Introduction The posh people carrier has been made increasingly popular thanks to the hit BBC television programme, The Apprentice.Like it or loathe it, the series has been a massive success and through it so has the Chrysler Grand Voyager, thanks to its role in ferrying the apprentice’s to and from their tasks.This has lead the way for more upmarket vehicles to ferry business men and women to their destination. This is where the VW Caravelle Business Edition comes in.Performance 4.0/5 Under the bonnet the Caravelle is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel producing 177bhp and 400Nm of pulling power. The engine is mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox enabling smooth journeys. Performance figures are reasonable for this kind of vehicle – it will complete the benchmark sprint in 11.3 seconds, but the Caravelle is all about comfort and practicality and this is where the Caravelle earns its crust.Ride & Handling 4.0/5 One of the easiest people carriers to drive – the DSG gearbox (possibly the best automatic ‘box in the business) makes journeys smooth and unflustered. Whether driving or being driven the Caravelle is one of the comfiest cars of this type. One of the downsides is that the Caravelle, when up front still looks a lot like a commercial vehicle, however, if you’re spending your time being chauffeured then this is a minor point.Equipment 4.0/5 Plenty of kit comes as standard on the Caravelle Business Edition. Highlights include aircon with front and rear controls, WiFi, Bluetooth mobile phone provision, iPod/iPhone adapter cable and SD slot, electric side sliding doors, parking sensors front and rear with reversing camera, lane change assist including cruise control. Practicality 5.0/5 The VW Caravelle may not look very exciting from the outside, but for many business people this is the perfect cocoon. The privacy glass keeps sunlight and beady eyes from prying on you while you work. The WiFi is fast while there are plenty of sockets to keep all your gizmos fully charged. The Caravelle is incredibly practical. The front row of seats in the rear of the car can swivel allowing the passengers to face those on the rear most seats. The rear bench can also slide forwards and backwards giving extra luggage space or legroom – whichever is needed. The multi-function table is a boon for business users, a laptop will fit on top and the table itself folds away to give extra space and improve cabin comfort. The cabin is filled with countless storage solutions including trays under the seats and a removable bucket shaped cubby. Running Costs 3.0/5 It may be vital to stay in touch between business meetings, but you will have to pay for the privilege, that will set you back an eye-watering £66,330 for the Caravelle Businessn Edition. Fuel economy is reasonable, the 2.0-litre diesel engine will return a claimed 34.9mpg while its emissions stand at 214g/km of CO2.Motortorque Verdict 4.0/5 The VW Caravelle Business Edition is a brilliant vehicle for chauffeur fleets. It has an excellent standard of equipment while offers important features like WiFi when onboard. A must for any business person when in between meetings. The price is an eyewatering £66,300, but if you have a chaueffeur then think of all that dead time you could be saving.
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