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Volkswagen Transporter 6.1

GOOD TRANSPORT (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

The Volkswagen Transporter has sharpened up its act in updated 6.1 model form. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 71

Volkswagen's Transporter looks stronger than ever in this updated 6.1 form, thanks to a careful package of changes that include more efficient 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines, a load-through hatch and greater levels of safety and media technology, plus there's also a smarter look. As before, the interior remains one of the most polished in the medium-sized panel van class and the wide range of body options should keep most operators happy.

Backgroundword count: 180

The Transporter story dates right back to Germany's bleak post-war era and 1949 when a Dutch vehicle importer called Ben Pon spotted workers at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg factory using a stripped-down Beetle to move parts around. Inspired, he sketched out a platform for a versatile commercial vehicle that would go on to set a template for the kind of spacious modern van we're familiar with today. That T1 Transporter sold for 17 years before a more spacious T2 model was introduced in 1967, followed by a more angular T3 version in 1979. More familiar on modern roads is the T4 design of 1990 and its replacement T5 successor of 2003. A T6 model was launched in 2015, updated to create this '6.1'-series model in late-2019. All of which should explain why the Volkswagen Transporter is pretty well established in the LCV sector, the van segment's fourth best seller overall and the second best seller in the medium sized sector, behind the Ford Transit Custom. Lots of rivals are snapping at its heels, hence the importance of this '6.1' package of updates.

Driving Experienceword count: 207

As usual with a Transporter, all the engines on offer are 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI diesels, mated to either 5 or 6-speed manual gearboxes or (further up the range) DSG auto transmission. Things kick off with a base 110PS powerplant which makes up the bulk of the sales. The mid-range 150PS unit gets Euro6d-Temp efficiency modifications and if that's not powerful enough, there's also a top twin turbo 204PS unit. With the highest 204PS output, you can specify 4MOTION 4WD, the latter in place of the standard front-wheel-drive set-up. There's also an all-electric version, the ABT eTransporter 6.1 which has a 110PS power output, a 0-62mph time of 17.4s and a driving range of 82 miles. Perhaps the key most recent change in the standard range is the switch to electromechanical steering (like the rack used in the brand's larger Crafter LCV), which makes possible new safety systems like Crosswind assist and Lane-keeping Assist. Passenger Multivan versions gain a redesigned front suspension system as part of the '6.1' update package. Road noise is still a little intrusive at higher speeds. But we continue to like this Transporter model's smooth ride, which avoids the kind of over-soft bounciness that afflicts many similar vans, especially over typically broken urban surfaces.

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Pictures (high res disabled)

Statistics (subset of data only)

Min

Max

Length (mm):

4892

5292

Width (mm):

1904

Height (mm):

1990

2476

Van Load Capacity (l):

749

1333

Power (ps):

90

199

Scoring (subset of scores)

Category: Vans

Performance
70%
Handling
60%
Comfort
70%
Space
70%
Styling, Build, Value, Equipment, Depreciation, Handling, Insurance and Total scores are available with our full data feed.

This is an excerpt from our full review.
To access the full content library please contact us on 0330 0020 227 or click here

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