Used Volkswagen Caravelle for sale: everything you need to know
The Volkswagen Caravelle is effectively the passenger van variant of the popular Volkswagen Transporter panel van, and VW’s people-mover has forged out a bit of a niche as quality multi-seat transport for the likes of private hire firms and taxi shuttles. It needn’t be restricted to working jobs though, as it makes fine transport for families and outdoorsy types too.
Its popularity means used examples are easy to find, not just in its 2015-2024 ‘T6’ format as covered here, but also earlier T5 and T4 models - while in 2022, a brand-new T7 Multivan also went on sale, with some petrol and plug-in hybrid options not offered on the Caravelle. Below we’ve covered the Caravelle in more detail, including the kind of engines and trim levels you can expect to find on the used market.
Should you buy a Volkswagen Caravelle?
It sounds obvious to say the Volkswagen Caravelle is a spacious vehicle. It’s based on the Volkswagen Transporter van, and if there’s one thing that vans are known for, it’s space. But if you need more than a regular MPV can offer, then the Caravelle, which comes in short-wheelbase (SWB) and long-wheelbase (LWB) versions, with seven seats standard (and up to nine in more business-orientated versions), is a great choice.
Like the van it’s based on, the Caravelle is surprisingly un-van-like in some respects. The interior isn’t quite as plush or well-equipped as some of VW’s cars, but it’s not far off, and feels a cut above some similar passenger vans. The size can feel daunting at first but the high driving position and excellent visibility really help, as does the DSG automatic gearbox offered on most models - though the manual provided earlier on is easy to use too.
Diesel provides the motive power and even the entry-level 150PS version has enough go to move a full complement of people, and it’s at its best cruising along motorways, where the engine settles down and you can enjoy the world from that lofty seating position. Running costs are similar to a large SUV (mid-30s economy is fairly realistic), but no SUV will let you cram in quite as much stuff for a camping trip, holiday, or outdoorsy weekend pursuits as the Caravelle will.
Several other companies offer similar cars in this class, including the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, the Ford Tourneo Custom, and the Peugeot Traveller - all are van-based so all are absurdly practical, just like the Caravelle, and differ mainly in their styling and driving experience. If you don’t cover huge mileage, one other model to look for is the newer all-electric Volkswagen ID Buzz. It’s actually car-based rather than a converted van, hugely stylish, and good to drive - and as of mid-2024, VW introduced a seven-seat variant that was missing at launch.
What’s the best used Volkswagen Caravelle model to buy?
There’s not much need to aim for the higher Executive spec on the Caravelle, since the SE is already so well-equipped, and comes with broadly the same range of engines and transmissions. That said, we’d also stick with the regular 150PS TDI. You won’t be winning any traffic light Grands Prix, but it’s got enough power and torque to deal with the demands of carrying people and luggage around, without feeling like you need to work it too hard.
Used Volkswagen Caravelle fuel economy and performance
- Volkswagen Caravelle 2.0 TDI 150: This 2-litre turbocharged diesel engine is found throughout the VW range, and with 150PS it can haul the heavy Caravelle from 0-62mph in 13 seconds flat. Economy is just shy of 35mpg with a manual gearbox, or around 33mpg in later, DSG automatic-only models.
- Volkswagen Caravelle 6.1 2.0 TDI 204: With a pair of turbochargers for the 2-litre diesel, power grows to 204PS, and the 0-62mph time drops accordingly, to 9.9 seconds. DSG is standard, 4Motion all-wheel drive optional, and economy comes in around the 35mpg mark.
What used Volkswagen Caravelle trim levels are available?
- The Volkswagen Caravelle SE comes with a touchscreen media system, air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, swivelling front seats, tables for rear seat passengers, and various seating configurations.
- The Volkswagen Caravelle Executive adds standard satellite navigation and smartphone connectivity for the media system, three-zone climate control, a rear-view camera and heated front seats.
Used Volkswagen Caravelle dimensions and boot size
The Volkswagen Caravelle’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4904mm (SWB), 5304mm (LWB)
- Width: 1904mm
- Height: 1970mm (SWB), 1990mm (LWB)
The Volkswagen Caravelle’s boot dimensions are:
- Length (in 2-seat mode): 2532mm (SWB), 2932mm (LWB)
- Width: 1627mm (1220mm between rear wheelarches)
- Height: 1320mm
Used Volkswagen Caravelle road tax
As the Caravelle is a passenger vehicle rather than a commercial vehicle like the Transporter it’s based on, you’ll pay passenger vehicle tax rates. You’ll also pay a surcharge thanks to a list price of more than £40,000, so from years two to six, the Caravelle attracts a £600 VED bill. From year seven, this drops down to £190, at 2024/2025 rates.
How much is it to insure a Volkswagen Caravelle?
Caravelle insurance groups fall somewhere in the middle on the 1-50 group scale, with a range of groups 24-33 depending on the engine and specification. This is in a similar ballpark to similarly-priced SUVs.
