts a 6-speed manual gearbox. The test car has the same 2-liter TDI under the hood, but in a bi-turbo version. Double supercharging made it possible to squeeze 180 hp out of the Quartet. With. and 400 Nm. The gearbox is a 7-speed DSG robot. This is the most powerful diesel engine available on our market, so an empty "bead" runs perfectly with such an engine. We had no doubt about it, but potential buyers are more concerned about the fuel consumption of this machine.
For the experiment, we once accelerated to a hundred with gas "to the floor" (if you're interested - 12 seconds). The rest of the time we drove in “civilian” modes (after all, we are not testing the Golf GTI). At the end of the day, the onboard computer showed 8.5 liters per 100 km (the manufacturer promises about 6.5 liters). We drove mostly on the highway at a speed of 90-120 km / h. There were almost always three people in the cabin. We wanted to load the car crammed at the airport (to give people a free ride to Minsk), but local taxi drivers were not happy with our idea and "gave" us only one passenger. He (together with luggage) added 110-120 kg to us. According to a rough measurement, this increased consumption by about 0.1 liters.
The press release says that the manufacturer has slightly modified the suspension of the T6 and even added the ability to adjust the shock absorbers (sport / comfort) with a button on the front panel. We did not have such an option, but even without it the car holds the road well. The suspension seemed a little "rough". Like Volkswagen cars, this "bead" is designed more for driving on autobahns than on our country paths. At high speed, the side wind makes itself felt.
The large overall dimensions of the minibus do not interfere with the ease of moving around the city and parking in tight parking lots. You begin to feel the dimensions of the car after the first 10 km. Due to the high seating position, the T6 has better visibility than any SUV. The "burdocks" of the rear mirrors are practically devoid of "blind" zones. During the day we drove about 200 km, so we can hardly evaluate the T6 as a car for long-distance travel. But the owners of the T5 assure that you don’t get tired of driving 1000 km a day on this minibus. There is no reason to doubt - the car is really comfortable.
In the segment where the T6 performs, Volkswagen has been the leader in our market for more than a year. Today (the first 8 months of 2015) the manufacturer has a 32% market share of compact "beads" and vans. But in recent years, this figure has been decreasing. For comparison, in 2013 the share of Volkswagen here was 80%, in 2014 - 51%. The closest competitor - Ford Custom - today has 27%. Mercedes (V-Class + Vito) - 16%. At the same time, Volkswagen is the most expensive. Thanks to the fall of the European currency, Mercedes commercial models have fallen in price well and are a very serious competitor to the T6. For comparison: the base V-Class costs about 45 thousand euros, and for the T6 Multivan (more equipped than the V-Class) they ask from 56.7 thousand dollars (this is 50+ thousand euros). Although if we compare similar configurations, the V-Class will even be a little more expensive (there is a special price on the Multivane now). Caravelle in the “te-sixth” body costs from 45 thousand dollars, but its competitor Vito is cheaper. The Ford line is the most affordable in the segment, but the Custom family has no direct rival to the luxury Multivane/V-Class. But it is precisely the “Multivans” that Belarusian families dream of! It is a pity that not every head of the family can afford such a car.
We express our gratitude to the Volkswagen importer in Belarus
for the car provided for the test
Reprinting text and photos of Onliner.by is prohibited without the permission of the editors. [email protected]
Volkswagen has one small sin. It looks like they peeped it from their eastern colleagues. Not a sin, but so, a prank. Issue restyling for a new model. Actually, there is nothing shameful here at all, if we are talking about a modern and technologically advanced car, and updates occur almost once every six months. With the Volkswagen Transporter T6, or rather, with its passenger version of the Caravelle, the same story happened. But not everything is so sad. What can please fans of automobile cultural trips with the new T6 2016-2017 model year, let's figure it out right now.
The standard "van" is equipped with a diesel 84 horsepower engine with a Start/Stop system. The rest of the kits will include the following power units:
diesel 102 hp;
diesel 150 hp;
diesel 204 hp;
gasoline 150 hp;
petrol 204 hp
Thanks to the considerable efforts of the mechanics and engineers of this German car company, fuel consumption was reduced on average by as much as 15% compared to that of its predecessor.
Bus or station wagon? Caravel!
Transporters of all generations, used or new, were loved not for the music in the cabin and not for the beautiful front panels. Not even behind the wheel of a Golf with power steering, as in the current generation. Owner reviews about the easy handling of the Caravelle have been confirmed this year as well. Driving qualities, like a car, and practicality, the possibility of transforming the interior, spaciousness - like a minibus. Still would.
The new Volkswagen T6 on a long base easily takes 12 people on board. And not just like that, but with such comfort that any passenger car will envy. Three-zone climate control is installed in the interior of the Caravelle, however, this applies to older trim levels. In inexpensive cars, you will have to be content with conventional air conditioning. And climate control is not controlled from the front panel, but directly from the passenger compartment. The climate control unit is placed on the ceiling and is located above the second row of seats. The seats are made separate, that is, they allow you to adjust the position of the backrests and cushions independently of each other. Swivel seats are not available for the Caravelle.
They were left only for Multiven. But the rear seats are equipped with Isofix child seat kits. If necessary, the salon is quite simply transformed into a cargo one. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to remove the seats, it is enough to fold the backs, but the seats are completely removed quite simply. Video: 2016-2017 Volkswagen Caravelle test drive A regular 180-horsepower turbodiesel, as a rule, suits everyone and completely. It is moderately dynamic and does not ask for too much. 
The passport promises that the fuel consumption of a turbodiesel on the highway will not exceed 6 liters, and many test drives confirm this figure. City consumption is approaching 10 liters per hundred, but for such a large car, this is quite normal. Given that the bvk holds 80 liters, but it can go quite far. For urban traffic, a system for saving fuel and reducing emissions is provided. The start / stop system is optional, it can be switched on both automatically and manually.
The new seven-speed DSG robotic box also proved to be excellent on the Caravelle. The car has excellent acceleration and the lack of dynamics will not be felt either in the city or on the highway. Volkswagen Caravelle 2016-2017 The power steering and the steering wheel itself, which Caravelle got from Golf, work perfectly, the car is controlled easily and distinctly. Interestingly, the turning radius of the new T6 is 5.95 m, which is only 400 mm more than the Volkswagen Golf. In addition, the steering wheel is very short and informative. From lock to lock - only three and a half turns.
The adaptive suspension went to the car from Multivan. The suspension operation algorithm is peculiar, but it suits any driving conditions and any roads. Variable ground clearance within 40 mm from the base 193 mm allows you to choose the right fit, and if necessary, go into a sporty, harder mode. Not everyone will like it, however, for good asphalt, the suspension settings in Sport mode are quite convincing.
Caravelle is an expensive car, especially in the Trendline configuration. But it's the right investment. Almost like real estate. The fact is that the price of a used Caravelle is in no hurry to fall, and spare parts are always in price. Automotive market analysts say that it is possible to buy a T5 with a passenger compartment in the secondary market, but not cheaper than 1.5-1.8 million. This applies to three-year-old beads. A five-year or seven-year-old Volkswagen T5 in the Caravelle variant can be bought up to a million, depending on the configuration. Diesel atmospheric modifications are in particular demand, and for some reason, small turbocharged gasoline engines are sold worst of all in Russia. Despite their reliability and efficiency, the public is afraid of their manufacturability and demands on the quality of oil, filters, gasoline
Options and prices.
The Volkswagen Caravelle T6 minibus is sold in Russia in three performance levels - Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The basic equipment is estimated at 2,035,100 rubles, and the "top" version will cost 3,548,900 rubles without additional options. By default, the car is equipped with ABS and ESP systems, two airbags, a semi-automatic climate control system, factory “music”, power windows for the front doors, heating and electrical settings for the side mirrors, an assistance system when starting up and other useful equipment. 
Spacious and comfortable interior
Inside is free, spacious, beautiful. The dashboard is simple. The instrument panel is located under a wide visor. The on-board computer screen is also located there. The bright red illumination of the instruments looks very impressive. Most of the space is occupied by the center console. It has become noticeably wider. A 7-inch color screen of the latest multimedia system flaunts in the foreground. On the sides of it are two vertical deflectors. Below you can see a large number of buttons, toggle keys. I really liked that the gear lever moved up. 
Answering this question, first of all, it is worth deciding on the name. Many automotive industry experts believe that the name T6 is not entirely correct and suggest calling the new generation of VW minibuses T5 +, because. in fact, the car has not undergone fundamental changes.
The braking system, suspension, wheelbase, transmission and engine remained unchanged, only in the all-wheel drive version a new axle clutch appeared, which, in essence, does not affect the technical characteristics of the machine.
The changes affected mainly the appearance - hinged panels appeared on the body, an electric drive for the 5th door, and LED headlights. Many potential buyers were surprised by the two-tone paint (German tuning studios are very fond of this color), which was immediately nicknamed "nostalgic" because of the similarity with the cars of the first generations.
When designing the T6, engineers took into account one of the main mistakes made in models of previous generations and increased visibility by increasing the area of the rear window and installing the outer windows a little lower.
How has the salon and interior changed?
The interior of Volkswagen minibuses has been a model of convenience and ergonomics for many years. If we talk about the T5 generation, only the Transporter and Caravelle can boast of a comfortable interior, and the Multivan interior looked clearly unfinished. In the T6 series, this drawback is almost completely eliminated. In the interior of the passenger compartment of all minibuses there are panels (gloss) covering niches, as well as touch color screens. Even in models with the basic configuration, the quality of the finish has become much better.
The landing has remained unchanged since the T5, despite the fact that the driver's seat has several options for adjusting the seat and steering wheel, the reach of the steering wheel is still insufficient. This disadvantage is especially significant for those drivers who travel long distances. Thus, the designers did not pay attention to the main complaint of the drivers of VW minibuses and did not eliminate it.
But the engineers listened to the opinion of the passengers and took into account all their wishes. The middle row of seats in the T6 2015 series are three separate seats that can be folded / unfolded. If necessary, they can be dismantled. Gracefully solved the problem of landing on the third (rear) row. With one movement of the hand, you can fold them back and open access to the inside of the cabin. In expensive configurations, the sofa moves back and forth ..
Otherwise, the T6 interior is just as free, all seats can be folded and dismantled. There is a version of T6, which, thanks to an extended base, can accommodate 9 passengers according to the formula 2 + 2 + 2 + 3. This makes the T6 indispensable in corporate passenger transportation.
How has the ride quality changed?
The main change is the introduction of the DCC suspension, with shock absorbers that have variable stiffness. There was also an option to adjust the base suspension. Like the T5, the T6 is very easy to handle and can afford various maneuvers, such as turning into a turn at top speed. It is this quality that makes VW minibuses popular: the ability to operate on any surface and on roads of any sinuosity in any weather.
Amateur test drives showed that thanks to the installation of a new center clutch, the car's cross-country ability increased slightly. The minibus moves equally well on a flat surface and on loose sand and ruts. All-wheel drive T6 models are equipped with a 180-horsepower bi-turbo diesel, which allows us to talk about ultra-high cross-country ability of these models.
On average, cars of the T6 generation accelerate to 100 km / h in 10-12 seconds, which corresponds to the performance of passenger cars. The usual rectangular shape of T6 minibuses allows you to feel the dimensions well, maneuver in traffic and park without problems.
Does the new Volkswagen T6 have disadvantages?
Of course, like any car, the T6 has some drawbacks. It has already been said above about the low comfort of the driver due to the too short steering wheel. A technical disadvantage can be considered the constant operation of the engine at maximum speed in all speed ranges from 10 to 110 km / h. The engine requires a higher gear, and the DSG does it automatically, which causes vibrations.
Also, the disadvantages of this series include the cost of cars. Despite the fact that the T6 began to be produced in Russia, the price of the car remains quite high even in the basic configuration. A car of a higher class will cost a very decent amount, in connection with which we can say that VW has long ceased to be a "people's car", having ceased to be a premium class car.
The new Volkswagen T6, like the previous version, will be in demand by a tuning studio for conversion into Offices on Wheels. Already now there are quite a lot of offers and tuning packages for this car from leading tuners.
Video interior Volkswagen T6 Multivan 2015
