Our Vans: Volkswagen T6 Transporter 2.0 TSI
26 February 2018: Petrol vans – what are the alternatives to the Transporter TSI?
The Details
| Current mileage | 1489 |
|---|---|
| Claimed economy | 31.0mpg |
| Actual economy | 30.7mpg |
During a trip to a builders' merchants recently I was somewhat stumped when the guy behind the counter asked me about my petrol van. "I don’t really like Volkswagens,” he chirped, “who else builds big petrol vans?" And you know what? I couldn’t give him an answer. Because the Transporter petrol is the only van of its type on sale right now.
Look at the most-common petrol vans on sale and they're all rather small. No Transit Customs, no Vitos and certainly no Vivaros. So what’s going on? Why is Volkswagen the only party in town to offer medium size vans with petrol engines?
The answer lies in the approach vanmakers are taking towards non-diesel powertrains. Volkswagen, for example, has provided a quick fix by fitting the petrol engines from its car range into its vans. Ford on the other hand is developing a petrol plug-in hybrid system for the Transit Custom, while Mercedes-Benz is working away on the all-electric Vito.
So, for now, the Transporter TSI is the only non-diesel alternative available for van operators who want a capable and practical medium size van. And for the most-part the Volkswagen does a fine job of moving moderate payloads and returning affordable running costs. Indeed, during the past few weeks of motorway runs, the engine has pretty much matched Volkswagen's official figures.
The loadspace of the T6 Transporter is almost identicle to the T5, which means fixtures and fittings are easily transferable for those wanting to trade-in for a new petrol Volkswagen
Based on the underpinnings of the old T5 panel van, the T6 has the same load area as before, which means things like racking and shelves can easily be transferred. However, like the standard van, the Transporter isn't as practical as the Transit Custom. In comparison, the diesel-powered Ford will boast a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up to 3.3 tonnes. Payloads peak at 1474kg for a van in L1H1 trim too.
That said, I think the Transporter TSI with its 1054kg payload and 3.0 tonne GVW will be enough for most city-based builders and delivery drivers. Especially when you consider that electric versions of the Transit Custom and Vito might not get near their diesel equivalents when it comes to carrying capacity and GVW, owing to the huge batteries needed to power the electric motors.
As a driving experience, the Petrol Transporter is fantastic. The engine is silky smooth and quiet, while the front-wheel drive layout provides lots of grip on wet or wintery roads. However, as mentioned in previous updates, the turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine does provide some mild vibration through the steering wheel when under heavy strain.
On the motorway, it's difficult to think of a van that's more refined or comfortable than the T6. Despite its box-like shape, road and wind noise is well suppressed and this means you can cover long distances and feel relatively fresh at your destination. The optional navigation system has also failed to put a foot wrong when it comes to finding your way around town.
« Earlier: City dweller – what’s T6 Transporter like as a short-run van? Later: Volkswagen T6 Transporter petrol – the three-month verdict »
