Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid 4Motion is an all-wheel drive PHEV seven-seater for under £55k

The European market was treated to a revised plug-in hybrid Volkswagen Multivan last year and now the new Multivan eHybrid 4Motion has been announced for the UK market with sales starting now. 

Despite what the Multivan’s van-like proportions might suggest, it uses VW’s MQB evo platform, which means it benefits from broadly the same powertrains as an array of VW Group cars. The Volkswagen Golf received its mid-life refresh last year and like its rather distant hatchback cousin, the Multivan is using Volkswagen’s new second-generation ‘eHybrid’ plug-in hybrid system, along with 4Motion all-wheel drive. 

Like the pre-facelift Golf eHybrid, the Multivan eHybrid used to feature a 1.4 TSI petrol engine and an electric motor for a combined 215bhp, while in the Multivan a 13kWh battery offered a potential 30 miles of range. The launch of the Multivan eHybrid 4Motion coincides with the new Caddy Cargo eHybrid - though the small van utilises a lower-powered PHEV system with front-wheel drive. 

The new version, however, comes with a 1.5-litre TSI four-cylinder unit with a larger 19.7kWh battery, paired with a six-speed automatic. It’s the first time VW has combined this new plug-in hybrid set-up with four-wheel drive and this not only allows for more power (241bhp and 350Nm of torque), but more range too. There’s 57 miles of electric-only range in the Multivan eHybrid 4Motion – almost twice as much as in the old version. The electric drivetrain alone can power the Multivan at speeds of up to 80mph. VW also claims an efficiency figure of 353.1mpg for the plug-in hybrid people-carrier. 

Charging has improved over the old Multivan PHEV as well. There’s now a 50kW charging capacity (instead of 3.6kW) so we expect a 20 to 80 per cent top-up to take around 30 minutes. 

Two trim levels are offered on the Multivan eHybrid 4Motion, in both standard and long-wheelbase form. There’s the ‘Life’ from £54,525, which includes 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, sliding doors on both sides, a leather steering wheel, a twin 10-inch screen layout, six USB ports, a rear view camera and adaptive cruise control. The Style comes in at £65,385 and features three-zone air conditioning, heated front seats and windscreen, ambient lighting, an electrically-operated sliding door on the left, adaptive matrix LED headlights and an uprated ‘Digital Cockpit Pro’ driver’s display. Seven seats come as standard, while the 469-litre boot is unchanged from the petrol and diesel models.

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