T7 Multivan Style Hybrid - precursor for the Hybrid California.

[willwander]

No. But then neither did my T5.1.

Ah, that must be nice.

 

[pjm-84]

Does it rattle?

Took my awning off and no rattles.....lovely.

 

[WelshGas]

Now sorted out the Infotainment system.
Android Auto works seamlessly connecting automatically every time.
System connects automatically to my Home Wifi and also to my T-Link Mifi installed in the Boot storage pocket powered from the 12v socket with a switchable usb plug.
Also got a mini sizes 64GB usbC memory stick with 290 hrs of music plugged into the Data usb Infotainment Port.

All working perfectly .

 

[greenfintry]

Interested to hear your thoughts on life style impacts of the change from your T5 4Motion… Maybe about to make a similar change. Still needing to have a camp option occasionally but quite like the Ququq style kitchen module and roll out bed. The extra flexibility of the T7 Multivan is attractive and it looks like the T7 Cali even in beach form loses the full load width and 3rd row of seats. Can it take an awning? What about storage? Are you using the window bags….. TIA

 

[WelshGas]

Interested to hear your thoughts on life style impacts of the change from your T5 4Motion… Maybe about to make a similar change. Still needing to have a camp option occasionally but quite like the Ququq style kitchen module and roll out bed. The extra flexibility of the T7 Multivan is attractive and it looks like the T7 Cali even in beach form loses the full load width and 3rd row of seats. Can it take an awning? What about storage? Are you using the window bags….. TIA

For us it seems a good fit.
At present I’ve removed 2 seats to storage. Moved the rear 3 seats forward and store 2 x folding e-bikes in boot with plenty of storage left.
Interesting fact, the outer rear seats can only be locked in one of 2 positions due to them using sidewall mounted seat belts. This suits us, but the the central rear seat and the 2 middle row seats have integral seatbelts and can be locked anywhere along the track. If I replace a rear outer seat by one of the middle row seats then it can lock anywhere..
I would have thought the 5/7 seater T7 California Beach would have the same seats and internal dimensions, but it would be the LWB version.

 

[greenfintry]

Does the small fuel tank annoy you? What sort of range do you get on a motorway run starting fully charged and full fuel tank?

 

[WelshGas]

Does the small fuel tank annoy you? What sort of range do you get on a motorway run starting fully charged and full fuel tank?

Well the vehicle info says 30 miles EV and 300 Petrol.

But, in Hybrid mode the EV is used for start off and helps on acceleration.
The battery is recharged by regenerative braking AND when cruising at steady speed the IC engine will also recharge the EV battery.
I have a 400 mile return trip to the Fens in a few weeks so I’ll have some real world experience to talk about.

 

[WelshGas]

For those who missed the loss of Sports Mode on the T6.1.
It’s back on the T7 Multivan, at least on the Hybrid it is.
The Hybrid has a 6 speed DSG box. Electric drive is used for 1st and Reverse.
You select by moving the Dashboard gear switch to D/S and then push to switch to select S for Sports function. There are steering wheel paddles as well for Manual control.

 

[WelshGas]

Few more things on the Multivan Hybrid.
1. Engine battery charged when the EV battery is plugged in for charging.
2. 6 powered usbc sockets but only 1 socket for data and power. Seem to be ignition controlled but take a while to power down after Ignition Off.
3. 3 powered 12v sockets.
4. A Speed Limiter function which when switched on has the present road speed limit set. It can be altered using ACC controls. Not sure how much use it will get compared with ACC.

 

[m10chkcalifornia]

@WelshGas - this is a really useful thread. Keep it coming as I think practical hands-on experience is definitely needed in place of speculation and guessing. A quick question - how does the hybrid feel compared to your previous diesel, particularly do you notice it swapping gears more. Or is it all so smooth as to be imperceptible?

 

[WelshGas]

@WelshGas - this is a really useful thread. Keep it coming as I think practical hands-on experience is definitely needed in place of speculation and guessing. A quick question - how does the hybrid feel compared to your previous diesel, particularly do you notice it swapping gears more. Or is it all so smooth as to be imperceptible?

Accelerates a lot quicker. You wouldn’t know when the IC engine takes over, only by noting the change on the Dashboard rev counter. Haven’t heard a Starter Motor. I think it uses a combined starter/ generator system.Always uses the EV to start off from Stop or in Reverse, and just seamlessly changes to IC and through the gears. Only by using the graphics on the Dash do you know which you are using and when gears change.

Don’t have to hold it on the footbrake at the lights. Electronic brake comes on at Stop and immediately releases when pressing accelerator.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Sounds like you have a mercedes operating system in your VW, wait till it does an update over the air whilst driving along, then you'll have to remember how to drive it when your least expecting it!

 

[WelshGas]

Sounds like you have a mercedes operating system in your VW, wait till it does an update over the air whilst driving along, then you'll have to remember how to drive it when your least expecting it!

Will download the Update but will not install until you decide. Cannot be done while driving . Ignition Off and vehicle locked.

 

[WelshGas]

Parking Assist works well. Both Parallel and Nose in/out to kerb.

 

[Winston Rumfoord]

I saw one whilst picking up a car hire yesterday. Now I get the point around the distance from the front of the car to the steering wheel. So much space and not in a good way!

 

[WelshGas]

One or two interesting facts on the Hybrid Multivan, that might be on the New California equivilent.
No searching for the Handbook - full searchable Digital Handbook via Help button on Infotainment Screen.
This might be usefull- AirCon can be used whilst parked up with ignition off to heat/cool as it uses the EV battery. It appears that the vehicle keeps a substantial reserve of the EV battery even when range on EV is 0mls. I've had it on for 2 hrs with range showing 0mls .

 

[Jools]

Same system as on my ID3. Most of the time, it works well. Does the MV have the (really annoying) lane assist that you have to switch off every time?

Yes. We have this on an ID3. Works well most of the time. It must work on visual road sign recognition. There is a stretch on the M2 where there is a very close parallel local road and the 30 signs are really close to the motorway hard shoulder. And the ACC slowed me down to 30!! So you are always interacting with the technology.

 

[WelshGas]

For those who are interested in how a Hybrd Multivan performs in the real world, bearing in mind that the Multivan California will be a heavier vehicle, then here are some results.
I’ve owned and used the vehicle since the 5th November 2024.
Travel data to date is:-


This weekend we did a return trip to the Fens from South Wales.

Trip up :-



Trip back today. I had limited battery usage on the way up in anticipation that the car would be frozen this morning. It was, temperature was -5c. Vehicle data showed 5 miles range on the battery and I used the VW app to switch on the vehicle AirCon and heated windscreen, rear screen and wing mirror de-icer. This used 1 mile of range , about 400 watts, and we set off 25 minutes later in a de-iced and warm vehicle.



Our route was M4/50/5/40/42/6 and A14. Travelling at 70 mph except through the many road works at 50 mph and of course the Welsh Governments 50 mph pollution experiment at Newport on the M4.

 

[pchmlk]

Interesting. Probably about 15-20% less economic than my fully loaded 10 year old 5.1 on a similar journey.
How do you feel about the lpg?

 

[WelshGas]

Interesting. Probably about 15-20% less economic than my fully loaded 10 year old 5.1 on a similar journey.
How do you feel about the lpg?

At 40.9mpg with general use, very happy.
Remember this weekends trip to the Fens from South Wales started with 22 miles range, a full charge in the present ambient temperatures- minus 3 c - at the start of my trip and No EV charging until my return home. So 33/34mpg from a 1.4 tsi at predominantly 70 mph in a heavy car is, to me, quite remarkable. This was basically a worst case scenario.
On shorter trips I get significantly higher mpg.
Upto 100 miles between 56-95 mpg.

 

[pjm-84]

Hmmmm...... you got to remember that the consumption is the fuel used for the trip. So if you had 22miles of EV then average consumption from the engine was circa 30.8mpg for that trip

Our Outlander PHEV did circa 38 to 40mpg on a run on a flat battery. Not surprised as the car was light and the engine not overly powerful . Our X545e is circa 32 (80mph) to 37.4mpg (65mph) on a run starting from a flat battery is pretty impressive considering its a 3.0l straight 6 with 295hp / 2.5tonne 4x4

Thinking I need to take the BMW up to Wales next weekend. I think I last put fuel in it April / May 2024

 

[WelshGas]

Hmmmm...... you got to remember that the consumption is the fuel used for the trip. So if you had 22miles of EV then average consumption from the engine was circa 30.8mpg for that trip

Our Outlander PHEV did circa 38 to 40mpg on a run on a flat battery. Not surprised as the car was light and the engine not overly powerful . Our X545e is circa 32 (80mph) to 37.4mpg (65mph) on a run starting from a flat battery is pretty impressive considering its a 3.0l straight 6 with 295hp / 2.5tonne 4x4

Thinking I need to take the BMW up to Wales next weekend. I think I last put fuel in it April / May 2024

I didn't realise the BMW could carry 7 + 2 folding e-bikes + luggage.
Apparently the mpg is calculated on milage covered whilst the IC engine is running and consuming fuel in Hybrid mode and the EV used for low speed manoeuvring in place of 1st and Reverse gears.
It suits me.

 

[pjm-84]

I didn't realize the T7 hybrid could do 145mph and accelerate to 60 in a little over 5 seconds and or was AWD ..........

BMW weighs more (about 300kgs) and carries more weight. But whilst it cant carry 7, they can be considerably heavier !

MPG calculation would be a first for a hybrid. Hence you have figures of 100mpg plus. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to achieve these if it was based purely on engine running. Same with electric use. On a long journey you will see MPG fall. So in my Outlander up to London = 56mpg for the first leg with battery and 38 to 40mpg on the return leg without battery

 

[bgg1b]

Interesting overview on Campers.EU

shows the how much the payload on the California reduces with the PHEV (268Kg vs 468kg)

 

[owen_h]

Interesting that the PHEV base price is slightly less than the TSI petrol. I had assumed the PHEV would be more. VW don't seem to have the PHEV/Hybrid on the Multivan configurator at the moment so cant check . Seem to be in a bit of a transition phase at the moment changing from the 1.4 to 1.5 version.