Answering this question, first of all, it is worth deciding on the name. Many experts in the automotive industry believe that the name T6 is not entirely correct and suggest calling the new generation of VW T5 + minibuses, because in fact, the car has not undergone any fundamental changes.
The braking system, suspension, wheelbase, transmission and engine remained unchanged, only in the all-wheel drive version a new axle clutch appeared, which, in essence, does not affect the technical characteristics of the car.
The changes mainly affected the appearance - hinged panels, an electric drive of the 5th door, LED headlights appeared on the body. Many potential buyers were surprised by the two-tone color scheme (German tuning studios are very fond of this color), which was immediately called "nostalgic" because of the similarity with the cars of the first generations.
When designing the T6, the engineers took into account one of the main mistakes made in the models of previous generations and increased visibility by increasing the area of \u200b\u200bthe rear window and installing the outer glass a little lower.
How has the interior and interior changed?
The interior of Volkswagen minibuses has been an example of convenience and ergonomics for many years. If we talk about the T5 generation, then only the Transporter and Caravelle can boast of a comfortable interior, and the Multivan interior looked clearly unfinished. In the T6 series, this drawback is almost completely eliminated. The interior of the cabin of all minibuses has panels (gloss) covering niches, as well as color screens. Even in the base models, the finish quality is much better.
The landing has remained unchanged since the T5, despite the fact that the driver's seat has several options for adjusting the seat and steering wheel, the length of the steering wheel is still insufficient. This disadvantage is especially significant for those drivers who drive long distances. Thus, the designers did not pay attention to the main complaint of the drivers of VW minibuses and did not eliminate it.
But the engineers listened to the opinion of the passengers and took into account all their wishes. The middle row of seats in the T6 2015 series is three separate seats that can be folded / unfolded. They can be dismantled if necessary. The problem of landing on the third (rear) row is gracefully solved. With one movement of your hand, you can fold them back and open access to the interior. In expensive trim levels, the sofa moves back and forth ..
The rest of the T6 interior is just as free, all seats can be folded and dismantled. There is a T6 version, which, thanks to its extended base, can accommodate 9 passengers according to the formula 2 + 2 + 2 + 3. This makes the T6 indispensable in corporate passenger transportation.
How has the driving performance changed?
The main change is the appearance of the DCC suspension, with shock absorbers that have variable stiffness. There is also an option to customize the base suspension. Like the T5, the T6 is very easy to handle and can handle various maneuvers, such as blending into a corner at top speed. It is this quality that makes VW minibuses popular: the ability to operate on any surfaces and on roads of any twisting in any weather.
Amateur test drives have shown that, thanks to the installation of a new center coupling, the vehicle's cross-country ability has slightly increased. The minibus moves equally well on a flat surface and on loose sand and track. The all-wheel drive T6 models are equipped with a 180-horsepower bi-turbodiesel, which allows us to speak about the ultra-high cross-country ability of these models.
On average, cars of the T6 generation accelerate to 100 km / h in 10-12 seconds, which corresponds to the performance of passenger cars. The familiar rectangular shape of T6 minibuses allows you to feel well the dimensions, maneuver in the traffic flow and park without problems.
Does the new Volkswagen T6 have disadvantages?
Of course, like any car, the T6 has some drawbacks. It has already been said above about the low driver comfort due to a too short steering wheel. A technical drawback can be considered the constant operation of the engine at maximum speed in all speed ranges from 10 to 110 km / h. The engine requires a higher gear, and the DSG does this automatically, which causes vibrations.
Also, the disadvantages of this series include the cost of cars. Despite the fact that the T6 began to be produced in Russia, the price of the car remains quite high even in the basic configuration. A car in a higher class will cost a very decent amount, in connection with which we can say that VW has long ceased to be a "people's car", having stopped in a premium car.
The new Volkswagen T6, like the previous version, will be in demand by the tuning studio for conversion into Offices on Wheels. There are already quite a lot of offers and tuning packages for this car from leading tuners.
Interior video Volkswagen T6 Multiven 2015
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 trio is undoubtedly the Transporter, which can also be purchased in the passenger version. The Caravelle is already clean and a much more comfortable passenger.
However, calling the VW Caravelle T6 a new generation can only be a stretch. In fact, we have before us a deeply modernized VW T5.
The last generation of the Volkswagen Transporter T5 family (2003–2015), like the previous generations, turned out to be very popular in the world. It has sold more than 2 million copies, thereby bringing the number of Transporters released in 65 years to 12 million.
In the current Volkswagen Caravelle T6 family, the body dimensions remained the same - it only received slightly modified outer panels, trunk lid, bumpers and optics. The design has become more strict, because the edges of the body have become sharper. The motors for Ukraine are still the same, while in Europe the model is equipped with slightly more powerful engines that meet the environmental standards of Euro 6. But the interior is really different.
The interior of Caravelle has changed dramatically, becoming more strict. The glove box is now located in a passenger way, at the bottom. A spacious niche in its former place
The dashboard changes are cosmetic and subtle. The font of the numbers, the strokes of the scales, the base of the arrows and the color of the red zones have changed slightly
As before, the machine is available with a short (3000 mm) or 400 mm longer wheelbase. Their main difference is the depth of the luggage compartment: with a regular base - 739 mm, with an extended one - 1118 mm.
All the backrests of the second and third rows 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 seats to nine.
VW Caravelle traditionally provides the widest possible configuration of the cabin. The second and third row seats can be removed
Test car for eight, in the middle configuration Comfortline. In front, there are a pair of separate armchairs with folding armrests. The second row consists of a double and a single seat, which folds down to access the gallery. The transformation process is simple and not laborious at all.
In the middle configuration of the Comfortline, the initial version of the Composition Color multimedia system with a 5-inch display is installed. More advanced options available
In the middle configuration, the Comfortline bus is equipped with a dual-zone climate control ...
... as an option for this version it can be expanded up to three zones
I was struck by the soundproofing Caravelle. Even at high speed, I was able to talk with the passengers in the third row, and I didn't have to raise my voice much. The rattling of plastic panels, as it was in the new Multivan, did not annoy either.
For any conditions
Like any Volkswagen, Caravelle is a kind of constructor, in a good 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 rough roads, for example, the 4Motion all-wheel drive version comes in handy, with a new generation Haldex center coupling that has become more compact, lighter and faster. What's more, the Caravelle 4Motion can be optionally equipped with a mechanical rear differential lock. It will come in handy if you plan to use the machine to tow heavy trailers. By the way, in this configuration, rally teams order beads, where they often have to tow a gun carriage with a combat vehicle, and not only on asphalt.
For regular use of VW Caravelle off-road, it will not be superfluous to protect components and assemblies. The package includes heavy-duty aluminum shields covering the powertrain, fuel tank, rear axle differential housing and main muffler. In addition, each of the protection elements can be ordered separately.
Fun fact: the Caravelle's ground clearance does not depend on the presence or absence of an all-wheel drive transmission, but on the wheelbase or configuration. So, the long version of the bus is raised 202 mm above the road, while the short one boasts a ground clearance of over 20 cm only in the initial version of the Trendline, in the rest the ground clearance is 193 mm.
I liked the energy intensity of the suspension. The Caravelle has passed numerous road tests with flying colors. Moreover, comfort was not at the expense of handling - the car drives pleasantly and informatively, even at high speeds.
So far verified
Unlike the Old World, where the minibus received new power units, we got it with proven engines from the previous generation VW T5. The TDI turbo diesel range is traditionally wider. It is represented by three engines of the same volume - 2 liters, 102, 140 and 180 hp. There are two petrol engines - 2-liter TSI with 150 or 205 hp. For all these units, both manual transmissions and a DSG robot are available.
Despite such a variety, the most popular among Ukrainian buyers is the Caravelle 140 hp TDI. It is he who is paired with a 7-speed DSG robot that is installed on the test Caravelle. Such a tandem pleased the city with excellent traction from the bottom, as well as fast and timely gear shifting. And on the track he has reserves for overtaking even at high speeds.
The shelf of the maximum torque of 340 Nm of the 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 single-drive Caravelle ate at least 9 liters per 100 km. On the track, considerable weight and greater windage of a minibus than in a passenger car leads to a strong dependence of 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 km of run. When driving in the speed range of 100-110 km / h, I reached 6.8 liters per 100 km. Therefore, the factory data when driving on a highway of 6.6 liters per hundred is quite achievable. And with such a flow, more than 1200 km can be traveled on a diesel fuel tank. After all, our diesel Caravelle is 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 tweak
The Volkswagen Caravelle, although it hasn't changed too much, has come 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.
In the VW Caravelle T6, new upholstery options are presented, from more expensive and high quality materials. Any of the rows of seats will be very spacious
Tailgate one-piece in medium and high-end versions, double hinged door available as an option
For the VW Caravelle, Side Assist and automatic headlight control are now available as an option
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Autocentre resume |
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Body and comfort |
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| + | − |
| Closing the rear door has become easier, an electric drive is offered as an option. Soundproofing has improved markedly. Excellent interior transformation and large luggage compartment. | The initial configuration of the Trendline is rather modest: for example, it still has mechanical windows. |
| Powertrain and dynamics | |
| + | − |
| The suspension of the new Caravelle is more comfortable and energy-consuming, even in an unloaded state, it does not bother with shaking. High ground clearance and short body overhangs.
The 4Motion version combined with DSG is the world's only 4WD minibus with a robot |
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 appeared - automatic braking in the city and warning or reducing the consequences of a repeated collision. | High cost of options. |
The 140 hp TDI is most popular with Ukrainian Caravelle buyers. By the way, in dealers' warehouses there are only such versions, with other motors - on order
For the sake of objectivity, I will note that outside, and inside, the revolution did not happen. Everything experienced by the T6 is more likely to be deeply restyled. Just look at the photo above and tell me I'm wrong. On the other hand, if, as they say, people hawala, why reinvent the wheel? This, however, was almost always the case, but somehow, in the 65 years after the first Bulli came out, the new cab was what it is. And yet, in order not to take the rap for the manufacturer, I took for the test a Caravel performed by Highline, which was previously absent. Here our short-wheelbase van (in the long-wheelbase version +40 cm between the C-pillar and the rear axle) with eight seats (the maximum possible number for a short wheelbase is nine) looks in a different light.
Highline is when on the doorstep of the dealership you receive an unexpected text message about the dropped 13th salary (aka bonus). This is when you initially wanted a marriage of convenience, and the relatives of your future wife turned out to be dollar millionaires, not rubles. In a word, when you can and should decide on something more than you expected.
First, because it is beautiful. Full headlights, which in addition to aesthetics adds more interesting controllable light. Here you have not only cornering lights, but also an intelligent high-beam beam that does not blind the oncoming lane. I drove 700 km from Moscow to Minsk - it works like a clock. And no need to change bulbs every season - LEDs last ten times longer than traditional halogens! Separately, the speed of the distant response is amusing when you need to blink.
No, but what, only the owners of the top-end to have fun? There are also 17-inch Cascavel alloy wheels (we had Devonport for a surcharge), tinted windows (by the way, why are there side curtains in the cabin?), And electric sliding doors on the sides. In severe frosts or simply as unnecessary, the electric drive can be turned off. But you feel how the degree is growing: sliders on both sides, and even with a drive ?! Mmm!
The beauty continues in the salon. The front panel of the Highline has been replaced with the same as in the new Multivan - with inserts made of plastic coated "piano lacquer". Beautiful but impractical: fingerprints are visible to forensic experts with the naked eye. On the right side there is an additional upper storage compartment with a cover, where for some reason the USB connector for connecting a smartphone went. No, really, why make a niche for storing a mobile phone in the central part, if the cable for connecting to multimedia will have to be dragged from a nearby box? But instead of a 5-inch display for a surcharge (surcharge even in the Highline configuration, Karl!), The test car has a Composition Media system with an 8-inch screen. We have already seen this on. Under the bottom edge there are sensors that react to the approach of a hand and "wake up" the hidden menu on the screen.
Otherwise, multimedia would be very ordinary, if not for one circumstance: using the cable, which I mentioned earlier, you can connect a smartphone to it and, using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, get a trimmed version of your mobile phone directly on the central display. I tried CarPlay - no problem, but Android Auto didn't want to launch with any of the three tested devices. Mystic!
And do not even try to whisper with your wife about the mother-in-law sitting behind. On her side is a listening device in the form of an amplifier for the driver's voice. A microphone is installed in the front of the cabin, which transmits what he said to the passengers. However, this function can be turned off, but you should not lose your vigilance.
The second row seats are separate - all with Isofix mounts. To increase the useful volume of the luggage compartment, both rows can be removed or their backrests can be folded flat.
In general, Caravelle, even though it is a commercial car, is stuffed with all sorts of assistants and assistants in a way that many cars never dreamed of. Speaking of sleep. Rest Assist makes sure you stay awake while driving and suggests you take a break on a long trip. Well, if you have already begun to bite your nose, then City Emergency Braking at speeds up to 30 km / h will help you slow down in front of an obstacle.
However, derivatives from the Transporter are preferred not for gadgets, but for verified passenger driving manners, coupled with the practicality of a truck / bus. Here they did not break anything. If you want to carry people, please: four rows of seats (in a long base) allow you to shelter up to 12 people. And with what comfort! A three-zone climate with a separate control unit above the heads of the second row passengers is always at your service. By the way, the second row is a separate seat (swivel seats remained the prerogative of Multivan) with Isofix mounts, while the side ones are raised to let passengers back. And if you want to start transporting goods - with a slight movement of your hand (for the back sofa you will need the hands of a weightlifter) we remove the seats and get cubic meters of usable space. Just don't splatter the carpet! However, it is not necessary to remove the seats - in some cases it will be enough to fold the backs into an almost flat plane. The rear door can be either double-leaf or lifting, as in our case, and with an electric door closer in a premium manner.
BiTDI engine (180 hp, installed transversely and heaped 8 degrees)
From a driving point of view, it's a sin to complain about the Caravelle. And here I am again about Highline. Under the hood is the same turbodiesel, now installed transversely, with all the same performance (180 hp, 400 Nm). Unless the peak torque bar is at your disposal 100 rpm earlier - from 1500 to 4000 rpm. Not essential. “Eats” is still not enough: on the highway, on winter tires, in the rain, and even with a full load - about 8 l / 100 km. So with a full tank (80 l) you can go very far. For added savings, all Caravelles are equipped with a start-stop system.
This T6 accelerates cleaner than golf-class hatchbacks both from a standstill and on the move, even in front-wheel drive performance, which came to our test. Seven-speed DSG know yourself goes over the gear, however, was seen in petty hooliganism. Driving up to a red traffic light, and then suddenly you need to accelerate again to the flashing green? You will inevitably get a push. It works in eight cases out of ten, as it was possible to establish, between the second and third gears.
A steering wheel inherited from the Golf, with a hydraulic booster - in this matter, the Germans still honor traditions. From lock to lock, I measured 3.25 turns, which makes it easy and effortless to maneuver in confined spaces (turning radius - 5.95 m - only half a meter more than the same). Outward visibility is reference, although the side mirrors are single-section, unlike some competitors.
But on the go, the driving experience has changed. It's about the new DCC suspension. The electronically controlled shock absorbers, after pressing a button on the center console, follow one of three operating algorithms: Comfort, Normal and Sport. Here, too, there were some rough edges. Electronics harshly "grabs" the shock absorbers - as a result, we get an imitation of breakdown (characteristic knocks) at a seemingly harmless place. So, I skated mostly in standard mode.
And now about the sad things. I do not know why it was necessary, given the Multivan, designed for transportation with chic, to release a version of Caravelle close to it in spirit, but from a price point of view, it turned out to be an incident. Because our experimental costs as much as 3 798 600 rubles. No, of course, the Highline version is initially offered at a price of 2,762,200 rubles, but, as in the case of the premium, it turned out like this: not everything that shines is free. If you want a packed car, you can forget about the basic price tag even for the top version. A headlamp washer, sliding vents in the sliding doors and a rear-view camera - all for an extra charge. And yet you only need to ride the Caravelle Highline once to fall in love with it forever. Marriage of convenience?
The truth is that for 3.8 million rubles. eyes still have a lot to scatter. Want a premium sedan, you can take a closer look at
Volkswagen has one small sin. It looks like they spied on it from their eastern colleagues. Not a sin, but a prank. Give out restyling as a new model. Actually, there is nothing shameful here, if we are talking about a modern and technologically advanced car, and updates take place almost every six months. The same story happened with the Volkswagen Transporter T6, or rather, with its passenger version of the Caravelle. But not everything is so sad. How the new T6 2016-2017 model year can please fans of car cult walks, let's figure it out right now.
The standard "minibus" 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;
petrol 150 HP;
petrol 204 HP
Thanks to the considerable efforts of the mechanics and engineers of this German car company, fuel consumption has been reduced on average by as much as 15% compared to the same indicator 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 power-assisted Golf, as in the current generation. The owners' comments on the Caravelle's passenger handling were confirmed this year as well. Driving qualities, like a car, and practicality, the possibility of transforming the cabin, 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 car will envy. Three-zone climate control is installed in the Caravel's cabin, however, this applies to the older configurations. 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 located 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 backs and cushions independently of each other. Swivel seats are not available for the Caravel.
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: test drive Volkswagen Caravella 2016-2017 The standard turbodiesel for 180 forces, as a rule, suits everyone completely. He is moderately dynamic and does not ask for too much. 
The passport promises that the fuel consumption of the 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. Considering that the BVK holds 80 liters, but it can go quite far. For city traffic, a fuel saving and emission reduction system is provided. The start / stop system is installed as an option; it can be switched on both in automatic mode and manually.
The new seven-speed robotized gearbox DSG also proved to be excellent on 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 clearly. Interestingly, the turning radius of the new T6 is 5.95 m, which is only 400 mm more than that of the Volkswagen Golf. In addition, the steering wheel is very short and informative. From lock to lock - just a little over three turns.
The adaptive suspension went to the car from Multivan. The suspension operation algorithm is peculiar, but it is suitable for any driving conditions and for any roads. Variable ground clearance within 40 mm from the base 193 mm allows you to choose the desired fit, and, if necessary, go into a sporty, more rigid 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 this is 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. Analysts of the automotive market 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 buses. A five-year or seven-year-old Volkswagen T5 in the Caravelle version can be bought up to a million, depending on the configuration. Diesel atmospheric modifications are in special demand, and for some reason small turbocharged gasoline engines are the worst sold in Russia. Despite their reliability and economy, the public is afraid of their manufacturability and requirements for 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 configuration is estimated at 2,035,100 rubles, and the “top-end” version will cost 3,548,900 rubles, excluding 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 electric settings for side mirrors, a lift start assistance system and other useful equipment. 
Spacious and comfortable interior
Inside it is free, spacious, beautiful. The dashboard is simple. The instrument panel is located under a wide visor. There is also an on-board computer screen. The bright red instrument lighting looks very impressive. Most of it is occupied by the center console. It has become noticeably wider. In the foreground is a 7-inch color screen of the latest multimedia system. On either side of it are two vertical deflectors. Below you can see a large number of buttons, switching keys. I really liked that the gear lever moved up. 
What kind of car does the average Belarusian need? Economical. Spacious. Inexpensive. Here are three whales. The new generation of T6 could well become an ideal vehicle for our compatriot, if not for the price. Good Multivan configurations 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 teshkas, which are several times cheaper than the original cost. New ones are more often bought "for the firm". Onliner.by tested the first Volkswagen T6 that arrived in our country. Large families, get your wallets ready! Seven years later ...
Volkswagen has a sin to pass off a deep restyling as 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 tee-six's body parts do not differ from the T5. The Germans changed all the optics, redrawn the front part, transplanted the outside mirrors just below and enlarged the rear window. The interior has changed slightly more significantly. Interesting versions of the Six Generation have been added to the lineup with a two-tone body and retro discs (hello Beetle). That, in fact, is all.
On our test - the usual (in the sense - monochrome) version of the 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 base. The price is more than 70 thousand dollars. Go!
Volkswagen says the T6 is the latest "old school Transporter" car. The 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 low-cost, rear-wheel drive minibuses with a high safety margin and a rear-mounted motor. T4, T5 and now T6 - berries of a different variety. The engine is in front of them. Drive - front or full. High-tech turbo engines, robotic boxes with two clutches (there are also conventional automatic transmissions) and a bunch of expensive options appeared. T7 is likely to be more "lightweight".
The rear window is now completely rectangular. It became larger, but in the passenger versions this did not improve visibility - the third row of seats interferes with the increase in size
In the cabin, as mentioned above, the changes are more dramatic. Now there are more corners and "light" elements. The T6 received a new, very comfortable steering wheel, a seriously redesigned center console, a more compact "arm" for the gear lever and improved lateral support for all seats. The window regulator 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 T6 remained. The steering wheel, pedals and the 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 is strictly vertical. Of course, the back of the driver's seat can be folded back, but then there is not enough steering range. And the pedals are located directly under the feet, and not brought forward (as in cars).
On the test car, despite the abundance of options, the simplest front panel is made of oak plastic. The same will be on the cheaper versions of the T6 Transporter. In the more expensive Caravelle versions, as well as in various Multivan versions, all these glove compartments and containers will be covered with lids. Cup holders on both sides of the front panel
The car is equipped with a multimedia system that supports synchronization with iPhone and Android devices. The iPhone was connected the first time. You can call, read / write SMS and use the card ... Voice commands are not understood the first time
We are testing a passenger version of the Caravelle with three rows of seats and two sliding doors (optional on the left side). 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 completely. As before, all seats (except for the front, 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 102 hp diesel engine. from. This machine is equipped with a 5-speed "mechanics". The 140-horsepower version of the same diesel boasts a 6-manual gearbox. The test car has the same 2-liter TDI under the hood, but in a bi-turbo design. Double supercharging made it possible to squeeze out 180 liters from the "four". from. 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 "bus" runs perfectly with such an engine. We had no doubts about this, but potential buyers are more concerned with the fuel consumption of this car.
For the experiment, we once accelerated to a hundred with gas "to the floor" (if interested - about 12 seconds). The rest of the time we drove in "civil" modes (after all, we are not testing the Golf GTI). At the end of the day, the on-board computer showed 8.5 liters per 100 km (the manufacturer promises about 6.5 liters). We drove mainly 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 full at the airport (give people a ride to Minsk for free), but local taxi drivers were not happy with our idea and "gave" us only one passenger. He (along with the luggage) added 110-120 kg to us. Roughly measured, this increased the consumption by about 0.1 liters.
The press release says that the manufacturer has slightly modified the T6 suspension and even added the ability to adjust the shock absorbers (sport / comfort) with a button on the front panel. We didn't have such an option, but without it the car holds the road well. The suspension seemed a little "rough". Like passenger Volkswagen, this "bus" is intended more for driving on autobahns, rather than on our summer cottages. At high speed, a crosswind makes itself felt.
The large dimensions of the minibus do not interfere with easy movement 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. "Mugs" rear mirrors are practically devoid of "blind" zones. We drove about 200 km in a day, so we can hardly evaluate the T6 as a car for long-distance travel. But the owners of T5 assure that you never get tired of driving this minibus even 1000 km a day. There is no reason to doubt - the car is really comfortable.
In the segment where the T6 is, Volkswagen has been the leader in our market for several years. Today (the first 8 months of 2015), the manufacturer has a 32% market share of compact "buses" and vans. But this figure has been decreasing in recent years. For comparison, in 2013 the share of Volkswagen here was 80%, in 2014 - 51%. The closest competitor, Ford Custom, has 27% today. Mercedes (V-Class + Vito) - 16%. At the same time, Volkswagen is the most expensive. Thanks to the fall of the European currency, commercial Mercedes models have fallen in price well and are very serious competition for 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 we compare similar configurations, the V-Class will be even slightly more expensive (Multivane now has a special price). Caravelle in "te-six" body costs from 45 thousand dollars, but its competitor Vito is cheaper. Ford's 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 about “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
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