The Volkswagen Caravelle first arrived in 1980 as a 9-seater minivan built on the same platform as the Transporter commercial van. The Caravelle arrived during the Transporter's third generation and spanned four generations. With each new generation, the Caravelle became more premium and comfortable, but the model was replaced in 2021 with the Multivan.
Fourth Generation (1990-2003)
In 1990, Volkswagen switched the layout of the Caravelle to include a front-mounted water-cooled engine and front-wheel drive. Before this, the commercial van featured a rear-engine with rear-wheel drive. This upgrade improved the handling of the vehicle and increased fuel efficiency.
Styling was also updated to make the van more modern. In the process, it became more aerodynamic, which only further increased its efficiency.
Fifth Generation (2003-2015)
When the T5 generation arrived, the Caravelle had a wide range of customisation options, ranging from how the seating was configured to how tall the top of the van was. These options allowed owners to choose how the van would work best for them.
In 2009, Volkswagen released a small update to the T5 van, giving it a dual-clutch automatic transmission for smoother gear changes and updated safety features for more protection. The engine lineup also became more efficient, especially the diesel variants.
