Volkswagen Multivan 4MOTION 2011 Review

Volkswagen Multivan 4MOTION

In the waning days of the T2 Kombi, and with little financial assistance from Volkswagen HQ, engineer Gustav Meyer devised an ingenious all-wheel drive system for the German marque's air-cooled van.

The system, a forerunner to the modern 4MOTION driveline, was sidelined with the arrival of the water-cooled (T3) model. The first production models of the all-wheel drive Kombi eventually rolling off the production line in the mid 1980s.

Based on a Ferguson system -- originally devised by an Irish engineer for tractors and then race cars (including the 1961 Ferguson P99 Formula One car) -- the AWD system did away with the need for levers and locking hubs to decide when drive was transmitted to the secondary axle. Instead, the new arrangement operated 'on demand' via the use of a cylindrical synchronous viscous coupling.

Perfected by Swedish firm Haldex, the fourth-generation, electronically-controlled version of this technology is now available in the modern version of the Kombi – the T5 series Multivan.

Free of the limitations of conventional 4WD systems, 4MOTION allows each wheel to gain the maximum traction possible. It then senses which wheel (or wheels) has the best potential for drive and transmits torque accordingly.

The system can operate in broad parameters, front to rear and left to right, and can even calculate distribution of drive to the front or rear axles depending on grades (uphill drive goes to the rear, downhill to the front). In the Multivan 4MOTION, the system is complemented by an optional rear differential lock.

Although offered a limited opportunity to trial the 4MOTION system during the launch drive of the new Caddy Maxi 4MOTION, Multivan's all-wheel drive grip proved infallible on the open highway. Tighter corners and quick changes in incline saw the system shuffle seamlessly in response, its grip tenacious to say the least.

Some driveline 'scuffle' was felt through the steering wheel when asking the most from the system, and when pushed hard the Multivan 4MOTION did feel a touch top-heavy. But when driven in a more civilised manner, the big VW was wonderfully smooth and, for a van at least, rather quiet.

The Multivan is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, developing 132kW/400Nm, transmitting drive via a seven-speed DSG (dual-clutch automatic) transmission. Unlike Multivan's two-wheel drive variants, this is the only engine option available in conjunction with the 4MOTION driveline.

Never short on grunt, the intuitive driveline didn't struggle or labour to maintain highway speeds like some seven or eight-seat people movers we could mention, overtaking was similarly effortless.

Given its straight-line performance, the Euro5 compliant Multivan 4MOTION's official combined fuel economy figure of 8.8L/100km (CO2 emissions are 232g/km) is impressive.

Otherwise, the changes end there. Equipment levels and fit-out are unchanged from the rest of the range. The Multivan 4MOTION is available in the same pair of model grades, including the full-fruit Highlander as tested.

In additional to AWD grip, the vehicle comes as standard with stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and emergency brake assist, hill holder technology and daytime running lamps.

A full complement of airbags is also fitted, including full-length side curtains covering all three generously proportioned rows.

The flexible seating arrangements and versatile cargo space remain unaltered, too, with the same capacious boot space as two-wheel drive variants. With seats removed, the versatile van offers an interior space measuring 2537mm long by 1625mm wide and 1317mm high.

For the commercial set, Volkswagen will also offer a Transporter 4MOTION van and cab-chassis concurrently, the latter available exclusively with a manual transmission.

Available now, the T5 Volkswagen Multivan range is priced from $49,990 (MRLP) with the Transporter available from $38,490 (MRLP).

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