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The What Van? Road Test: Volkswagen Transporter (2021)
Date: Friday, August 26, 2022
Powertrain
Equipped with an intercooler, Sportline’s transversely-mounted four-cylinder in-line twin-turbo direct-injection common-rail diesel delivers maximum power at 4,000rpm. Top torque of 450Nm bites across a 1,400rpm–2,250rpm plateau.
A diesel particulate filter plus regular replenishment of the van’s 22L AdBlue reservoir help ensure that it maintains its Euro 6D exhaust emission status.
Driving
Strong acceleration from rest and up through the gears, plus the ability to maintain motorway speeds mile after mile without breaking sweat, mean that prospective owners have no need to worry about Sportline’s on-highway performance.
All that punch is delivered smoothly and steadily through an excellent DSG transmission that delivers a healthy kick-down whenever you need to sprint past slower-moving traffic. Push the gearshift lever to the right and you can change gear manually by pushing the lever backwards and forwards, but we stuck to the auto setting for 99% of the time and left the gearbox to its own devices.
All this is accompanied by sharp handling, partly due to the lowered height, that allows you to approach even quite tight bends with confidence. In-cab noise isn’t an issue bar a modest amount of bump and thump from the tyres and suspension, which between them deliver a pretty good ride.
Drawbacks? We reckon that our demonstrator’s brakes probably needed adjusting. Anything but the lightest of pressures on the pedal brought us to a screeching halt.
Fuel economy? We averaged 37mpg, just 0.5mpg shy of the official WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) figure.
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