Volkswagen Multivan

FIRST DRIVE Does petrol power make sense in such a large MPV?

- Dean Gibson

WE'VE already tried the Volkswagen Multivan as a plug-in hybrid, and were impressed by its refinement, comfort, and hugely practical interior. The other thing that appealed was that while its one-box shape is quite van-like, the Multivan doesn't have a commercial vehicle sibling, which means VW's engineers have made it more car-like to drive than any van-based counterpart.

These traits are common to the whole Multivan range, with petrol and diesel versions also available alongside the PHEV. Here we're trying the 2.0 TSI petrol van, which comes with 201bhp (14bhp less than the PHEV) and a saving of around £1,000 over the plug-in model.

From the outside, there are no differences between the TSI and the hybrid, except for the lack of a charging flap on the front wing of the former. Both versions are identical inside, because unlike with other PHEVS, where boot space is sacrificed in the quest to fit the biggest possible battery, the Multivan is large enough to accommodate any kind of running gear under the floor. The TSI does have a 60-litre fuel tank, though, whereas the PHEV has a 45-litre tank.