2025 Volkswagen Transporter evaluation: Fast drive

When is a Volkswagen Transporter not likely a Volkswagen Transporter?

When Volkswagen will get into mattress with Ford to provide its seventh-generation mid-sized supply van. No less than that’s what the dyed-in-the-wool VW-loving tradies can be saying — and have been saying on-line — about this all-new Transporter. 

All of it comes right down to value saving, and to spice up the profitability of its business car lineups, Ford and Volkswagen entered into this partnership again in 2017.

The settlement noticed Volkswagen lead the small van aspect of issues with the Caddy and Ford Transit Join that’s offered in Europe, whereas Ford is answerable for the mid-sized van — the Transit Customized and this Transporter — and the Ranger ute and its Amarok cousin.

Each manufacturers are eager to level out that every is developed to their respective requirements and standards, so finally it’s all about splitting the engineering prices. Volkswagen representatives on the international Transporter launch had been cagey when discussing what’s theirs and what’s Ford’s, however they did acknowledge that Ford is the market chief in relation to vans (at the least in Europe). 

Nonetheless, VW affords a broad vary of fashions and variants together with the Transporter panel van, Kombi crew cab, nine-seat folks mover and even dropside physique sorts, and can supply two wheelbase lengths and two roof heights alongside diesel, electrical and plug-in hybrid powertrains with front-, rear- and all-wheel drive layouts — the latter badged as 4Motion.

The passenger market-oriented Caravelle gives seating for as much as eight folks and comes with diesel or electrical energy. 

Forward of its Australian launch later this 12 months, at worldwide launch of the brand new T7 we tried three totally different variations: the diesel Transporter, the battery-powered e-Transporter and the people-moving electrical e-Caravelle.

How does the Volkswagen Transporter evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Volkswagen Transporter in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Volkswagen

Transporter

How a lot does the Volkswagen Transporter value?

There are not any official costs but for the new-generation Volkswagen Transporter, because it’s not on account of arrive in Australia till mid-2025 on the earliest.

For reference, the outgoing Transporter has a beginning worth of $42,790 earlier than on-roads for the diminished payload model. If pricing stays aligned with the outgoing Transporter, count on to be paying upwards of $46,000 earlier than on-road prices for TDI diesel fashions.

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

What’s the Volkswagen Transporter like on the within?

The entrance cabin of the Transporter is a mix of hard-wearing supplies and fashionable tech, with an upright dashboard format that homes a dual-screen setup.

All that differentiates it from the Ford Transit Customized is the Volkswagen multifunction steering wheel, which is good to carry however means it doesn’t get the Ford’s nifty folding steering wheel that may remodel right into a desk or worktop when parked. 

Except for some fiddly temperature controls housed throughout the touchscreen that require too many stabs of your finger and are annoying to make use of on the transfer, the infotainment system works nicely, and having wi-fi cellphone mirroring is a boon.

The elective wi-fi charging pad is tucked away down low, leaving it ripe so that you can overlook your cellphone while you get out of the van. 

We do like what number of USB cost ports can be found, together with extra ones within the open tray on high of the sprint. An additional compartment above the same old glovebox boosts storage choices inside, as nicely, and with the gear shifter and digital parking brake shifting onto the centre dashboard under the touchscreen, there’s more room across the ground, making it simpler to scoot throughout to the opposite aspect if wanted.

The elective rear-view digicam gives unimpeded views of what’s behind, and no matter bulkhead or rear doorways is a helpful little bit of know-how. 

Relating to how a lot the Transporter can carry, one of many headline figures is the quantity of additional width there now could be between the rear wheel-arches. There’s one other 148mm between them, and in long-wheelbase guise the Transporter can now carry three Euro pallets.

No matter powertrain, the rear cargo space is equivalent in dimension and form, which is a plus when you’ve obtained a number of vans to suit out with combined drivetrains. 

Volkswagen will supply a dual-cab or crew-cab physique along with a dropside, however for these looking for a real MPV, the passenger-centric Caravelle can transfer eight folks in relative consolation and nonetheless has a lot of the flexibility of a van. Its rear seats might be reconfigured and even eliminated as wanted.

A number of little one seat mounting factors and additional USB cost ports imply the Caravelle might be as a lot of an answer for bigger households as for cargo professionals.

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

What’s below the bonnet?

There’s a variety of powertrains with a number of energy outputs obtainable throughout diesel combustion engines and pure electrical variants, that are badged because the e-Transporter and e-Caravelle in Europe. There can even be a plug-in hybrid petrol powertrain coming, however this received’t arrive till later in 2026.

Volkswagen did verify to CarExpert that it’s creating a smaller capability battery for the e-Transporter that makes use of an 85kW electrical motor to create a extra inexpensive variant that can be appropriate for shorter responsibility cycles. That is present process remaining homologation and is predicted to be added to the vary later in 2025. 

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

How does the Volkswagen Transporter drive?

Proper from the get-go, we just like the elevated driving place that the Transporter gives, particularly compared to different vans in the identical phase. You get view of the street and credit score to Volkswagen for putting in aspect mirrors that aren’t too cumbersome but present good visibility. 

We do suppose that the usual seats could possibly be a bit extra snug, however the degree of adjustability in each the seat and the steering wheel (for attain and rake) makes discovering an appropriate driving place fairly straightforward. 

The 125kW diesel engine has respectable pulling energy and good ranges of refinement by way of noise and vibration. Its eight-speed computerized gearbox is nice to make use of, typically shifting effortlessly whether or not going up or down the gears. You get one of the best outcomes from it while you don’t hustle it alongside too rapidly. 

As refined because the TDI could also be, the electrical e-Transporter ushers in an entire different degree of smoothness and tranquility. Curiously, regardless of a number of energy outputs throughout the electrical vary, all motors generate the identical degree of torque, which is vital to hauling heavier hundreds. 

Aside from the apparent distinction in energy supply, the journey consolation and high quality of the diesel and electrical Transporters are fairly related. The suspension can appear somewhat busy at instances with its vertical actions, however each vans had been empty within the rear for our take a look at drive.

That apart, it steers properly and feels fairly manoeuvrable in city settings. The suite of cameras obtainable gives a 360-degree view to assist in tighter areas, however this can be a van that feels each bit as adept at doing metropolis centre deliveries as it’s at protecting longer distances on the freeway.

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

What do you get?

Volkswagen is placing an emphasis on know-how within the Transporter. Meaning even probably the most fundamental entry-grade panel van will get LED headlights and tail-lights, whereas the inside will get a dual-screen dashboard format — an improve over the earlier Transporter. 

There can be two digital shows on the dashboard: a 12-inch driver’s instrument cluster and a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen with DAB+ digital radio and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. All fashions will include a multifunction steering wheel, keyless begin and quite a few driver help methods as commonplace, too.

Flagship PanAmericana variations are differentiated by grained bumpers, sill and wheel-arch trims plus 17-inch Monte Carlo alloy wheels. Unique upholstery inside carries the PanAmericana title and the motive force’s seat is an eight-way electrically adjustable unit with lumbar assist, and the entrance passenger even will get a six-way adjustable seat. 

2025 Volkswagen Transporter gear highlights:

• Six powertrains from launch, three diesel and three electrical
• Entrance- or all-wheel drive drivetrains
• As much as 2800kg towing capability
• Wider cargo space between wheel-arches
• Rugged PanAmericana model
• 13-inch touchscreen as commonplace
• Wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay 
• Pixel LED daytime working lights
• Electrical model will get 125kW DC charging
• 360-degree digicam system obtainable
• As much as 2300W electrical output for instruments

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

Is the Volkswagen Transporter protected?

This Transporter has but to be assessed by both Euro NCAP or ANCAP, although going by the present crop of different Volkswagen business automobiles, it ought to rating nicely.

The Volkswagen Caddy, Caddy Cargo, Multivan and Amarok all scored five-star NCAP scores between 2021 and 2022, so we see little motive for the Transporter to not do the identical. Tellingly, the Ford Transit Customized, which shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Transporter, achieved a 96 per cent ‘Platinum’ score from ANCAP in 2024. 

Normal security gear contains:

• Entrance airbags
• LED daytime working lights and headlights
• Computerized Emergency Braking with pedestrian and bicycle owner monitoring
• Swerve Help and oncoming car braking when turning
• Lane preserve help
• Cruise management with clever pace help
• Rear parking sensors
• eCall emergency name system
• Airbags for driver and entrance passenger, aspect airbags and curtain airbags within the cab, curtain airbags within the passenger compartment (Caravelle)

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

How a lot does the Volkswagen Transporter value to run?

Volkswagen Australia gives all business automobiles with a five-year unlimited-kilometre guarantee and 24-hour roadside help for the primary 12 months.

Assuming that Volkswagen applies the identical guarantee circumstances to the e-Transporter and e-Caravelle because it does to its different electrical passenger automobiles, the high-voltage traction battery can be lined for eight years/160,000km, whichever happens first. This guarantee relies on the battery sustaining 70 per cent of the web power content material. 

The WLTP mixed driving vary of the Volkswagen e-Transporter is between 294 and 357km for the usual wheelbase and 289-530km for the long-wheelbase model.

Power consumption for short- and long-wheelbase fashions varies between 19.9-25.5kWh/100km and 20.2-25.9kWh/100km, respectively. On the diesel aspect of issues, the TDI’s gasoline consumption varies between 6.9-8.9L/100km and seven.0-9.0L/100km for the short- and long-wheelbase variations, respectively.

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software

CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen Transporter

Volkswagen diehards are unlikely to be impressed by the Transporter because it feels extra like a Ford, however everybody else will discover that it performs nicely and drives to a really excessive commonplace, surpassing many different rivals in relation to refinement.

The battery-powered model isn’t shy of torque and takes loads of the pressure out of driving, whereas the e-Caravelle is the reply for these for whom a big SUV doesn’t minimize it by way of practicality.

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