Volkswagen T4
Built: 1990-2002 · Series: T4
More machines from model year 1990
VW T4 — the Bulli that turned everything around: the first generation with a front engine and front-wheel drive, 1990 to 2003, four- to six-cylinder, also sold as Multivan, Caravelle and California
In August 1990 Volkswagen literally turned the Transporter around. After forty years and three generations of rear-wheel drive with boxer engines, the T4's engine suddenly sat at the front and drove the front axle. Around two million vehicles were built up to 2003.
Read on 4 more paragraphs
The change was not a detail but affected everything: body, chassis, engines and above all interior space. Where the T3's boxer engine had claimed volume, there was now load area. That is exactly what made the T4 the basis for a whole generation of camper conversions — and explains why well-kept examples remain sought after.
The engine range was unusually broad for a van. Petrol units came as four-, five- and six-cylinders, the latter as VR6 and V6; diesels as four- and five-cylinders. The old air-cooled boxers gave way to modern inline engines with regulated catalytic converters. A permanent four-wheel-drive Syncro option was also available across the range.
The T4 was offered not only as a Transporter but also as Multivan, Caravelle and California. Anyone assessing a vehicle should therefore read the trim line too: a bare panel van and a California are worlds apart, though both go by T4.
One note for searching: many entries for this range come from official registration data. Dimensions and weights are reliable; the specific equipment of an individual vehicle does not appear there.
Sources: Wikipedia: VW T4 (Wikipedia), motor1, vw-bulli.de
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 5correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,461 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,950 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 3,320 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,260 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 2,800 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 155 km/hcorrect |
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Volkswagen T4 weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,260 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Volkswagen T4?
2,800 kg.
What engine does the Volkswagen T4 have?
5 cylinders, 2,461 cm³ displacement.
When was the Volkswagen T4 built?
Production years: 1990-2002.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 10 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
T4 1,0 TDI75KW
T4 BESTEL 0,8 D 50 KW DC
T4 BESTEL 0,8 TDI 65 KW DC
T4 BESTEL 0,9 B 85 KW SYNCRO
T4 BESTEL 0,9 TDI 75 KW SYNCRO
T4 BESTEL 0,9 TDI 75 KW SYNCRO DC
T4 BESTEL 1,0 85 KW AUT
T4 BESTEL 1,0 B 85 KW
T4 BESTEL 1,0 B 85 KW AUT
T4 BESTEL 1,0 TDI 65 KW
T4 BESTEL 1,0 TDI 65 KW DC
T4 BESTEL 1,0 TDI 75 KW A
Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Van in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
