Let’s talk about the Volkswagen Multivan and California eHybrid 4Motion. Yes, I know, a van. Not exactly the kind of vehicle that gets your pulse racing unless you’re a delivery driver or obsessed with carting around half a football team. But hold on a second, because Volkswagen has done something that’ll make even the most die-hard SUV fans take notice: they’ve stuffed a plug-in hybrid powertrain into a minibus and a camper. And not just any one, but one with all-wheel drive and an electric range that’ll make your eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Is this the ultimate compromise between practicality, eco-friendliness, and adventure? Let’s dive in.
The Multivan and California have long been the darlings of big families, adventurers, and folks who love a rolling apartment. But these new eHybrid 4Motion versions are a different beast. Under the bonnet – or rather, under the massive, practical bodywork – lies a 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine, a four-cylinder unit with 177 hp. Not bad, but it gets properly exciting when you add the two electric motors: one on the front axle (115 hp) and one on the rear (136 hp). Together, they churn out a combined 245 hp and 350 Nm of torque. That’s enough to haul your mother-in-law, six kids, and a trailer full of camping gear to the Ardennes without breaking a sweat. And the best part? Thanks to the electric motors and a clever Haldex clutch, you get all-wheel drive without the need for an old-school driveshaft. Snow, mud, or a sandy track to a remote beach? This van laughs in their face.
But let’s get to the real star of the show: the battery. With a 19.7 kWh capacity – a huge leap from the 10.4 kWh of the previous generation – you can drive up to 95 kilometres on pure electric power, according to the WLTP cycle. In the real world, that’s probably closer to 65-75 kilometres, but that’s still plenty to get your kids to school, the sports club, and the supermarket without burning a drop of petrol. And when you’re cruising around town, the E-mode lets you zip along at up to 130 km/h without the petrol engine kicking in. Picture this: gliding silently through the streets while your neighbours are still asleep, or your camping buddies aren’t woken by a roaring engine. That’s practically poetry, isn’t it?
And then there’s the fast charging. Yes, you heard that right: a van that fast-charges. With a 50 kW DC charging capability, you’re back on the road in no time. Okay, it’s not a Tesla that’s fully juiced in 20 minutes, but for a plug-in hybrid, it’s impressive. At home or the office, you can charge at 11 kW AC, meaning you’ll have a full battery every morning for your daily jaunts. And the cherry on top? The Multivan and California come with an electric parking cooler. You can cool or heat the cabin while it’s plugged in, without draining the battery while driving. Imagine stepping into a perfectly chilled camper after a long day of adventuring, all set up via an app. That’s the kind of luxury you used to need a five-star hotel for.
The Multivan comes in short (4.98 m) and long (5.18 m) versions, both low enough to fit in most parking garages but spacious enough to carry your entire life’s possessions. The California, the camper variant, takes it up a notch. With a pop-up roof offering 2.11 metres of headroom, an optional awning for an instant veranda, and a kitchenette in the plush Ocean trim, it’s a proper house on wheels. The seats are lighter and more versatile than ever, letting you switch from family bus to bike hauler or a face-to-face setup with a table in the middle in minutes. And yes, the outer rear seats can even be heated. Even your kids will stop moaning about cold bums on winter trips.
But is it perfect? Not quite. The WLTP fuel consumption sits between 7.5 and 8.1 l/100 km, which is decent for a van this size, but only if you’re regularly driving on electric power. If you don’t charge the battery, it becomes an expensive petrol guzzler. And let’s be honest: 245 hp sounds cool, but this isn’t a sports car. It’s a comfy cruiser, not a corner-carver. If you want something that devours roundabouts, buy a Golf GTI. This van is for people who want space, versatility, and a touch of green credentials.
The prices? A standard-wheelbase Multivan eHybrid starts at €66,832, the long version at €68,570. For the California, you’re looking at a minimum of €77,772 for the base model, going up to €82,907 for the four-berth version. Not cheap, but you get a lot of tech and flexibility for your money. And let’s not forget: in some countries, like Belgium, plug-in hybrids come with tax breaks. That makes it a smart choice for freelancers or businesses keeping an eye on their total cost of ownership (TCO).
So, is this the ideal compromise? If you’ve got a family that hauls more luggage than a pop star on a world tour, or if you dream of camping adventures without worrying about grip or emissions, this van comes tantalisingly close. It blends the practical space of a minibus with the efficiency of a hybrid and the versatility of all-wheel drive. It’s not perfect, but it’s damn close.
For those who want to go fully electric, check out our marketplace, where you can search and buy 100% electric cars. Take a look at https://volty.be/en/buy/cars/overview/.
