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Volkswagen Caravelle T3 1.6 D (50 Hp) Manual 5-speed
Overall Rating
7.3 / 10
Volkswagen Caravelle:
Volkswagen Caravelle is the nameplate of a van based on the Volkswagen Transporter. For information about the Caravelle, refer to the regular Transporter articles:....(Read more on Wikipedia)
T3 Overview:
Volkswagen Caravelle (T3). With 103 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. It has moderate fuel consumption (~9.6 l/100km). With a weight of 1565 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. The top speed reaches 110 km/h. A large vehicle designed for transporting goods or groups of people. With seating for 7, it’s perfect for larger families.
Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year
N/A
Adult Occupant
N/A
Stars
N/A
Expert Note:
The Volkswagen Caravelle T3 was produced before the establishment of Euro NCAP in 1997, and therefore has no official rating. Safety standards of the era were significantly different from modern vehicles.
The Volkswagen Caravelle T3 was produced before the establishment of Euro NCAP in 1997, and therefore has no official rating. Safety standards of the era were significantly different from modern vehicles.
1.6 D (50 Hp) Manual 5-speed Verdict:
Performance Verdict
The least powerful engine, offering very basic performance. It will struggle with hills and highway speeds, best for flat terrain.
Fuel Economy
Excellent fuel economy, making it the cheapest to run in terms of fuel, but sacrifices performance significantly.
Best Use Case:
Very economical local driving, light utility, short distances.
Community Verdict
This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.
Allowed: 55%
Neutral: 18%
Issues: 27%
3.5 / 5
Based on AI analysis of 11 discussions
Read What Owners Say
👍 POSITIVE
The JD power reviews and bullshit and bought out
VW's are reliable. Their 2.0T engines are nearly bullet proof. Granted they have been having issues with their tiguans but overall great cars!
👍 POSITIVE
Yes. I had a 2013 Jetta S, put 160k on it with zero issues and nothing but basic maintenance and traded it in for a new Jetta.
👎 NEGATIVE
A lot of people conflate cost of maintenance with reliability. The people bashing brands like VW, Audi, and BMW will turn around and praise Porsches for being reliable. Yes, Porsches are reliable, but maintenance costs are high.
Being reliable means that the car won't break down on you unexpectedly. Unless you're buying a VW that is well known to fail (for example, 1st and 2nd gen EA888 engines),
👎 NEGATIVE
I’m at 105k miles and had to replace two emissions systems valves ($1800) and the 21’s have shit brakes. I’ve spent more money on brakes and rotors than anything. Almost never have to change them on a Yota or a Honda. Facts
👍 POSITIVE
Take care of the car and it'll take care of you for a long while.
👍 POSITIVE
Every 5,000 miles change the oil using the Volkswagen standard 502 synthetic, and you should have many years of hassle-free driving. I'm driving a 25-year-old Passat wagon with 190,000 mi on the clock. So I guess what I'm saying is they're reliable as long as you do the maintenance.
👎 NEGATIVE
Reliable? Yes but not as good as they used to be (built wise). They used to be better but VW cut corners since Diesel gate.
👍 POSITIVE
They are reliable. I only have to top off my coolant reservoir in 4 months.
👍 POSITIVE
116k on my stage two mk7 1.8 tsi . Besides water pump and a leaky drain pain , it’s been great and still have fun driving it .
😐 NEUTRAL
Effectively every vehicle is reliable if you maintain it.
And sometimes things break. On any vehicle.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Spacious and versatile interior, ideal for families or camping conversions.
- • Iconic design with strong classic appeal and growing collector's value.
- • Good visibility and maneuverability for its size.
- • Syncro AWD models offer excellent off-road and all-weather capability.
- • Robust build quality, many examples still on the road.
Cons:
- • Engines can feel underpowered by modern standards, especially smaller diesels.
- • Fuel economy is not a strong point for petrol models, particularly the 2.1L.
- • Lack of modern safety features (no Euro NCAP rating).
- • Maintenance can be complex and parts for specific components (e.g., Wasserboxer cooling) can be costly.
- • Rust is a common issue, requiring careful inspection for older models.
Specifications:
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Volkswagen |
| Model: | Caravelle |
| Generation: | T3 |
| Modification (Engine): | 1.6 D (50 Hp) Manual 5-speed |
| Start of production: | 1981 |
| End of production: | 1987 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Van |
| Seats: | 7-9 |
| Doors: | 4-5 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 50 Hp @ 4200 rpm. |
| Power per litre: | 31.5 Hp/l |
| Torque: | 103 Nm @ 2000 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | CS |
| Engine displacement: | 1588 |
| Number of cylinders: | 4 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Precombustion chamber injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | SOHC |
| Engine oil capacity: | 4 l |
| Coolant: | 16 l |
| Engine layout: | Rear, Longitudinal |
| Cylinder Bore: | 76.5 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 86.4 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 23:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Diesel |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 9.6 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 8 l/100 km |
| Maximum speed: | 110 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 31 kg/Hp, 32.3 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 15 kg/Nm, 66.5 Nm/tonne |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1550-1580 |
| Max. weight: | 2360-2600 |
| Max. roof load: | 100 kg |
| Max load: | 810-1020 |
| Trunk (boot) space - maximum: | 2930 l |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 1700 l |
| Permitted trailer load with brakes (12%): | 1200 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 60 l |
| Permitted trailer load without brakes: | 600 kg |
| Permitted towbar download: | 50 kg |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4600 mm mm |
| Width: | 1845 mm mm |
| Height: | 1950 mm mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2460 mm mm |
| Front track: | 1583 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1570 mm |
| Front overhang: | 1175 mm |
| Rear overhang: | 965 mm |
| Ride height (ground clearance): | 190 mm |
| Minimum turning circle (turning diameter): | 10.7 m |
| Climb angle: | 15° |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 5 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Disc |
| Rear brakes | Drum |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Tires size | 185/80 R14; 205/70 R14 |
| Wheel rims size | 5.5J x 14; 6J x 14 |
| Front suspension | Coil spring, Double wishbone, Transverse stabilizer |
| Rear suspension | Independent coil spring, Trailing arm |
Every driver has a story. What’s yours with the Volkswagen Caravelle?