• Multivan is less expensive than a V-Class
• Engines range from thirsty to very efficient
• Proven mechanicals, but electronic foibles not uncommon

How much will it cost to run?

You can expect the petrol engines to be thirsty – particularly the higher-powered 2.0-litre TSI. Both petrol options require working hard, especially when heavily loaded, and in our experience that means you’ll be lucky to get 30mpg even on a motorway run. Our overall average with the 204hp model was just 28mpg during our long-term test.

A much more sensible option for anyone who regularly travels on the motorway will be the 150hp diesel. This is capable of more than 40mpg without too much effort, and has plenty of torque (pulling power) to help make it feel more effortless when carrying lots of stuff and people.

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If you’ve gone off diesel in recent years, the eHybrid model is a viable alternative. This plug-in hybrid not only offers around 20 miles of electric-only driving from a full charge, we’ve also found it impressively efficient on longer trips. Even with a discharged battery we managed a 38mpg average over 800 miles of motorway.

Charge up at home every night and make the most of that battery for short runs and you may barely need to use the petrol engine at all, making the eHybrid Multivan very cost-effective indeed – although it does have a higher purchase price in the first place.

For full details of mpg and CP” figures, see our VW Multivan specs pages.

Servicing and warranty

The Multivan is a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles product, so can be serviced at VW Van Centres – these often have more flexible operation hours, ideal if you’re running a Multivan as part of a business or simply need to fit things in around the school run. Service intervals are once every year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes sooner.

Various types of service plan are available in addition to a general policy of fixed-price servicing, both of which should help you budget effectively.

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The warranty gives you cover for three years or 100,000 miles, with the option to extend at extra cost. Not especially generous by modern standards, but hardly unusual for a mainstream brand.

Reliability

• VW vans have an excellent reputation for reliability
• PHEVs recalled for battery issue
• Electrical gremlins not uncommon

The VW Multivan is based on a tried and tested set of mechanicals, used underneath just about every Volkswagen passenger car in the last several years. This isn’t a guarantee of absolute reliability, but VW Vans generally has an excellent reputation, with all three of its main models routinely appearing the top 10 of the FN50 van reliability survey.

Underlining the sense that VW Vans puts things together properly, the Multivan has faced only two safety recalls since it was launched – and one of those only related to a single vehicle in the UK (the other applied to 300).

The flip side to this is that the Multivan is a complex beast with a lot of electronic systems, and we have certainly experienced gremlins with items including the infotainment system.

Already got a Multivan? Why not leave an owners review to help others learn more about what it’s like to live with.