Volkswagen Multivan test drive since 2003 minivan
Volkswagen Multivan Panamericana. Cartoon for adults
VW Multivan Panamericana. Price: 2800000 rub. On sale: since 2008 This VW Multivan does not stand out against its relatives. An unusually large clearance, off -road rubber and a strange Panamericana inscription made by a rocal instead of the usual chromium shield, and perhaps all the differences. Understanding that this is a completely different cartoon comes only after you talk to him
Test pilot
Oleg Kalaushin, 40 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience 22 years, personal car - Renault Logan
According to the encyclopedic data, the Panamacherican highway is a network of roads in America, the total length of which is 48 thousand km. It is the longest road in the world. And everything would be fine if it were not for one section of 87 kilometers of the Dariven gap located in the jungle on the border of Panama and Colombia. The fact is that it is impossible to overcome it on standard vehicles. Only specially prepared there. And one of such specially prepared funds is the VW Multivan 4Motion brought to the off -road condition.
Its genealogy began with a prototype, which was used as an escort of the Volkswagen Motorsport team, which participated in the rally-raids in the West African desert. The most difficult operating conditions that the car with honor had confirmed the viability of the project, as a result of which the Multivan Panamericana was born.
What exactly is this cartoon for adults? As already noted, first of all, the clearance was changed in the car, and unlike the base in 165 mm, it is already 205 mm. The second, almost invisible, but no less significant, is the presence of high -strength bottom protection. Naturally, the car is shod in off -road tires. The SUNCH List of the Equipment of the Haldex Enforcement Couple and the electronic blocking of the rear inter -axle differential continue. And the most interesting solution is the presence of a mechanical 6 -step box on a car of a mechanical row with the first rows of the first three gears. The latter, according to the developers, made it possible to abandon the lowering series in the transmission without compromising patency. Panamericana is aggregated with three engines: either a gasoline V-shaped six, or one of the two-line 5? Cylinder turbodiesels. The most powerful of them about one hundred seventy -four horses and stood on our test car.
The asphalt march to the place of torture over the car passed, as they say, in normal mode. Unless the converged transmissions of the first three steps forced a little quick to work with the backstage at the start. Short gear was literally string one in one, up to a speed of 60 km/h. This is not to say that this is very inconvenient, but at first it is a little annoying. Despite the fairly large weight and significant clearance, the cartoon practically did not roll in corners, and it was not to keep it on the labor path. The suspension, the rigidity of which we initially considered excessive, just became the basis for such a worthy behavior of the car even at high speed. We appreciated the sound insulation of the salon. Neither diesel, nor aerodynamic noises, nor even toothy off -road tires could bring decibels to indecent. In general, on ordinary asphalt, the car was not much different from the rest.
A completely different matter is off -road. Firstly, due to a serious clearance of the car, geometric cross-country ability has improved by an order of magnitude. Crawling on it on a rolling country is not problems. Perhaps there were more passages, this indicator would be even higher, but even though the car sometimes virtually hung on two wheels diagonally, this in no way prevented it from moving on. The cartoon crawls spectacularly along a smoking arable land. In advance, the blocking of the rear inter -axle differential allows you not to strain even when the thawn hides the wheels by a third. Plus, the stabilization system is automatically turned off in this mode, which allows the driver to control the traction on the drive wheels himself. As for the sand, Panamericana behaves somewhat differently on it. The fact is that the maximum torque of 2.5? The liter turbodiesel begins to give out only from 2000 revolutions, and holds it to no more than 2500. It seems to be good, but to break out of sand captivity even if there is a short first transmission without prolonged tracing , alas, fails. There is practically no saving for the transmission for the transmission, and the machine is removed only after the specific smell of plowed clutch is already interrupting the sea breeze. In this regard, the brought row in the transmission can only be considered half a dime, and a real lowering here would be much more preferable. So it is possible to storm the dunes only. Nevertheless, in general, we liked the car. And if you still recall the possibilities of transformation of the salon
We do not love
An aluminum profiled floor is not only pleasant to the gaze, but also very practical. Practical
Having blocked the inter -long differential, you can significantly improve patency. Comfortable
Driving
Boyko behaves on the road, and he won’t give the off -road to the off -road. However, the suspension would like to have a little softer.
Salon
It is spacious and thought out to the smallest detail, the possibilities of transformation are completely unlimited.
Comfort
Good soundproofing, a well -thought -out salon ventilation system, a good audio system. All this will make the journey not burdensome.
Safety
At the level of cars of a similar class.
Price
It is overstated, of course, well, so the capabilities of the car are non -trivial.
Advantages and disadvantages
+ A huge, thought out salon. Good off -road deposits. Acceptable dynamics. High level of equipment. Good sound insulation.
- A specific gearbox requires addiction.
Technical Harcatericism
Mark and model - VW Multivan Panamericana
Dimensions - 4890x1904x2028 mm
Engine - turbodiesel, 2459 cm3, 174 hp/ 3500 min -1
Transmission - mechanical, 6 -speed
Dynamics - max 184 km/h; 12.5 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - there are no direct competitors.
Our opinion
VW Panamericana, of course, is unable to replace a real SUV, but if you recall that in addition to good off -road qualities, it has a truly huge salon with the possibility of countless transformations, then why not. In any case, in the parking lot the car takes up no more space than a full -size SUV. And it costs about the same.
Author: Oleg Kalaushin
Photo: Igor Kuznetsov
