This time, one of our favorite automotive classics passed the editorial test. The tested car was the Volkswagen T6 in Multivan design, specifically the Multivan Trendline Bulli.
The "Téčko" has been available for many years in various designs, from classic or two-cabin flatbeds, through box vans to personal or residential versions. The tested Multivan is a purely personal version, the Trendline designation refers to the "basic" equipment of this model. Our particular piece also had a 150-horsepower diesel engine, a six-speed manual and front-axle drive only.
Exterior – these are clean and elegant lines
The exterior concept of "T" cars has always had simple and clean lines, which were clearly justified in the very practicality and purposefulness of these cars. The same is true of the current sixth generation. It appeals mainly with its front part, specifically with the front headlights, which offer a beautiful presentation, first-class workmanship and a very effective signature of daytime running lights.
The tested piece gets additional plus points for its two-tone body design. The silver (Reflex) – blue (Acapulco) combination goes together beautifully and simply suits the car.
On the front fenders, you can notice the "BULLI" plaque. This refers to the cars from the "70 years of BULLI" special edition, which paid tribute to the 70th anniversary of the existence of cars in this series. Although the tested car did not belong to this edition, it did have the optional BULLI package.
Purely practical interior
The interior of the tested Trendline version is quite austere and focused on the practical side of things. So don't expect any great pampering.
The clean lines of the exterior are successfully applied to the interior of the car as well. The dashboard has clear horizontal proportions and layout. The instrument cluster will delight you with classic tachometer and speedometer pointers. Unfortunately, the digital display between the alarm clocks looks somewhat outdated, and even the 6.3-inch wide on-board infotainment display does not inspire great enthusiasm.
However, I have to praise the multifunctional steering wheel itself and the ergonomically ideal placement of the shift lever in the dashboard. The dashboard also gets positive points for its large amount of storage space.
The seven-seat specification of the car will offer a pair of swivel seats in the second row, and a sliding three-seater bench in the third row. In addition to the possibility of shifting, the swivel seats of the second row will also offer armrests on both sides and backrests that can be folded flat. The rear bench has a folding backrest, and it also offers three pull-out storage boxes, which are located under the seat of the bench itself.
A folding "conference" table was also available in the car, which is part of the filling of the side sliding doors. When the second row of seats is turned (against the direction of travel), it is then possible to anchor the advertised table to the side of the car, which at that moment becomes a mobile office.
The size of the luggage compartment depends on the position of the rear sliding bench. Its movement is problem-free, just like the swivel seats of the second row. The car was also equipped with a folding bed, specifically, it was a folded padded foam bed that unfolded on the previously unfolded rear bench and folded seats from the second row. The application is very simple, but the foam is quite bulky when folded and takes up a lot of space in the luggage compartment.
Engine and ride
The tested version of the Multivan was equipped with a two-liter turbocharged diesel engine with an output of 110 kW (150 hp) and a torque of 340 Nm. This "more popular" version of the motorization further cooperated with a six-speed manual and drove only the front axle.
The "six" Multivan can also offer a more powerful 146 kW variant, a dual-clutch seven-speed DSG automatic, or all-wheel drive.
But let's go back to the tested specification, 110 kW of power is clearly sufficient for the Multivan. The power unit also exhibits a pleasant smooth ride and a fairly reasonable appetite. During the weekly editorial test, my fuel consumption was below eight liters of diesel.
We also have a six-speed manual, which is of course ideally graduated, and the engine, with the highway "one hundred and thirty" and the sixth gear engaged, lets it roll around two thousand revolutions. However, the scenery of the shift lever itself is very pleasant, it has short and precise shifting paths, and in the context of the already mentioned excellent ergonomics, shifting with this manual is a real pleasure.
Volkswagens of this category have never been as "van-like" as their competitors. Mainly thanks to its scale, internal ergonomics or, for example, the chassis. This alchemy then quite logically persists even in the T6 model.
The chassis of the currently tested Multivan proved to be very comfortable for most of the time and, together with the advertised ergonomics or excellent steering, it quite well lets you forget what category of car you are actually driving.
In conclusion
According to the technical specification that we had available for the car at the time of the test, the base price of this model was CZK 999,990 including VAT. The price of the specific tested piece, including equipment, was CZK 1,150,852 including VAT.
The Volkswagen T6 clearly belongs to the winners of its class. It stands out for its first-class processing of both the exterior and the interior. In addition, the interior itself will offer excellent ergonomics and, in the tested version, great variability of the interior arrangement. However, I must also praise its power unit, for its smooth running and for its adequate performance.
The Volkswagen T6 certainly does not have it easy in its segment. Its higher purchase price and the ever-improving competition are not playing into its cards. However, Volkswagen is not resting on its laurels and is currently serving us the modernized version 6.1, which we will hopefully test for you soon.
