Volkswagen Multivan: 6 big family adventures to extend your summer
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' all-new passenger carrier turns days out into adventures – here are our best picks for family days out in the Volkswagen Multivan...
The all-new Volkswagen Multivan is a pace-setting people carrier from the expert minds at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and a direct descendant of the iconic Transporter T3 from 1985.
Replacing the outgoing Volkswagen Caravelle – which still makes for a fantastic approved used buy – the Multivan offers stunning modern-retro styling, heaps of advanced safety and infotainment technology, and brings an endlessly practical mould-breaking interior design to the passenger carrier class.
In fact, the Multivan boasts more space than any previous Volkswagen passenger carrier model. With space for up to seven people, the rear five seats of the Multivan can be moved and even totally removed to reveal up to a whopping 4053 litres of boot space[1] – perfect, then, for busy families looking for big adventures.
So, we’ve compiled this list of six super-sized summer-friendly family days out across the UK to end your holiday on a high, and explained why the Multivan is the perfect vehicle to get you there.
Zip World: elevate your adventure
Kicking off our list is a place that quite possibly embodies the idea of family adventure: Zip World. Scattered across five stunning locations in the awe-inspiring Welsh countryside, Zip World offers family fun by the bucketload. (Not to mention handy on-site charging at its flagship Penrhyn Quarry site.)
Featuring everything from the world’s first underground adventure golf course to a forest-based rollercoaster, quarry go-karting and deep-mine tours to the fastest zipline on the planet – there’s truly something for everyone at Zip World. And with space for up to seven people, the Multivan is the perfect passenger carrier to get the whole family along for the adventure.
The intelligent modular seating of the Multivan is an industry-first. Not only does it offer vast amounts of comfortable space for seven people and 469 litres of luggage space with all seven seats still in place (more than a Volkswagen Golf). But, when equipped with the optional six-seater package or the seven-seat Conference Seating Package, the second -row seats can be spun 180 degrees to create a cosy family area – perfect for long day trips.
Adding to the passenger comfort is the innovative multi-function table which uses a central track to be moved between any of the seating rows – including between the front two seats. Height adjustable, featuring three cup holders and a storage compartment, this new multi-function table is the centre of the Multivan that brings all the passengers together.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park: a day of modern art and style
Paying homage to predecessors like the split-screen Type 2 and iconic Transporter T3, the Volkswagen Multivan boasts iconic modern-retro looks.
Featuring a full-width grille, a stunning LED headlight strip, sharp thin A-pillars, optional two-tone paintwork and slim air intakes that pay tribute to the rear air-cooled engines of the past, the Multivan is designed for families who want to put some unique style into their everyday lives: and that’s where Yorkshire Sculpture Park comes in.
Situated within the sprawling 500-acre 18-century Bretton Hall Estate, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is the UK’s leading centre for modern and contemporary sculpture and was the first of its kind in Britain and is the largest in Europe.
Open all year round, YSP’s exhibitions programme includes some of the world’s leading artists across six indoor galleries and spectacular outdoor spaces. Educational as well as entertaining, YSP makes for a stunning family adventure with the vast grounds turning this day out into a treasure hunt for fantastic artwork – not to mention that under 18’s go free.
Kielder Observatory: enjoy the night sky like never before
Nestled deep within Kielder Forest, right on the Scottish Border, Kielder Observatory is set within Europe’s second largest dark sky protected reserve, offering unparalleled views of the night sky and some of the most breath-taking landscapes across the north of Britain.
Hosting over 700 public events each year, the Observatory makes for an extraordinary family evening out – one that both parents and children alike will find fascinating. Evenings are made up of educational talks, observatory tours and chances to observe the night sky through one of its many telescopes. At Kielder Observatory, there are activities for everyone.
And if after an enthralling evening of stargazing you want to extend your adventure, you can simply get back in the Multivan and gaze into the night sky through the enormous 2m2 panoramic sunroof[2]. To make the experience even more captivating, you can set the three-zone electric air conditioning just so, choose from 30 different ambient lighting options for the perfect atmosphere, and find a calming track to play through the optional 840-watt 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system – the perfect way to end a great family day out.
Eden Project: eco-friendly family fun
Available with an ultra-efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a punchy 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor to give you silent zero-emissions driving on shorter trips and up to 156.9mpg[3], the Multivan is as eco-friendly as it is stylish and practical. And, for those families with an avid interest in the environment, the Eden Project will make for the perfect sustainable day out.
Once a barren clay mine with no soil or plants, the Eden Project has quite literally burst through the ground to become one of Cornwall’s most popular tourist attractions and an incredible feat of biological engineering.
Home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest, the Eden Project is the perfect day out for eco-conscious families looking to combine their love for the planet with otherworldly fun. Set within three awe-inspiring biodomes, families can wander among over 1000 species of weird and wonderful plant life, explore sculptures, take part in workshops and even thrill themselves with a trip down the sky-high zip wire.
The New Forest / Wave Bristol: space for any adventure
The Volkswagen Multivan is the most spacious passenger carrier ever created by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – meaning its carrying capabilities are endless.
Boasting intelligent modular seating that can see the rear five seats be individually moved and removed, the interior of the Multivan is utterly versatile, making it perfect for adventurous family day trips.
If you fancy a day of cycling, you can remove two of the rear seats and chuck a couple of bikes in the back and head for the New Forest – an expanse of luscious greenery with over 140 miles of safe car-free approved cycle trails. Or how about a day of surfing at The Wave in Bristol, the UK’s first inland surfing destination. With the Multivan, you can truly get up and go.
National Space Centre: a tech-filled trip
Practical, efficient, versatile and stylish, the Multivan combines all the elements of the perfect passenger carrier into one seamless package, making big family days out a breeze. But there is another element where it also excels: technology.
Inside, the Multivan is crammed with the latest in-car infotainment technology like the intelligent 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit and crisp 10.0-inch infotainment screen. USB-C sockets throughout the cabin mean all the family can stay topped-up, while an integrated eSIM and clever We Connect[4] services unlock a wealth of added online connectivity features that take your Multivan experience to the next level.
Over 25 advanced driver assist systems also help enhance passenger safety and comfort, meaning you can head for adventure knowing you have an extra pair of eyes always lending a hand. And, if it’s technology you’re interested in, then Leicester’s National Space Centre boasts a wealth of family-friendly exhibitions and activities that demonstrate and explore space-age technology through the ages.
So, with space, style, practicality, technology and efficiency, there’s truly no end to the family adventures you can have in the all-new Multivan.
[1] Long-wheelbase model fitted with the panoramic sunroof
[2] Optional on Life and Style models
[3] Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. Data correct at 1.5.2022. Figures quoted are for a range of configurations (including non-UK) and are subject to change due to ongoing approvals/changes. Please consult your authorised Volkswagen Van Centre for further information.
[4] *To use We Connect services, you need to have a Volkswagen ID user account, and must log into We Connect with your username and password. In addition, a separate We Connect contract or We Connect Plus contract must be concluded online with Volkswagen AG. For We Connect Plus, you have 90 days from vehicle handover to register the vehicle on the portal.volkswagen-we.com in order to use the services for the full duration of the agreed complementary period. Only available in conjunction with a compatible infotainment system
