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 car.
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 you compare similar equipment, the V-Class will be even 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 to eat. It looks like they peeped it from their eastern colleagues. Not a sin, but so, leprosy. Issue restyling for a new model. Actually, there is nothing shameful here at all if the reprimand is 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 the hunters of automobile cultural trips with the new T6 2015-2016 model year, let's figure it out right now.
Options and prices Volkswagen Caravelle 2015-2016 model year
"Great bead. How much did you give?" - everyone who allowed to buy a new Volkswagen Caravelle will have to prepare a response to this problem on duty. The busik is excellent, but it costs as much as a good apartment in Vladimir costs. Wishing, happiness is not in money when you have such a luxurious and hospitable apparatus. In fact, the new assembly car is not too different from the T5 generation, which, in turn, was built on the basis of the T4 Transporter. And it was, indeed, a revolution. The novelties are mainly related to comfort in the cabin and trim levels. Also, four positions have been added to the line of motors and gearboxes.
Volkswagen Multivan in this regard was somewhat more fortunate. This is a more expensive modification, although the technical part of the machine is very similar. The difference is only in the interior trim and in a couple of external differences, which are not easy to see with the naked eye. The main feature of the Caravelle model line and the entire T6 family was the car in the Six Generation edition. It's kind of top-of-the-line, but on the outside, the car features a two-tone bright paint job commemorating the first-generation 1950 Volkswagen T1 and retro-inspired alloy wheels. Conditional retro.
The most inexpensive Transporter T6 in the cargo version will cost a lot of 1,400,000 rubles. A car in the simplest passenger version will cost 1,820,000 rubles, our Caravelle costs from 1,950,000, and a Multivan is cheaper than 2.5 million. Calling expensive Caravelle does not turn style just because it actually has no competitors. You can put the Hyundai H1 side by side, but not for long, since neither the configuration nor the appearance of the Korean is enough to adequately compete with the new T6. Like it or not, but the breed can be seen immediately. Quite conditionally, Mercedes Viano and Toyota's Alphard can be considered among the Caravelle's competitors, but if you look at the price tag, these cars are clearly not for large families.
What about Caravelle? And Caravelle will be able to completely arrange a comfortable movement for a large family and for a large company. By the way, this niche in the market has not been developed almost completely. Those who look at roomy crossovers with three lines of seats are well aware that, apart from the mother-in-law and the dog, no one will be seated in the third row without remorse. The third row in such cars is frankly flawed, and the cost of crossovers and large SUVs of this kind starts from two million. So it remains to be content with Gazelle or Sable, Sprinter or Transit. But these are already open minibuses. Caravelle, on the other hand, offers easy driving comfort, small dimensions, decent dynamics and human fuel consumption.
Specifications Volkswagen Caravella 2015-2016
The new Caravelle is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. At least that's how it seems when you approach a small van, you find a sliding door, and an unrealistically large space awaits you in the cabin. Huge space, like in a Ford Transit. Moreover, in bondage to the configuration, you can choose T6 on a long base and on a short one, the difference between which is 400 mm. Joking aside, and this is plus three seats, full-fledged, and not flawed, as in three-row interiors of crossovers or minivans. In total, from seven to nine people can be comfortably seated in the cabin of a standard Caravelle.
The cost of the car and reviews of the owners
As for engines, official Volkswagen dealers in Russia offer to warm up starting with a 2.0-liter diesel engine for 102 horses. In the minimum configuration, a five-speed manual gearbox will be screwed to it. And here the difference with the previous generation is already felt. T5 was completed with a poured diesel, but only for 85 forces. A 114-horsepower diesel engine has already asked for almost two million in sales. A step above is a more powerful diesel engine with 140 forces. In fact, it repeats the design of the previous one, and the power is increased due to forcing. In richer trim levels, you can buy a Caravelle with a 180-horse turbodiesel with new turbines that appeared on this engine only last year. There are also two petrol two-liter engines for 150 and 210 forces. In addition to a manual transmission, the opportunity to install the famous seven-speed DSG can be introduced only in the most expensive trim levels. There is also an all-wheel drive modification of the Caravelle.
Initially, the interior trim of the Caravelle is much simpler than the Multivan. On the one hand, this is not bad, since the car will in any case be used not only to transport passengers, but also cargo. At least sometimes. A little simpler than in a rather expensive Multivan, the shape of the seats, the upholstery and the shape of the panels, and behind the wheel the driver feels like on a test drive of a big Golf. Only the landing is somewhat taller. In the minimum configuration, the car is equipped with a simple radio, but for an extra charge, the most sophisticated multimedia system and front panel are available. Reliably the same as installed in the salon of the top Multivan. Frankly, she has nothing to make in Caravelle, since her surface is impractical. It gets dirty quickly and fingerprints remain on it. But this panel will have a chic eight-inch touch screen, which is part of the Composition Media multimedia system.
Bus or station wagon? Caravel!
Transporters of all generations, used or newly made, 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. Reviews of the owners about the easy handling of the Caravelle were confirmed this year. Driving qualities are like those of a passenger car, and practicality, the possibility of transforming the interior, and spaciousness are like those of 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 has been introduced 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 exactly from the passenger compartment. The climate control unit is placed on the ceiling and is above the second row of seats. The seats are made separate, that is, they allow you to adjust the position of the backs and pillows independently of each other. Swivel seats are not available for the Caravelle. They were left only for Multivan. But the rear seats are equipped with sets for child seats Isofix. If necessary, the salon is quite simply transformed into a cargo one. In this case, it is absolutely not necessary to remove the seats, it is enough to fold the backs, but the entire seats are also removed quite simply.
Video: test drive Volkswagen Caravelle 2015-2016
A standard 180-horsepower turbodiesel, as a rule, suits everyone and everything. It is moderately dynamic and does not ask for too much. The passport promises that the fuel consumption of a turbodiesel along the line 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. Considering that the BVK holds 80 liters, but it can be driven quite far. For urban traffic, a system for saving fuel and reducing emissions is provided. The start / stop system is optional, can be connected both automatically and manually. The newly made seven-speed DSG robotic box also performed well on the Caravelle. The car has excellent acceleration and lack of dynamics will not be felt either in the city or on the highway.
The power steering and the steering wheel itself, which the Caravelle got from the Golf, work perfectly, the car is controlled lightly and distinctly. Interestingly, the turning radius of the new T6 is 5.95 m, and this is a total of 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. Adaptive suspension went to the car from Multivan. The suspension operation algorithm is peculiar, but it suits any driving conditions and any roads. Variable clearance within 40 mm from the base 193 mm allows you to choose the right fit, and if necessary, go into a sporty, more rigid order. It won't be to everyone's taste, however, for good tarmac, the suspension settings in the order of the Sport are quite convincing.
Caravelle is an expensive car, especially in the Trendline configuration. But it's a sure 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. Analysts of the automotive market say that it is possible to purchase 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 purchased 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 worse in Russia. Despite their reliability and efficiency, the public is afraid of their manufacturability and demands on the quality of oil, filters, gasoline.
Most 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 the Volkswagen Caravelle 2015-2019 is justified, as they are usually more comfortable compared to regular 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 Volkswagen Caravelle 2015-2019. Installation works are offered at excellent prices.
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. 
The current VW Caravelle, like the Multivan, is part of the Transporter T6 family, the sixth generation of which appeared in 2015. The real workhorse of this trinity is definitely the Transporter, which can also be purchased in a passenger version. Caravelle is already clean and much more comfortable "passenger".
However, calling the VW Caravelle T6 a new generation can only be a stretch. In fact, we have a deeply modernized VW T5.
The previous generation of the Volkswagen Transporter T5 family (2003–2015), like previous generations, turned out to be very popular in the world. It sold over 2 million copies, bringing the number of Transporters produced over 65 years to 12 million.
In the current Volkswagen Caravelle T6 family, the body dimensions remained the same - it only received slightly modified exterior panels, trunk lid, bumpers and optics. The design has become more rigorous, because the edges of the body have become sharper. The engines for Ukraine are still the same, while in Europe the model is equipped with slightly more powerful engines that meet Euro 6 environmental standards. But the interior is really different.
The interior of the Caravelle has changed dramatically, becoming more austere. The glove box is now located in a passenger way, from below. In its former place there is a spacious niche
The dashboard changes are cosmetic and barely noticeable. The font of the numbers, strokes of the scales, the base of the arrows and the color of the red zones have slightly changed
As before, the car is available with a short (3000 mm) or 400 mm longer wheelbase. Their main difference is the depth of the luggage compartment: with a conventional base - 739 mm, with an extended one - 1118 mm.
All second and third row seatbacks can be folded down. This is useful when transporting long or bulky cargo.
Regardless of body length and wheelbase, the new Caravelle can be ordered from four to nine seats.
VW Caravelle traditionally provides the widest possible interior configuration. Second and third row seats can be dismantled
The test car is eight-seater, in the average Comfortline configuration. In front - a pair of individual chairs with folding armrests. The second row consists of a double and a single seat, folding which you get access to the gallery. The transformation process is simple and not at all laborious.
In the average Comfortline configuration, the initial version of the Composition Color multimedia system with a 5-inch display is installed. More advanced ones are available as an option
In the average Comfortline configuration, the bus is equipped with dual-zone climate control ...
…as an option for this version it can be expanded to three zones
I was struck by the insulation of the Caravelle. Even at high speed, I was able to talk to the passengers in the third row, and I didn’t have to raise my voice too much. The rattling of plastic panels was not annoyed, as it was in the new Multivan.
For any conditions
Like any Volkswagen, Caravelle is a kind of constructor, in the best sense of the word. You can create a car for yourself, having already prepared it from the factory for a variety of tasks and conditions. For bad roads, for example, the 4Motion all-wheel drive version comes in handy, with a new generation Haldex center clutch that has become more compact, lighter and faster. What's more, the Caravelle 4Motion can be equipped with a mechanical rear differential lock as an option. It will come in handy if you plan to use the machine to tow heavy trailers. By the way, rally teams order beads in this configuration, where they often have to tow a carriage with a combat vehicle, and not only on asphalt.
For regular operation of the VW Caravelle off-road, the protection of components and assemblies will not be superfluous. The package includes heavy-duty aluminum shields covering the powertrain, fuel tank, rear axle differential case and main muffler. In addition, each of the protection elements can be ordered separately.
Fun fact: Caravelle's ground clearance is not determined by the presence or absence of an all-wheel drive transmission, but by the wheelbase or equipment. So, the long version of the bus is raised above the road by 202 mm, while the short one boasts a clearance of over 20 cm only in the initial version of Trendline, in the rest the ground clearance is 193 mm.
Liked the energy intensity of the suspension. The Caravelle has withstood numerous road tests with flying colours. Moreover, comfort was not at the expense of handling - the car steers pleasantly and informatively, even at high speeds.
So far verified
Unlike the Old World, where the minibus received new power units, we got proven engines from the previous generation VW T5. The TDI turbodiesel range is traditionally wider. It is represented by three engines of the same volume - 2 liters, with a capacity of 102, 140 and 180 hp. There are two petrol engines - 2-liter TSI for 150 or 205 hp. For all these units, both mechanical transmissions and the DSG robot are available.
Despite this diversity, the 140-horsepower TDI is the most popular among Ukrainian Caravelle buyers. It was he, paired with a 7-speed DSG robot, installed on the test Caravelle. Such a tandem pleased in the city with excellent traction already from the bottom, as well as quick and timely gear changes. Yes, and on the track he has reserves for overtaking even at high speeds.
The shelf of maximum torque of 340 Nm of a 140-horsepower turbodiesel is in the range of 1750-2500 rpm, in which the 7-speed DSG robot tries to keep it
In the city, our two-wheel drive Caravelle ate at least 9 liters per 100 km. On the track, the considerable weight and greater windage of a minibus than in a passenger car leads to a strong dependence on the ratio of fuel consumption and speed. So, at the maximum speed allowed by our traffic rules and with a full load of the car, the fuel appetite on the highway was 10.5 liters per 100 kilometers. When driving in the speed range of 100-110 km / h, I reached the figure of 6.8 liters per 100 km. Therefore, factory data when driving on the highway at 6.6 liters per hundred are quite achievable. Yes, and with such an expense on a tank of diesel fuel, you can drive more than 1200 km. After all, our diesel Caravelles are equipped with an 80-liter tank, while in Europe the fuel supply is 70 liters, and a more capacious capacity is either in the gasoline version or is available as an option.
Last fine-tuning
Volkswagen Caravelle, though not much has changed, but came even closer to the ideal of a large car for the comfortable movement of passengers. In the current generation, thanks to new options and systems, it has become much more modern and convenient. But a radically different Transporter and cars of its family should be expected no earlier than 2020.
The VW Caravelle T6 presents new upholstery options, from more expensive and high-quality materials. On any of the rows of seats will be very spacious
Tailgate one-piece in medium and rich versions, hinged double door available as an option
The VW Caravelle now offers Side Assist and automatic headlight control as an option.
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Summary of "Autocentre" |
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Body and comfort |
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| + | − |
| Closing the tailgate has become easier, and an electric drive is offered as an option. Noise isolation has improved markedly. Excellent transformation of the cabin and a large luggage compartment. | The initial equipment of Trendline is quite modest: for example, it still has mechanical windows. |
| Powertrain and dynamics | |
| + | − |
| The suspension of the new Caravelle is more comfortable and energy-intensive, even in an unloaded state it does not annoy with shaking. High ground clearance and short overhangs.
The 4Motion version combined with DSG is the world's only robotic 4WD van |
There are no new engines. |
| Finance and equipment | |
| + | − |
| Huge selection of options. The Caravelle is available in short and long wheelbase, mono and all-wheel drive. Active safety systems have appeared - automatic braking in the city and warning or reducing the consequences of a second collision. | High cost options. |
The 140 hp TDI is the most popular among Ukrainian Caravelle buyers. By the way, in the warehouses of dealers there are only such versions, with other motors - on order
