Volkswagen’s Transporter Kombi has now departed the What Van? fleet, but during its six-month stint on our books I was sufficiently impressed with its overall abilities to conclude that the T6.1, although a fairly mild facelift of the sixth generation Transporter, has enough going for it to uphold the reputation of its legendary nameplate.
One of the most significant additions to the T6.1 is the electro-mechanical steering the medium van has inherited from its big brother, the Crafter. This enables a host of driver-assistance features (some optional depending on trim level), such as lane-keeping assist, park assist, crosswind assist, trailer assist, traffic sign recognition and an enhanced adaptive cruise control system that when combined with DSG transmission can bring the van to a standstill.
It is worth noting that the Transporter was one of the few models to perform with distinction in the new series of van safety tests conducted by Thatcham Research in partnership with Euro NCAP.
Also new with the T6.1, which got the technology at the same time as the Passat and Golf passenger cars, for which Volkswagen should be commended, is an integrated SIM card (eSIM), which opens up a range of online functions via the We Connect connectivity package, including the eCall emergency call system, breakdown call, service scheduling and parking position reminder. The last of these functions was the only one I needed, thankfully, but it came in handy.
With the poky 2.0-litre 150hp TDI diesel engine in my Kombi wedded to the seven-speed DSG auto transmission, the new steering system improved handling by delivering more feedback and precision, making the van more dynamic to drive than its predecessors on the open road, while also feeling lighter and easier to manage in urban situations.
The tried and trusted DSG system still impresses for smoothness and response but is now on a par with others in the sector, such as the six-speed automatic transmission available on Ford’s Transit Custom or the EAT6 in PSA Group’s medium vans for example, rather than standing out as being ahead of the field.
The excellent rear-view camera, a £235 (excluding VAT) option on our van, made parking a stress-free undertaking in congested city streets, as did all-round sensors, which also helped when negotiating traffic-calming devices such as road-narrowing gates and tight chicanes. With no bulkhead behind the rear seat backs I was also able to use the rear-view mirror, handy because the wing mirrors could stand to be a little larger to provide a more comprehensive view.
Adaptive cruise control is a welcome standard addition on the Highline model and comes into its own by facilitating a far more relaxing and safer motorway driving experience.
When it comes to looks, the exterior, traditionally conservatively styled, is now more imposing with a bigger grille to help with the increased airflow needed to meet the Euro-6d-Temp rules. Also new are crossbars spreading out across the front to merge into the re-designed headlight clusters.
Transporter cabins have always been tidy and functional rather than flash but Volkswagen has added a dash of style inside the T6.1. Central to this is an optional 8in touchscreen incorporating Discover Media satnav, the aforementioned rear-view camera, radio and Bluetooth.
All the controls, including buttons dials and touchscreen, are well laid out and within easy reach of the driver’s position.
The beauty of a crew van is its ability to carry both goods and people and my Kombi excelled on both counts. The 4.3m3 load bay is complemented by a payload of well over 1.0t and all occupants, both front and rear, travel in comfort with plenty of leg and elbow room. The only drawback is that those in the back only get a nearside door through which to get in and out.
Last but not least, the Transporter’s build quality remains best in class – everything is solidly put together and I detected no unwelcome squeaks or creaks during my time with the Kombi.
End-of-term report
Load carrying = 4/5
For a SWB crew van the T6.1 Kombi offers a generous payload and a decent amount of space
Interior design = 4/5
It’s not flash, but it is well laid out, spacious, comfortable and more stylish than before
Performance = 4/5
Equally impressive in the city or out on the open road
Cabin storage = 3/5
The cab provides a pleasant environment but lacks practical storage facilities
Versatility = 4/5
The Kombi is adept at carrying a substantial load and five people in comfort
Safety = 4/5
The Transporter sets the benchmark in the medium van sector
Overall score = 77%
Volkswagen Transporter Kombi T32 SWB Highline 2.0 TDI 150
Mileage 2,821
Official combined fuel economy (WLTP) 34.0mpg
Our average consumption 32.3mpg
Price range (ex VAT) £33,475
Price (ex VAT) £22,115-£39,380
Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls
Service intervals 21,000mls
Load length 1,600mm
Load width (min/max) 1,244/1,627mm
Load bay height 1,397mm
Load volume 4.3m3
Gross payload 1,143kg
Engine size/power 1,968cc/150hp
Gearbox 7-spd DSG
CO2 (WLTP max/min) 176-159g/km
5th Report
The strength of a crew van is in its versatility – its ability to carry both people and goods. For businesses operating in the construction sector, for example, a fleet of crew vans will enable them to transport both teams of workers and their tools and equipment onto building sites at the same time.
When it comes to my T6.1 Kombi, however, particularly under Covid-19 restrictions, the crew has more often than not consisted of members of my family. There are five of us and
five seats in the van, so it’s made to measure.
The cabin is spacious, with a generous amount of floor between the two front seats, which comes in handy as additional storage space. While some customers may prefer a front bench passenger seat to accommodate a third occupant in the front row and six in the van in total, legroom for the middle passenger in this type of layout is inevitably restricted by the transmission casing. This configuration also limits space and comfort for the driver and outboard passenger, due to the presence of an additional body in the middle, which is why I prefer the dual-seat layout.
The three passengers in the rear seats enjoy ample room to stretch their legs, but all have to clamber in and out through the single, nearside sliding door. A door on the offside would be a welcome addition.
The 4.3m3 load bay is supplemented by a decent amount of space for stowing bags or small boxes under the rear seats, and this space can also be used for accommodating longer items such as piping or a step ladder.
I have found the load area to be suited to a range of domestic assignments, including carrying a couple of bikes, bags of garden waste or laundry, clothes and household
goods for charity, and a large and often wet and muddy dog.
The Kombi has also been called upon to transport both technicians and cans of paint, dust sheets and lighting equipment to the site of a (legal) graffiti art promotion. A rubber lining makes the load floor easy to wash out and the walls are ply-lined, but the wheel arches could do with covering to protect them from minor scratches.
Access to the load compartment is via a tailgate that opens smoothly with the aid of two gas struts, and a loop handle on the underside makes it easier to close by reducing the distance needed to reach up. Although heavier than twin rear doors, a tailgate can be a good option in tight city streets or for roadside work as there is no danger it will swing out into traffic.
My Kombi has no bulkhead to divide the cabin from the load area so it is important to ensure that whatever you’re carrying is safely tied down with the help of four floor rings. While the absence of a bulkhead allows the driver to use the rear view mirror – thanks to the glazed rear door – as well as the wing mirrors, it also means the cabin takes a long time to heat up on cold days. Luckily for the driver and front passenger, the seat heaters are excellent.
Report card: Load carrying – 4/5
The T6.1 Kombi is adept at carrying both a substantial load and five people in comfort.
Volkswagen Transporter Kombi T32 SWB Highline 2.0 TDI 150
Mileage 2,516
Official combined fuel economy (WLTP) 34.0mpg
Our average consumption 32.4mpg
Price range (ex VAT) £22,115-£39,380
Price (ex VAT) £33,475
Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls
Service intervals 21,000mls
Load length 1,600mm
Load width (min/max) 1,244 / 1,627mm
Load bay height 1,397mm
Load volume 4.3m3
Gross payload 1,143kg
Engine size/power 1,968cc/150hp
Gearbox 7-spd DSG
CO2 (WLTP) 159-176g/km
Options (prices ex VAT)
Discover Media Navigation £1,338
Heated front seats £130
Rear-view camera £235
Metallic paint £610
4th Report
In a previous review of my long-term companion the T6.1 Kombi, I wrote approvingly of how VW has added a dash of style to the van’s traditional strengths of functionality and intuitive usability when it comes to the design of its interior.
It is certainly true that all the controls, including buttons dials and touchscreen, are well laid out and within easy reach of the driver’s position.
The steering wheel-mounted buttons are handy, allowing the driver to safely set and adjust the cruise control, use a Bluetooth-enabled iPhone, choose radio stations or downloaded music, or access vehicle data, such as average speed or fuel consumption. This info is displayed between the speedometer and rev counter and is also where an alert flashes up to remind the driver to take a break after a couple of hours on the road.
Comfort for both driver and front passenger is impressive in Highline trim. Both seats are manually adjustable for height, both get manually adjustable lumbar support, both come with armrests, and both are heated too. Driver and passenger alike also benefit from sturdy grab handles on the A-pillars to make getting in and out of the cab easier.
The driver also gets a chunky, leather-trimmed steering wheel that is comfortable to hold and adjustable for reach and rake, making it easy to find a comfortable, well-supported driving position with good visibility.
Parking is made easy by front and rear sensors, and the first-rate rear-view camera my van has as a £235 (ex VAT) option, and if you’re of a forgetful disposition then the We Connect connectivity package includes a parking position reminder that pops up on your mobile phone shortly after you’ve left the vehicle.
Although there are cupholders for the front passenger and driver at either end of the dashboard and another one in the centre by the (well-positioned) auto gear lever, and also shelves and decent-sized bins in the doors for water bottles, I have found the storage provisions in the cab leave a little to be desired.
While there are a pair of trays on top of the dash – the one on the driver’s side houses a 12V socket – they are uncovered, so whatever you put in them is reflected distractingly onto the windscreen. The shelves lower down on the dash are too narrow to be of much use and cannot accommodate a smartphone, for example.
There is no overhead shelf for storing paraphernalia like files and paperwork and although there is a good deal of space between the front sets for a carry bag or set of tools there is no way of securing such items in place. This means that when travelling alone, I have tended to use the passenger seat as an ad hoc tray.
The glovebox is lockable and illuminated but on the small side and, rather like on a Ryan Air flight, no storage nets are provided for rear seat passengers on the seatbacks in front of them and they have to make do without cupholders too. A sliding door on the off side would also be a welcome addition for rear seat passengers.
Report card: Cabin storage – 3/5
The cab is a pleasant environment but lacks practical storage facilities.
Volkswagen Transporter Kombi T32 SWB Highline 2.0 TDI 150
Mileage 1,863
Official combined fuel economy (WLTP) 34.0mpg
Our average consumption 35.1mpg
Price range (ex VAT) £22,115-£39,380
Price (ex VAT) £33,475
Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls
Service intervals 21,000mls
Load length 1,600mm
Load width (min/max) 1,244/1,627mm
Load bay height 1,397mm
Gross payload 1,143kg
Load volume 4.3m3
Engine size/power 1,968cc/150hp
Gearbox 7-spd DSG
CO2 159-176g/km
3rd Report
The Kombi spent its first few weeks on our fleet engaged mainly in urban assignments around and about the streets of London, but now it has got more miles on the clock, following several longer trips out of town, its average fuel consumption has improved considerably and is currently scoring slightly better than Volkswagen’s stated combined consumption on the WLTP cycle of 34.0mpg.
While the Transporter’s official fuel consumption is less impressive on paper than rivals such as the PSA medium vans – the Peugeot Expert, Citroen Dispatch and Vauxhall Vivaro – this is pretty good going.
When it comes to refuelling, the fuel cap is located on the B-pillar next to the front passenger door, which has to be unlocked and opened in order to access it; a neat security touch. The AdBlue tank is situated in the same spot.
The Transporter Kombi adapts impressively to all driving conditions. It is easy to manoeuvre in congested city streets, where the slick seven-speed dual-clutch DSG takes the strain out of journeys where frequent stopping and starting is par for the course. The 150hp drivetrain delivers its power to the wheels swiftly and smoothly whether in town or out on the open road.
The excellent rear-view camera, a £235, excluding VAT, option on our van, makes parking a stress-free undertaking, as do all-round sensors, which also help when negotiating traffic-calming devices such as road-narrowing gates and tight chicanes. With no bulkhead behind the rear seat backs the driver can also make use of the rear-view mirror, but the wing mirrors could stand to be a little larger to make the driver completely confident no hazards are lurking to the sides of the van, such as cyclists, of which there are now far more on the capital’s streets thanks to the proliferation of measures to encourage people out of motor vehicles. Despite the installation of more cycle lanes there are still many routes where cars, vans, trucks, buses and bikes are obliged to share confined spaces.
A consequence of the accelerated programme in London to close a high number of roads, including bridges, to motor traffic over recent months has been not only to force more vehicles onto the busy main roads but to confuse the Kombi’s otherwise precise satnav, so it has been a relief to escape the city’s limits.
On faster, extra-urban journeys I’ve come to appreciate how the Transporter’s new electromechanical steering system, handed down from its big brother, the Crafter, has improved handling by delivering more feedback and precision, making the van more dynamic to drive than its predecessors on the open road as well as more easy to manage in urban situations. As previously noted, the 150hp 2.0-litre TDI engine is impressively responsive and comes into its own on longer, intercity assignments. Adaptive cruise control is a welcome standard addition on the Highline model and makes for a far more relaxing and safer motorway driving experience.
Meanwhile, the portable waste bin that fits snugly into the door storage compartments has also come into its own on longer trips as a receptacle for receipts, sweet wrappers and, during these times, disposable face masks.
Report card: Performance = 4/5
Equally impressive in the city or out on the open road.
Volkswagen Transporter Kombi T32 SWB Highline 2.0 TDI 150
Mileage 1,467
Official combined fuel economy (WLTP) 34.0mpg
Our average consumption 36.1mpg
Price range (ex VAT) £22,115-£39,380
Price (ex VAT) £33,475
Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls
Service intervals 21,000mls
Load length 1,600mm
Load width (min/max) 1,244 / 1,627mm
Load bay height 1,397mm
Gross payload 1,143kg
Load volume 4.3m3
Engine size/power 1,968cc/150hp
Gearbox 7spd DSG
CO2 (WLTP) 159-176g/km
2nd Report
It is the neat, understated functionality of the Transporter design that is most often celebrated and makes it one of the most recognisable vans on the market, but that has also led to criticism that the approach is over-conservative.
VW undertook the T6.1 update last year. On the exterior the grille is the most noticeable change – it’s much bigger to help with the increased airflow needed to meet the Euro-6d-Temp rules. Also prominent are new crossbars spreading out across the front to merge into the newly designed headlight clusters.
The interior has attracted criticism for lacking style and being a tad dull. In my opinion this is harsh as the main goal should be to deliver easy-to-use functionality married to comfort, and this is something VW habitually achieves.
The cabin in the revised T6.1 Kombi is still utilitarian but with a new dash of panache. Visually, it’s a step up from previous Transporters, while not quite as slick as the Ford Transit Custom.
Our van comes with an 8in touchscreen (£1,070 ex VAT), which incorporates the excellent Discover Media satnav and hosts the impressive rear-view camera (£235 ex VAT).
Climatic air con keeps the cab cool and privacy glass from the B-pillar provides discretion for rear-seat occupants. Both the driver and passenger seats are manually adjustable for height and lumbar support, while both front seats also benefit from armrests. A waste bin can be found in the driver’s door storage compartment.
A nearside sliding door gives access to the rear seats – a two-seater bench and an individual seat on the passenger side. Legroom is ample in the back and there is generous stowage space under the rear seats and between the front seats.
A drawback of not having a bulkhead behind the rear seat backs is that it can get noisy at higher speeds.
Report card: Interior design = 4/5
It’s not flash, but it is well laid out, spacious, comfortable and more stylish than before.
Volkswagen Transporter Kombi T32 SWB Highline 2.0 TDI 150
Mileage 812
Official combined consumption (WLTP) 34.0mpg
Our average consumption 35.4mpg
Price (ex VAT) £33,475
Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls
1st Report
Volkswagen launched the facelifted version of its sixth-generation Transporter in right-hand drive for the UK market at the beginning of 2020.
As a revised, rather than a new generation, model, the van is known as the T6.1 but the manufacturer has, nonetheless, made several significant additions to the Transporter 6 that came to market in 2016.
Among the updates are a switch from hydraulic to electro-mechanical power steering, following in the wake of the Transporter’s big brother, the Crafter, which VW says allows the introduction of a new range of driver assistance systems, including lane assist, park assist, side protection, rear traffic alert and trailer assist.
Also introduced is a road sign display function, while the new crosswind assist is standard with the panel van and Kombi.
Post-collision braking and hill-start assist are also standard. Inside the cab a 230V socket is a new addition by the driver’s seat.
The panel van and Kombi with bulkhead also feature a separate cargo space locking system, providing extra security by allowing the cargo compartment to be locked up independently from the cab.
VW has added a range of standard-fit features across the range, including electric windows, central locking, electrically adjustable heated wing mirrors, new H7 headlights, LED interior lights and a Composition Audio radio system with Bluetooth hands-free function.
Also new with the T6.1, which got the technology at the same time as the Passat and Golf passenger cars, is an integrated SIM card (eSIM), which opens up a range of online functions via the We Connect connectivity package, including the eCall emergency call system, breakdown call, service scheduling and parking position reminder.
The T6.1 line-up comprises 90hp and 110hp 2.0-litre engines wedded to a five-speed manual gearbox, a 150hp engine with a six-speed manual, and 150hp and 199hp drivetrains coupled with the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission. All these engines are single-turbo apart from the twin-turbo 199hp version.
The T6.1 I have recently welcomed onto our long-term fleet is a Kombi T32 (designating a GVW of 3.2t) short-wheelbase, low-roof variant in the top Highline trim, which now sits above only the entry-level Startline following the removal of the mid-level Trendline. Startline customers can, however, choose upgrades with the optional Business Pack.
Power comes from the 150hp engine wedded to the enduringly superb seven-speed DSG semi-automatic transmission. This set-up is ideally suited to the enhanced adaptive cruise control on the T6.1 that comes as standard on Highline grade. It can be set to maintain distances of up to 120m from the vehicle ahead on motorways by adjusting speed accordingly and, when twinned with DSG, can bring the T6.1 to a standstill. It can also detect hazardous situations and trigger emergency braking at speeds of up to 18mph.
The beauty of crew vans is their ability to carry both people and things and one of the first tasks I assigned to the Kombi was to deliver a family of five and lots of camping necessities to a field in Gloucestershire.
The second row of seats, which is removable, inevitably compromises load space, but the 4.3m3 available is surprisingly accommodating and there is useful extra space beneath the rear seats and also, in our van, between the driver’s and passenger’s seats in the front.
The Kombi can also be specified with a twin bench passenger seat up front if there’s a need to carry six people.
If you need to carry heavy loads, the payload is a generous 1,143kg.
Access to the load bay is via a rear tailgate. The walls and floor are well protected with lining but the wheel arches are left exposed to minor scratches and scrapes from cargo that may move in transit. Passengers enter the rear seats by a nearside sliding door.
Report card: Load carrying = 4/5
For a SWB crew van the T6.1 Kombi offers a generous payload and a decent amount of space
Volkswagen Transporter Kombi T32 SWB Highline 2.0 TDI 150
Mileage 452 miles
Official combined fuel economy (WLTP) 34.0mpg
Our average consumption 24.3mpg
Price range (ex VAT) £33,475
Price (ex VAT) £22,115-£39,380
Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls
Service intervals 21,000mls
Load length 1,600mm
Load width (min/max) 1,244/1,627mm
Load bay height 1,397mm
Gross payload 1,143kg
Load volume 4.3m3
Engine size/power 1,968cc/150hp
Gearbox 7-spd DSG
CO2 (WLTP max/min)176-159g/km
Options (prices ex VAT)
Discover Media Navigation £1,338
Heated front seats £130
Rear-view camera £235
Metallic paint £610