Despite being Volkswagen's only van, the EuroVan was sold only by selected VW dealers. However, the chassis was serviced by any VW dealer and the camper by any Winnebago dealer.
Volkswagen's EuroVan was big. How big? Well, the new Chrysler minivans could hold more than 170 cu. ft. of cargo. The EuroVan could hold 201 cu. ft. That is, if you could get it without 1000 pounds worth of camping equipment—including a small kitchen—installed by Winnebago, the RV company. There have been some 400 days' supply of EuroVans sitting at dealerships around the country. The norm for light trucks was 65 to 75 days' supply. Clearly, VW didn't sell many, and consequently offered only the Camper model in the United States. As such, it didn't compete with any other minivan, but rather with camper conversions of full-size Detroit vans. In the rest of the world, the EuroVan was sold in a wide variety of configurations.
Year-to-year changes[]
1995[]
The Camper served as a 6-passenger people-mover or a big cargo-carrier, although there was a lot of extra baggage to lug along, including the kitchen sink, a 2-burner LP gas range, 2-cu.-ft. AC/DC/LP gas refrigerator, 12-gallon fresh water and 8-gallon waste water tanks, 15 cu. ft. of cabinet space, an auxiliary battery, a pair each of 110-volt and 12-volt outlets and an optional 12,000-BTU LP gas furnace!
A pair of swiveling captain's chairs for the driver and front-seat passenger were standard, as was a rear 2-seat bench that would unfold into a double bed. The optional 2-seat center bench could be mounted facing forward or backward and was removable. The Camper's unique pop-top roof pivoted upward to permit standing and access to an upper-level double bed. Three screened windows in the pop top provide cross ventilation.
Standard equipment included a/c, central locking, power windows and mirrors, cruise control, rear-window washer/wiper, fluorescent interior lighting and screened windows with blinds. The only available engine was a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder that developed only 109 hp to pull the Camper's 4745 pounds plus a 1080-pound payload (and up to a 4400-pound trailer). Performance is glacial.
1997[]
Volkswagen was expected to install its 172-hp real-world-performance V6 in 1997.
Retail prices[]
As of June 1994:
- $30,200 (1995 Volkswagen Eurovan)