Our Vans: Volkswagen T6 Transporter 2.0 TSI
29 January 2018: Petrol provides plenty of punch for our T6 Transporter
The Details
| Current mileage | 783 |
|---|---|
| Claimed economy | 31.0mpg |
| Actual economy | 29.5mpg |
Six weeks in and it’s fair to say that my petrol Transporter experience has been going rather well. The 2.0 TSI engine is averaging at 29.5mpg and provides plenty of punch for what would otherwise be a lumbering 3.0 tonne panel van. In fact, I'd go as far to say, with the 2.0 TSI, the T6 feels more like a large family car than a van.
Most of this comes from the fact that the Transporter is wonderfully refined. The humble panel van has come a long way from the rattle boxes of the late-1990s and few vehicles illustrate this better than the T6, with its smooth engine and hushed cabin providing something of a calm oasis from the otherwise hectic world. Indeed, slam the door shut and it’s like being in your own soundproof booth; perfect for a lunchtime break, with the row of seats allowing me to put my feet up and take 30 minutes with a coffee and bacon sandwich from the local layby snack van.
The cabin does have a couple of drawbacks, however, with the lack of hooks being the number one annoyance. This means - on a wet day - I have to rest my jacket on the passenger seat and then watch as it slides onto the muddy floor as I navigate a roundabout or a mild turn in the road. You can fix this by fitted the optional underseat storage package, but would it be too much for a coat hook to be fitted to the van as standard?
On the flipside, the 2.0 TSI engine is a real peach. It's silky smooth and quiet, which makes it great for short runs around town. For sure, it can't match the 2.0 TDI 150 for torque, but the petrol unit's 280Nm - from 1500rpm to 3750rom - does a good job for the most part. However, that said, I have noticed a small vibration that feeds its way through the steering wheel.
Large and comfortable, the Transporter doubles up as a sofa for Dan's lunchtime snooze
I first noticed the vibration last week when helping a friend move house. And while the van wasn't short on performance, the little wobbles were more profound when pushing the engine along in a high gear at low revs. At first, I thought I'd injured my hand from moving the boxes, because it felt like a muscle twinge, but when I lifted my hand off the wheel it was clear that it wasn't coming my stick-like journalist arms, but from the van.
The cause of the strange vibration isn't clear. It could simply be part of the engine running-in process or a trait of a petrol being used for something a diesel is designed for - low gear pull. However, I'll certainly be keeping an eye on it over the coming weeks because there's plenty of miles (and load lugging) for the T6 Transporter to do before its time is up with Honest John Vans.
On the road, the T6 shines bright. It's really good to drive, with responsive steering and plenty of feedback through the pedals. This means, when empty, you can push it along with a little gusto and take some enjoyment on a country road, and not be fearful that you'll go from hero to zero in the grip stakes - something that's always reassuring in the winter months.
Over the next few weeks I'll be swapping the motorways and dual carriageways for inner city driving to see how my petrol van performs as a short-run commercial vehicle. The fuel economy, for example, is pretty faithful on the motorway, but will drop a quick 5mpg when in town for short runs.
« Earlier: Fuel for thought - what's it like to run a petrol van? Later: City dweller – what’s T6 Transporter like as a short-run van? »
