Is the Volkswagen Caravelle good for families?

The Volkswagen Caravelle is the luxury dream bus of many families. It's a people mover that caters for everyone on board, ensuring every passenger travels in supreme comfort. It does not come cheap, however, but there are alternatives.

Ané Albertse

21 Sep 2022 · 10:59Buying a Car

Currently available in one trim level only, the Caravelle 6.120BiTDI 146kW Highline 4MOTION is priced at R1 306 500.

The Caravelle's suitability for families

Asking if a Caravelle is good for families is a bit of a no-brainer. Of course it is! But who better to ask than a dad who regularly takes his family on long road trips and drives girls to soccer practice? Lawrence Minnie puts the Caravelle to the family test in this review.

The Caravelle against the competition

There are more vans to choose from in this price range. We pit the V-Class and Quantum against the Caravelle in this article below. Which one came out on top? Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs Toyota Quantum vs VW Caravelle: which one has the lowest running costs?

Ready to buy? Search AutoTrader for an array of pre-loved Caravelle models here!

What about the contenders from Korea?

You would have noticed Hyundai's futuristic Staria bus by now - they seem to be everywhere. Apart from looking seriously cool, the Staria offers great value for money and is super low on diesel too.

Sean Nurse tested the 2022 Hyundai Staria 2.2D Luxury here.

The Kia Carnival, not really a bus, but still very much van-like, is people-moving perfection. Check out my review of the Kia Carnival here.

Check out the Opel Zafira Life bus...

Stellantis has put a great bus together in the form of the Opel Zafira Life. The 2.0TD Edition is priced at R781 00 and the 2.0TD Elegance model at R902 900. Sean attended the launch - you can read his driving impression of the Opel Zafira life, here.

Verdict

The Volkswagen Caravelle is perfect for families, but you don't need to spend all that money - there are also more affordable options from the Volkswagen stables. Why not opt for a lightly-used Volkswagen Transporter Kombi instead? Check out my review of the Volkswagen Transporter 2.0TDI 110kW Kombi SWB Trendline here.

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Written by Ané Albertse

Ané was bitten by the motoring bug at a very young age. Her mom recalls her sitting in her stroller as a 3-year old, naming every car that came past. She was creating content for various publications within Media24 when AutoTrader nabbed her for good, and is one of the longest-standing members of the AutoTrader team. She prefers dirt roads to tar and SUVs/bakkies to sports cars, but her greatest passion is helping people find the perfect car for their budget, lifestyle, and personality.Read more