"Volkswagen Caravel": owner reviews, specifications, photos

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The Volkswagen brand has long been known in Russia. These cars are distinguished by their build quality and design. One of the most popular models is the "Transporter". Its history begins in the distant 50s. However, today we will consider a slightly different version - the Caravel. It was built on the basis of the "Transporter". What does the Volkswagen Caravel have owner reviews, specifications and features? Read about all this and more in our review.

Design

If we talk about the version that is being released at the moment, it has a good design. Outwardly, the features of the cargo "Transporter" are recognizable in the Caravelle. However, it is no longer a workhorse. The design is both modest and elegant. In front - strict optics with LED running lights, a massive bumper, a wide grille. Also, the car is decorated with chromeelements. Volkswagen comes with 16-inch alloy wheels from the factory. In general, the car has a strict and at the same time not pretentious appearance. Many car enthusiasts love this design.

But what do owners reviews say about the body of the Volkswagen Caravelle? The main disease of all "Transporters" is corrosion. Unfortunately, this disease "migrated" to the "Caravel". According to the reviews of the owners, the Volkswagen Caravella (gasoline and diesel included) has a thin paintwork. Chips form after a couple of years of operation. And if the defect is not corrected in time, corrosion can be expected.

Owners are advised to regularly wash the bottom, arches from s alt in winter, and also wax the body. This will delay the rotting of the car a little. But if you think that only Caravel has this problem, then you are mistaken. Its direct competitor, Mercedes-Vito, also has problems with corrosion.

Dimensions, ground clearance, cross-country ability

The car has impressive dimensions. So, the length of the body is 5 meters, width - 1.9, height - 2 meters. The ground clearance is 19 centimeters. The only exception is the version of "Trendline". By the way, it is basic. Here the clearance is one centimeter more.

Among the features of the Volkswagen Caravelle T5, owner reviews note the presence of an all-wheel drive system. It is based on the Haldex interaxle coupling. But four-wheel drive is not available in all trim levels.

As noted by the reviews of the owners, the Volkswagen Caravel 4 x 4 confidentlyovercomes areas with mud and deep sand. The rear axle in the event of a slip is blocked almost instantly - the car does not have time to burrow. The same all-wheel drive car shows in the snow. The car rows confidently wheels and can get out of any snow trap.

Salon

Let's move inside the minivan. Getting to the driver's seat is very easy, thanks to a convenient footrest and a handle that is located on the counter. The seating position in the car is quite high.

But the rest of the "Caravelle" resembles passenger "Volkswagens". Here is the same three-spoke steering wheel, a clear instrument panel and ergonomic seats. On the center console is a digital multimedia display, and on the passenger side there is a two-story glove box. Of the features - the location of the gearshift lever. The handle is near the panel. And this applies to versions with both mechanical and robotic gearboxes. According to the owners, this location is very convenient.

The seats are quite hard but comfortable. In addition, the back does not get tired of them. Additionally, there is an armrest. By the way, the climate control here is separate. Rear passengers can set the temperature themselves. Among other advantages of the Volkswagen Caravelle T6, owner reviews note good visibility. Due to the height in the car, blind spots are practically eliminated.

Mirrors deserve a lot of praise too. They are quite large. Of the minuses - a very wide front pillar. You need to be careful when approaching intersections or pedestriantransitions. Sometimes, because of this stand, you can not see a person.

There are seven seats in the passenger compartment. Each has headrests and armrests. The floor in the car is flat, you can move around the cabin freely.

Among the main shortcomings of the Volkswagen Caravelle car, owner reviews note the poor quality of plastic. It is as rigid as on a cargo transporter. Soundproofing also suffers from this. Also in the cabin, despite the large amount of space, there are very few free niches.

Specifications

The range of power units includes both diesel and gasoline engines. The latter develops a power of 150 horsepower and has a volume of 2 liters. According to the reviews of the owners, the Volkswagen Caravel 2.0 (gasoline) has good acceleration dynamics and modest consumption. Up to a hundred, the car accelerates in 11.5 seconds. The city spends up to 12, 2 liters.

But if you want even more savings and returns in terms of power, you should consider buying a Volkswagen Caravelle on a diesel engine. Owner reviews say that the car accelerates in 10.8 seconds and at the same time consumes no more than 11 liters of fuel in the city. The working volume of the engine is 2 liters. And to get such power (180 horsepower) was possible through the use of two turbines. By the way, the maximum speed of the petrol version is 182 kilometers per hour, the diesel version is 188.

Among the features, it is worth noting that the service interval wasincreased by the manufacturer from 15 to 20 thousand kilometers.

Transmission features

Depending on the selected engine, the buyer receives different transmissions. If we talk about a gasoline engine, then it is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. But for the diesel engine, a seven-speed DSG is provided. It was she who at one time received a lot of negative feedback from the owners of Volkswagen.

Although this box was finalized several years ago, many are still afraid to take it. And this is not only a small resource, but also an expensive service. It's not about the oil, it's about the clutch kit, which can go up to $800. Maintenance of a manual transmission is much cheaper. Therefore, most choose the time-tested mechanics.

Chassis

Since the "Transporter" was taken as the basis, the "Caravel" is practically no different from it in terms of running gear. So, classic MacPherson struts are installed in the front, and a multi-link in the back. For an additional fee, it is possible to install an adaptive chassis, which involves the presence of electronically controlled shock absorbers.

Also, the machine is equipped with an ABS system and brake force distribution. Brakes - fully disc, front ventilated. Steering - rack with hydraulic booster.

How does the Volkswagen Caravel behave on the move?

Owner reviews say car swallows hardbumps. It is immediately clear that this minivan is designed for a smooth autobahn, and not for bumpy terrain. Despite the fact that the mass of the car can reach up to three tons, the vehicle is very confident at speed. Suspension parts are expensive. Therefore, when buying a car in the secondary market, it is worth avoiding instances with a dead chassis.

Conclusion

So, we have considered what a Volkswagen Caravel is. Today, this car is a direct competitor to Vito. At a lower cost, the buyer receives a minivan with approximately the same performance characteristics. But you should understand that the car will be tough in the pits and require a lot of money for maintenance. The engines here are turbocharged, and therefore the oil must be of high quality.