PEOPLE carriers have obviously always had an attraction for drivers with largish families.
I know many years ago, on family camping trips to France, I used to envy those chic and cosmopolitan French with their state-of-the-art multi-purpose vehicles.
But the truth is that once all up to seven seats are occupied there is often precious little room for luggage.
Step forward VW with the Caravelle a cavernous people carrier that is part of Volkswagen's passenger car range, despite being ideal for use as a larger taxi or multi-purpose school bus.
The Caravelle is loosely based on the Transporter van, but offers all-independent suspension, good performance and car-like driving characteristics. It will also swallow up seven occupants and a mountain of luggage which proved very useful on a trip to Snowdonia.
Boots and rucksacks were stored with ease thanks to the versatility of the electric sliding doors, the stand-alone seats multi-purpose seats.
A bench seat and a multi-function table can be mounted in any desired position and the seats can be swivelled so occupants can sit opposite each other and plays games to break up longer journeys.
Fantastic for the passengers, but the driver is also kept comfortable with a firm seat in a commanding position. All round vision is is good even when fully occupied and instrumentation and switchgear is all logically placed.
The car is powered by a choice of three engines, two diesel and a 3.2-litre V6 petrol.
This particular version features the 174PS diesel, mated to an optional six-speed TIPTRONIC automatic gearbox.
The engine is willing and comfortable coping with seven adults on the foothills of Snowden, but the impressive economy when unladen soon changes with a full load and the engine becomes thirsty indeed.
The Caravelle tends to wallow around the sharp bends, but when you consider it is the shape of a medium sized van this is forgiveable, and once you get onto the motorway the 2.5-litre diesel engine is very smooth and refined and the ride relaxing.
As with most cars these days, safety is well catered for and the Caravelle has driver and front passenger front, side and head airbags fitted as standard while anti-lock braking, traction control and an electronic stability programme that includes active rollover protection for extra safety.
At £34,000 for the model I drove, the Caravelle is not cheap, but it does include a host of creature comforts as standard.
These include leather upholstery air conditioning, electric windows and door mirrors, sports suspension, cruise control, rain sensor and self-dimming mirror.
Privacy glass and a power-closing tailgate add to an impressive equipment list.
But the most popular seller is the 130bhp diesel, which accounts for around 60 per cent of sales.
The Caravelle is sold through selected Volkswagen passenger car retail network as well as Volkswagen Van Centres as part of a range of MPVs and can be purchased as a business vehicle.
FAST FACTS
Volkswagen Caravelle Executive 2.5 TDI PD
Price: £34,000
Mechanical: 174ps, 2,460cc, 5cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 114mph
0-62mph: 12.3 secs
Combined mpg: 29.1
Insurance group: 16
C02 emissions: 257g/km
Bik rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12 years anti-rust