The What Van? Road Test: Volkswagen Transporter Kombi (2018)

Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2018   |   Author: Steve Banner

 

Trans Rear 3-4

Operating

There’s a three-year/100,000-mile warranty with breakdown assistance provided for the duration.

The body is warranted against rusting through from the inside for 12 years, and the paint is warranted for three.

Service intervals are flexible and depend on how hard the van has to work and the conditions it has to face.

Typically it will need to visit a workshop once every 15,000 miles.

Thieves will hopefully be frustrated by the Thatcham Category 1-approved alarm and immobiliser with tow-away, perimeter and interior cab protection.

Colour-keyed bumpers and door handles help improve the Edition’s looks, but it is a shame there are no side rubbing strips.

Volkswagen Transporter Kombi Highline Edition T30 SWB 2.0TDI 150hp

Price (ex VAT)    £31,455
Price range (ex VAT)      £20,010-£42,875
Gross payload    1,052kg
Load length     1,600-2,572mm
Load width (min/max)    1,244/1,627mm
Load bay height     1,397mm
Load volume    3.0-5.8m3
Loading height     576mm
Rear door aperture     1,473 x 1,290mm
Side door aperture     1,017 x 1,264mm
Gross vehicle weight     3,080kg
Braked trailer towing weight    2,500kg
Residual value     28.2%*
Cost per mile      37.3p*
Engine size/power     1,968cc, 150hp @ 3,250-3,750rpm
Torque     340Nm @ 1,500-3,000rpm
Gearbox     6-spd
Fuel economy     45.6mpg (combined)
Fuel tank     70 litres
CO2     1,62g/km
Warranty      3yrs/100,000mls
Service intervals     Flexible/15,000mls
Insurance group     36E
Price as tested     £32,410

* After 4yrs/80,000mls, source: KwikCarcost

Options fitted

Side Scan with cruise control     £380
Adaptive Cruise Control incl. Front
Assist & City Emergency Braking     £330
VW Media Control & App Connect    £195
Seat trim covers in leatherette     £50

Rivals

Ford Transit Custom
Price (ex VAT) £21,495-£33,150
Load volume    6.0-8.3m3
Gross payload    685-1,459kg
Engines     105hp, 130hp, 170hp 2.0 diesel
 
Verdict: The benchmark. Ride, handling and overall performance are all to a high standard, the appealing internal and external styling put the Transporter in the shade, and kit levels will not disappoint. A five-seater Double- Cab-in-Van is sold with either a 3.5m3 or 4.4m3 rear load area with a bulkhead.

Peugeot Expert
Price (ex VAT) £19,540-£32,085
Load volume      4.6-6.1m3
Gross payload    1,099-1,499kg
Engines    95hp, 115hp 1.6 diesel, 120hp, 150hp, 180hp 2.0 diesel

Verdict: Falls short of the standard set by the Transit Custom, but offers acceptable levels of on-the-road behaviour and mpg, sensible service intervals and a decent warranty. It’s also sold as a Citroen Dispatch and Toyota Proace. An Expert Crew Van is marketed with either a 3.2m3 or a 4.0m3 rear load bay with a bulkhead.

Vauxhall Vivaro
Price (ex VAT) £21,680-£27,180
Load volume 5.2-8.6m3
Gross payload 989-1,280kg
Engines 95hp, 120hp, 125hp, 145hp 1.6 diesel

Verdict: Vauxhall will soon be waving bye-bye to the existing Vivaro. Next year it will be replaced by a new model, which will use the Citroen Dispatch/Peugeot Expert platform. But the current model is by no means outdated and worth a look. The Double Cab gets a 3.2m3 or 4.0m3 load area with a bulkhead.

The Final Verdict

Design

6/10

Versatile working tool but dull styling.

Cabin

8/10

Lots of storage and room. Interior quality’s among the best ever.

Ride

7/10

Overly firm and suspension at times finds pot-holes difficult. 

Refinement

9/10

No groans or squeaks and in-cab noise levels are under control.

Load area

6/10

No bulkhead, but removing rear seats leaves lots of space.

Handling/performance

7/10

Steering is over-assisted but no quarrels with straight-line go.

Engine/transmission

8/10

Both are impressive and the gear-change is slick and quick.

Standard equipment

8/10

 Highline means lots of goodies and we like the stress on safety.

Operating costs

8/10

 Flexible intervals, generous warranty, and a respectable mpg.

What Van? subjective rating

8/10

Practical package that in effect gives you two vans in one.

Overall Rating 75/100



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