Volkswagen Commercials load up in 2024

NEXT year will be a busy one for Volkswagen Australia, and no more so than the vehicles that come under its commercial vehicles umbrella.  For the fourth quarter of 2024, the floodgates will finally open on T7 Multivan and California, the electric models the ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo and finally, the Crafter MY24 update.

The show starts with the new MQB-platform Volkswagen Multivan, which comes to Australia with a 110kW/360Nm turbo-diesel/seven-speed DSG front-drive powertrain in two trim lines which are called Multivan Life and Multivan Style. Both vans can be had in either short wheelbase or long wheelbase.

T7 Multivan will get some features not seen on this model before such as a panoramic glass roof, digital cockpit, shift-by-wire gearshift, wireless app connect and  IQ Matrix headlights.

While an ANCAP result has not been published, Volkswagen is confident the Multivan will get five stars, thanks in part to the 25 driver-assist features and safety equipment such as full side curtain and centre airbag that come as standard

The Multivan seats up to seven and the back seats can be moved or removed as desired.

The entry model the Multivan Lift will arrive on the Australian market equipped with keyless entry and start, power sliding doors and tailgate, park distance control, rear camera and ‘Basic’ digital cockpit. The more up-market Multivan Style offers ambient lighting, LED Matrix lights, ‘Pro’ digital cockpit,17in alloy wheels, climate control air conditioning, area view rear camera,  park assist and an interesting new feature, an illuminated grille.

The Multivan will be available to order in 14 colour schemes here, with three of those being two-tone options.

Volkswagen Australia is yet to announce Multivan pricing but a price in the region of around $75,000 is expected, given the battery electric ID.Buzz is already being mooted as a $100K or so ask.

As the Multvans roll off the docks so too will the new T7 California. There are dual sliding doors offered for the first time on this model which frees up the option for offering a four-seater model with kitchen or a five seater without.

Campers will be happy to see California equipped as standard with a fridge, induction cooktop, and four-berth capacity with a double bed that folds from two seats and a double bed up in the pop-top roof. It is for all intents and purposes a Westfalian approach.

Meanwhile, those who want just the basics in the form of the T7 Transporter van or a Caravelle people mover will have to wait for their arrival locally in 2025.

Next up is the ID.Buzz battery-electric van. The people mover with T2 Transporter-inspired retro design is based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform. Optimal packaging was the brief on this van, which can be seen with its short overhangs and long wheelbase. The ID.Buzz has 11.0 turning circle and comes with 21-inch wheels available.

The ID.Buzz arrives locally in two body length choices, a 4.7-metre long short wheelbase, five seater and a long wheelbase seven seats (in a two-plus-three-plus-two configuration) that adds 25cm body length over the SWB model.

Although Volkswagen has not given the full run-down of this vehicle a year from its local launch, it was able to tell us some equipment details. For example, the model will have 11 different colour choices, up to a 12-inch infotainment display, vents for second and third row passengers, LED Matrix headlights and, as an option, a panoramic sunroof.

Volkswagen has gone big with sustainability with ID.Buzz. Materials on seats, floor and roof coverings are sustainable and paint is organic-based.

A performance version is on the cards, but Volkswagen is saying nothing about the motors, range or anything else related to powertrain for now. More information will be forthcoming next year.

There’s a certain frisson of excitement about for this new model, with 1500 leads already taken online from interested buyers.

A friend to the planet and also delivery drivers will be the ID.Buzz Cargo when it arrives in the quarter four of 2024. The battery-electric van will arrive ready to work as a short wheelbase three-seater, rear-wheel drive and coming with a fixed partition for no extra cost. Volkswagen will tell us more about the electric powertrain closer to the launch.

What Volkswagen is willing to reveal now is that the ID.Buzz cargo offers a cargo load height of up to 1.25m a 1.7m load width and a load platform that is 2.2m long. With a total cargo volume of 3.9m3, the ID.Buzz has a payload of 650kg. Volkswagen will provide its electric commercial van to buyers with either rear barn doors to better accommodate a pallet or with a lift-up tailgate.

Volkswagen has made a concerted effort to make a robust, scratch resistant interior with better materials. The three seater is standard, a two seater will also be available.

Finally the Volkswagen Crafter will receive a facelift in quarter four next year.

New equipment for Crafter consists of active cruise control, either a 10.3in or a 12.9in infotainment system, moving off information, app connection, digital cockpit, e-shifter and electric park brake.