VW Multivan ‘Goodnight' tested
With a VW badge on the steering wheel and a bed in the back, the new Volkswagen Multivan exudes serious Kombi vibes on our coastal cruise.
But unlike the air-cooled hippy favourite of last century, this VW bus not only makes short work of hills, it's going around corners as flat and stable as a family SUV, while using a lot less fuel.
Old VW Kombis prioritised style and charm, but the new seven-seat Multivan favours refinement, ride comfort, connectivity and safety.
These aspects aren't sexy.
Not like a split-screen camper and flowers in your hair.
But this 'T7' seventh-generation VW van is a thoroughly modern people mover with optional sleeping quarters, and makes three-row SUVs feel veritably cramped.
Thing is, it's not a van underneath, unlike MPV rivals like Ford's Tourneo.
Instead, the Multivan uses VW's ubiquitous MQB platform (which also underpins the Golf and Tiguan), so it drives and handles in a car-like way. Which is good.
This helps it target the king of people movers: Kia's Carnival, which is also more SUV than van. Of the 12,000 MPVs Aussies bought last year, over 10,000 were Carnivals.
Utter domination.
Can this Multivan compete?
Not on price.
As we pass picture-perfect rowing boats and floating cafes along Sydney's affluent Northern Beaches, it feels like just the well-heeled locals could afford these $75,990 VWs.
For now, only a turbo-diesel TDI360 Life grade is offered (a plug-in hybrid's likely later this year), but an extra $3000 buyes a 'LWB' that extends body and boot by 20cm
Diesel Kia Carnivals start from $25,000 cheaper (and offer eight rather than the VW's seven seats), while a flagship petrol hybrid Carnival GT-Line – with attractive 5.8L/100km economy – price matches the entry-level Multivan.
But the VW shows Kia some tricks. All the Multivan's second and third-row seats can be removed, leaving a cavernous 4053L (LWB) space. Only one Carnival seat is removable.
So Multivanners can moonlight as delivery drivers, or turn it into a camping car. For $4390, a Goodnight Package adds a foldable bed with mattress, magnetic window blinds, vented window grille and camp table with chairs.
But such options add up.
Choose the Goodnight pack, panoramic roof, heated seats, a Conference Package (the middle seats can be turned through 180-degrees), power leather upholstery, LED matrix headlamps and metallic paint, and the bill nudges $100,000.
Nice extras, but this bus is well stocked as standard.
Sliding side doors and tailgate are electric, there's 10-inch infotainment, digital driver display, tri-zone air conditioning, ambient lighting, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto and safety includes desirables like rear traffic alert, blind spot warning and adaptive cruise control.
Plus, it's brilliantly spacious as a family hauler.
The layout is two individual middle seats with armrests, plus three chairs behind, all on runners and reclining.
Head room is vast and access to all seats easy.
Versatility-wise, you can lift out and store any seat without much sweat. Remove all on the right side, for instance, and in go surfboards or a kayak. With only four seats up, the family's bikes all fit.
From the pilot's seat the giant windscreen and windows offer great visibility, and you're comfy with padded armrests each side.
A $990 multifunction table's a worthwhile extra, which slides on runners through the vehicle's centre then pops up and out to give laptop/picnic space.
But these plastic tables, like the VW's seatback trays, feel a bit flimsy plastic for the dollars.
At least the drive is all class. The 110kW/360Nm diesel engine is whisper quiet and unstressed, and paddle shifters help wake up the occasionally lazy gearbox. Its 6.4L/100km economy's superb, although our test returned 8.6L.
Steering is light but direct, body roll's kept well in check and it sits confidently in corners and at highway speeds. It's easy to drive and doesn't feel at all like a big van, although the ride's firmer that ideal.
There's the familiar Volkswagen feel of solid engineering with a confident and fun drive, backed by a handsome exterior.
Make sure you pick a colourful one from the choice of 12 – orange or blue works best.
VERDICT
3.5 stars
SUV-like to drive, looks great and brilliant seating versatility. But it's pricey, and Kia's Carnival is seriously stiff competition.
2025 Volkswagen Multivan
PRICE From about $80,000 drive-away
ENGINE 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel (110kW/360Nm)
THIRST 6.4L/100km
SAFETY 7 airbags, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, active lane assist, auto emergency braking, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, driver monitor, safe exit warning
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Perth Now
2 days ago
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2025 Kia Picanto Sport review
The Kia Picanto is the cheapest new car you can buy in Australia right now. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert Note: This article is based on our most recent review of the Kia Picanto, as there have been no major changes to pricing or specification since its publication. We have updated key details such as pricing and specifications with the most up to date information available. Read our latest price and specs article here for all the details. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert The pint-size micro-car briefly lost the title to the previous-generation MG 3, but the new MG 3 is pricier, handing the mantle of Australia's cheapest new model back to the Kia – though a new base model from the Chinese manufacturer shrinks the gap. As the entry point into the Korean brand's lineup, the Picanto packs in heaps of new and desirable features despite its low asking price, going heavy on the type of active safety tech the MG lacks. The Picanto retains both manual and automatic transmission options, as well as a two-variant range structure to offer more choice than most models at this end of the market. Here we're trialing the cheapest one – is it the pick? Here we have the most affordable Picanto on sale – the Kia Picanto Sport – which starts from $18,390 before on-road costs with a five-speed manual transmission, as tested. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert To see how the Kia Picanto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Changes in the cabin are a little less dramatic than the exterior, but there are quite a few upgrades here. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert The fundamentals are the same but there are small changes like a new LCD instrument cluster that is more neatly integrated into the binnacle than the old analogue dials, and the seat fabric has been updated. Smaller details include the inclusion of USB-C charge ports, as well as additional buttons on the steering wheel and to the right of the driver's knee for applicable safety systems that have been added with this update. Oh, and the steering wheel is now trimmed in 'premium' leatherette as standard, as is the gear shifter. There's definitely a more upmarket vibe to various points of touch and interaction, as well as the more fulsome tech suite that also helps justify price rises over previous iterations of the Picanto. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert It's all still quite basic and austere, but it's functional and attractive enough given the price point. The freestanding 8.0-inch touchscreen offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which actually works properly now compared to older iterations, and the manual air-con is surprisingly powerful as I found out on a hot summer day. Storage is good thanks to a dual-tier shelf under the dashboard, augmented by 12V, USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as adjustable cupholders and an open tray in the centre console. Everything is also ergonomically placed and positioned, with the centre stack angled slightly towards the driver and everything well within arm's reach – just don't go looking for soft plastics, because there are none. GT-Line Credit: CarExpert The back seat continues to surprise, given you can actually fit real people there despite the Picanto's tiny dimensions. I managed to fit two of my friends in the rear with minimal complaints. The Picanto's tall and boxy proportions mean even someone my height (6'1″) can snugly fit – a longer road trip might be pushing it with regular use though. Being a budget city-car, there aren't a whole lot of back seat amenities here. You get the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchors on the outboard seats as well as top-tethers across all three, but there are no air vents or folding centre armrest. In fairness, that's to be expected of a vehicle in this segment, but worth calling out if you're planning to use the second row somewhat often. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert Behind those rear seats there's 255 litres of cargo capacity, which can be expanded to 1010 litres with the rear seats folded. That's more than a Mazda 2 Hatch (250L), which is impressive given the Picanto's smaller size. There's a pretty big step up from the boot floor to the seat backs, though. All versions of the Kia Picanto feature a temporary space-saver spare wheel. To see how the Kia Picanto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The entire Picanto range is fitted with a 1.25-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert To see how the Kia Picanto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The bulk of Picanto buyers opt for the dearer four-speed auto, so it's great that Kia Australia has kept the five-speed manual on sale. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert Why? Well, for starters manuals are becoming harder and harder to find these days and, for a lot of younger motorists buying their first car, this could be a great way to get into an affordable new car and also practice 'driving stick'. It also gives you more control and an added ratio for the pretty basic and meek 1.25-litre petrol engine. With just 62kW of power and 122Nm of torque on tap, this little Kia is no pocket rocket – especially when peak torque doesn't come online until 4000rpm. However, this mini-car only weighs 976kg, so you can get it moving if you need to push it. I haven't driven an atmo manual for a while, so like me you might find you have to row through the gears a lot to keep the Picanto on the boil. It's more involving and helps you really get in touch with what the car's doing, but it can also be quite tiresome in stop-start city traffic. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert The Picanto has a very light clutch and an almost wobbly shift action, which early on might be a little jarring, but you soon learn to embrace the charm that comes with driving this little unit around town. It revs out willingly and is fairly responsive, but I'd ignore the shift indicator in the cluster because it encourages you to change gears at around 2000rpm, which is never going to work in hilly conditions. Keep in mind you don't get peak torque until 4000rpm and peak power until 6000rpm. While the new 'basic' digital instrumentation looks neat in the driver's binnacle, I feel this is a step backwards for the manual as it's difficult at times to gauge how many revs you have on board on take-off and how quickly the tacho is rising on the clock radio-style display. Further, the vague clutch and shift actions can mean it's very easy to over-rev the Picanto on takeoff and between gearshifts. Having hill start assist definitely helps when setting off on an incline. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert It handles well too. That chunky leatherette-trimmed steering wheel and accurate steering calibration make this quite a fun little thing to punt around city streets. It rides pretty well to boot, erring on the firmer side but doing a good job of balancing comfort and dynamics. The Sport's little 14-inch alloys and 175/65 tyres add a bit more cushioning than the GT-Line's 195/45 R16s as well. The Picanto is also surprisingly settled on the freeway for such a little car, helped by Kia Australia's local tuning of the suspension and steering, perhaps as well as the fact the Picanto is sold in markets like Europe. While it takes a heavy foot to get anywhere quickly, you don't feel like you're in some dangerous little buzzbox that'll get blown away by passing buses and trucks. It's surprisingly sure-footed and confident at 100 clicks. GT-Line Credit: CarExpert Further, the five-speed manual's long final ratio means it's not spinning away at well above 3000rpm like it is in the four-speed auto. It just feels like it has longer legs in those scenarios. The Picanto has a slew of modern assistance features that should not only help you on the road but also give parents peace of mind when their youngster set out to drive in this big scary world. AEB, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist as well as lane keep assist all actively intervene to avoid collisions or drifting out of one's lane. You also have Lane Following Assist, which will actively keep you centred in your lane, and it does so in an unthreatening way. GT-Line shown Credit: CarExpert There's also auto high-beam for the standard projector-type halogen headlights. Unfortunately, LED units are reserved for the GT-Line flagship. I can forgive this in the Picanto, but perhaps not models higher up in Kia's range. Note that Kia doesn't offer the Picanto with a more sophisticated AEB system incorporating pedestrian and cyclist detection – nor adaptive cruise control – despite it being available in the Korean domestic market. Probably nitpicking for this particular variant. To see how the Kia Picanto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Kia Picanto is available in two trim levels – on test here is the base Sport. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport equipment highlights: 14-inch alloy wheels Space-saver spare Automatic halogen headlights Automatic high-beam Halogen daytime running lights Power-folding exterior mirrors 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system Wireless Apple CarPlay Wireless and wired Android Auto 4-speaker sound system Air-conditioning Cloth upholstery 6-way manual driver's seat with height adjustment (NEW) Height-adjustable headrests 60:40 split/fold rear seats Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel and shifter 1 x front USB-A outlet 1 x front USB-C outlet 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert Picanto GT-Line adds: 16-inch alloy wheels Reflector LED headlights LED daytime running lights LED front light bar LED rear combination light Gloss black grille, badging Chrome beltline trim Heated exterior mirrors 'Premium' upholstery Soft-touch centre armrest Height-adjustable front seats Alloy pedals 'D-Cut' steering wheel Gloss black interior trim 1 x USB-C port (behind centre console) To see how the Kia Picanto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Kia Picanto no longer has an ANCAP safety rating, as its four-star rating from 2017 expired at the beginning of last year. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment includes: Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) Blind-spot assist Driver attention warning Forward collision warning High Beam Assist Lane Follow Assist Lane keep assist Leading vehicle departure alert Rear cross-traffic assist Rear occupant alert Reversing camera Rear parking sensors Safe exit warning To see how the Kia Picanto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Picanto is backed by Kia's seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert Like the Korean brand's wider lineup, Kia offers seven years of roadside assistance and capped-price servicing for Picanto buyers, and maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000km. To see how the Kia Picanto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Australians love to buy the biggest and most expensive versions of most models, but for those more pragmatic buyers that take the 'right size, right size' approach, the base Picanto has a lot to offer. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert For just over $20,000 drive-away you have all the bases covered in terms of driver assistance and infotainment technologies, as well as a pretty economical and uncomplicated drivetrain that's cheap to run. Based on my real-world experience, you should be able to achieve over 550km between fills of the tiny 35-litre tank, which with 91-octane unleaded will make this one of the cheapest and most efficient ways to get around. Props to Kia for decking out the Picanto with active safety features like blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assists, as well as active lane centring. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert While some may argue 'you shouldn't have your license if you need these things', it's a great safety net that the young, old and everyone in between will appreciate if they ever need it. You really don't need to spend up for the GT-Line either, unless you must have the more premium aesthetics and LED lighting, because the fundamentals of this new Picanto Sport are more than solid enough for the coin. Besides, if you're in the market for properly budget motoring, there's little else to choose from these days unless you buy used. 2025 Kia Picanto Sport Credit: CarExpert Interested in buying a Kia Picanto? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Kia Picanto Great value for money Comprehensive safety suite Save The Manual Smaller and not as pretty as MG 3 Expired ANCAP rating Servicing isn't exactly cheap Power: 62kW Fuel Type: Unleaded Petrol Economy: 5.4L/100km CO2 Emissions: 125g/km ANCAP Safety Rating: Untested
