The Caravelle is the much-evolved successor to the classic VW camper van or Microbus, and it's more comfortable, faster, better-equipped and generally more refined than ever before. It might not look quite so trendy on the beach at Newquay, but it's a larger, functional alternative to more car-like MPVs such as VW's own Sharan.

The latest Caravelle is essentially a plusher, passenger version of the Transporter van. Whilst the minibus-style Transporter and Transporter Shuttle models will continue to be sold through Volkswagen's dedicated commercial vehicle centres, however, the Caravelle is now to appear on the forecourts of selected passenger car dealerships alongside the Passat, Touran, Sharan and all the rest of VW's family car range. It is classed as a car for taxation purposes, too.

In the UK, the Caravelle is offered with a choice of three diesel engines: 1.9 TDI PD (104bhp), 2.5 TDI PD (130bhp) and 2.5 TDI PD (174bhp), or the 235bhp 3.2-litre V6 petrol unit in combination with 4MOTION four-wheel drive and Tiptronic semi-automatic transmission. A seven-seater cabin configuration is standard (a six-seat layout with two individual seats in place of the rear three-person bench is an option), and the passenger seats slide, fold, rotate and swivel on a sturdy rail system. The rear bench can be converted to a double bed, camper van style, and there is a huge number of storage boxes, drawers, trays and cubby holes. You can even set it up as a mobile office, with face-to-face seating and a central rotating table. It'd suit the larger, more demanding family, though the majority in the UK are still likely to sell to business customers and executive taxi firms.