Review: Volkswagen T5 Caravelle (2010 – 2015)

Volkswagen T5 Caravelle (2010 – 2015): At A Glance

• On average it achieves 86% of the official MPG figure

Volkswagen T5 Caravelle (2010 – 2015): What's It Like Inside?

A key change for the 2010 Caravelle is found in the cabin; it retains the same excellent build quality and high class finish as before, but it's been redesigned with a layout and features taken from Volkswagen's car range - so it feels very similar to a Volkswagen Golf with the same leather three-spoke steering wheel, ventilation controls and instrument dials.

Long distance comfort is a big strength too and both the driver and passenger seats are multi-adjustable with improved side support and an integrated lumbar cushion, while the steering column adjusts for reach and height, so getting comfortable behind the wheel is simple, whatever shape you are.

But it's the rear passenger space of the Caravelle which really matters - this is a full size people carrier after all. It doesn't disappoint either with acres of space and a high quality feel, plus it's incredibly versatile with plenty of useful touches, like large sliding doors on both sides which make getting in and out very simple.

The four floor-mounted rails allow all the seats in the back slide to any position plus the the two individual seats in the middle row can be swivelled around to face the rear bench to create a lounge environment, or they can be moved well back to increase passenger legroom. If you don't need seven seats there's an optional six seat layout which has two individual rear seats in place of the three-seat bench.

The rear bench seat is also mounted on the rail system and can be slid forward to increase boot space. It can also be removed (to create a van-like load area) but it's a struggle even with two people, as it's heavy and bulky. The bench can be converted into a large, almost completely flat bed by pulling a lever and pushing the recliner back and down. There's also an optional 'sleep pack' that turns the Caravelle into a campervan with a bed extension for the rear seats and additional blinds for the windows. 

One of the best features if you have children is the useful central table which can be moved forwards or backwards on the rail system and also folded out into a variety of sizes, heights and positions. It features two storage compartments for drinks bottles (accessible even when the table is not folded out), a drawer, a tray for small items, and cupholders.

What's the Volkswagen T5 Caravelle (2010 – 2015) like to drive?

Strangely, the Caravelle comes with 'sports' suspension as standard (except for the SE long wheelbase version) which does seems very odd for a luxury people carrier. It also means the ride is a quite firm and doesn't deal especially well with rough or bumpy roads, where there can be a fair amount of vibration through the cabin.

It's much better on smooth roads such as motorways, where it makes serene and comfortable progress. There's good performance from both engines too, even with a full load of passengers and luggage on board. The 2.0 TDI unit - available with either 140PS or 180PS - is a common rail engine which means it's far more refined that the older 1.9 TDI and 2.5 TDI engines from the previous Caravelle.

This newer 2.0 TDI engine also offers better performance. The 140PS version is the most popular and develops 340Nm of torque - the same as the previous 2.5-litre 130PS engine; however, it's far quicker and will accelerate from 0-62mph three seconds faster, while official average economy is 36.7mpg (compared to 34.0mpg before). CO2 emissions are also lower. However, due to its sheer size, the Transporter never truly impresses on the economy front, with most models struggling to surpass 30mpg, while emissions range from 189 - 225g/km of CO2. 

The top engine is the superb 2.0 BiTDI 180PS which has two turbochargers of different sizes.  At low engine speeds, the larger turbo delivers steady boost, but at higher speeds the smaller turbocharger gives additional power. It has an immense 400Nm of torque from only 1500rpm but still averages a claimed 37.2mpg.

Both engines come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. This has a very positive shift action, helped by a gear lever that's mounted high-up on the dash, very close to the steering wheel. Volkswagen's excellent DSG double clutch automatic gearbox is also available as an option. It delivers mostly smooth shifts and works particularly well with this engine, although it does suffer the odd moment of hesitation on the upshift.

On the move the Caravelle is easy to drive and doesn't feel like a bulky or large vehicle. Of course, parking is never going to be very easy in a vehicle that's almost five metres long (longer in the case of the LWB model), but the steering is light when manoeuvring and there's good visibility, helped by the vertical rear, so judging distances is made less daunting. Parking sensors aren't standard which is a little disappointing, but they are available as an optional extra.

Real MPG average for a Volkswagen T5 Caravelle (2010 – 2015)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their vehicles could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.