Considering their size, children need an inordinate amount of space - which is why VW produces the Caravelle. Aimed at parents who want to reduce the stress of journeys, the Caravelle’s cavernous interior will accommodate mum, dad, grandma, grandad, the triplets and all the holiday cases with ease. And so it should, because the Caravelle is based on one of the most efficient load luggers on the road - the Transporter van.

A new Caravelle will set you back nearly £29,000 - a fraction less than that other outdoor family favourite, the Land Rover Discovery - and even a four-year-old example of the latest model costs £16,000. Which begs the question, is it worth it?

To answer that, you have to understand what the Caravelle is good at. Take space: unlike most people carriers, which sacrifice boot volume for seating space or vice versa, the Caravelle can be loaded with seven occupants and still provide generous luggage space. Then there’s its long wheelbase, the large sliding side doors and high roofline, which make access a doddle.

Up front are two seats with armrests, and behind them a pair of individual captain’s seats that slide and swivel, allowing passengers to face forward or backwards. Rearmost is a three-seat bench - ideal for child seats - which slides fore and aft to juggle boot space. But there are drawbacks, notably an interior that feels decidedly utilitarian, at least in standard and SE specification. The Executive model makes more of an effort, with leather and suede-style upholstery, but it still feels like a van in a posh frock.

Then there are the driving dynamics. While the ride is supple on motorways, driving one with any zeal on an A or B road soon induces body roll. The most recent T5 series Caravelle, launched in the autumn of 2003, has a decent range of engines. Cheapest is the 104bhp 1.9 litre turbodiesel, which is fine for mainly town driving, but struggles to cope at higher speeds and when fully laden.

By contrast, the torquey 2.5 litre five-cylinder turbodiesel relishes a challenge, and feels perfectly suited to the job in hand, whether in 130bhp or 174bhp guise. If your budget allows, spend an extra couple of grand on the more powerful one, which is as economical but noticeably quicker.

The top-spec 235bhp 3.2 litre V6 petrol engine is a performer, but its sub-20mpg economy is a real turn-off.

Flexibility and durability are the Caravelle’s greatest assets, and while other used people carriers are now 10 a penny, with residual values continuing to slip, the VW bucks the trend. It may look like a van and largely drive like one, but for the ultimate in practicality, the Caravelle is without equal.

OWNER’S VIEW
I’ve had two Caravelles and the last one did 320,000 miles without any problems. The 2.5 diesel does about 34mpg, which is pretty good.

JM,Cheltenham

CHECK THE FOLLOWING
ALLOY WHEELS Flaking and corroded alloys are common, often due to kerbing
BUMPERS Check bumpers for scuffing and cracks
REAR SEAT BENCH While second and third-row seats slide back and forth, the latter are very heavy to remove from the car SAFETY Achieves four-star Euro NCAP rating for adult and child occupant safety

VITAL STATISTICS
MODEL VW Caravelle 2.5 TDI SE 174
ENGINE 2460cc, five cylinders
POWER 174bhp
TRANSMISSION Six-speed manual
FUEL 35.3mpg (combined)
CO2 216g/km
ACCELERATION 0-60mph: 12.2sec
TOP SPEED 117mph
COST NEW (2004) £27,052
ROAD TAX BAND F (£210 a year)

VALUES

MILEAGE 20,000 30,000 50,000
2004 (04) Trade £17,000 £16,150 £14,550
Retail £19,195 £18,350 £16,750
2005 (05) Trade £18,350 £17,400 £15,650
Retail £20,750 £19,750 £17,995
2006 (06) Trade £19,850 £18,850 £17,450

THE ONE TO BUY A 2004 04 VW Caravelle 2.5 TDI PD SE (174bhp) with 50,000 miles. Pay £16,750 at a dealer or £15,750 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY
2004 53 Mercedes 2.2 CDI Ambiente LWB auto
2006 06 Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.8CRD Limited XS
2006 06 Renault Grand Espace 3.0 dCi Initiale
2007 56 Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCi Ghia
2007 07 Mitsubishi Grandis 2.0 DiD Warrior

SERVICE INTERVAL Variable intervals give up to 18,000 miles or two years between services
SLIDING DOORS Twin sliding side doors give easy access. Executive has electric doors
TOWING Towing capacity of 2,200-2,500kg
UPHOLSTERY Standard cloth trim is hard-wearing, and stains are usually easy to remove with shampoo and vacuum WINDSCREEN Large, upright screen is prone to chips