Review | First drive
Volkswagen e-Transporter T
On Sale: March 2025 Key Rival: Ford e-Transit Custom
Volkswagen e-Transporter Commerce Pro BEV
Price (ex VAT, inc PIVG) £42,855
Price range (ex VAT, inc PIVG) £36,965-£43,705 Insurance group tbc
Warranty 5yrs/124,000mls (battery 8yrs)
Service intervals 2yrs/unlimited mls
Load length 2,602mm
Load width (min/max) 1,392mm/1,777mm Load bay height 1,433mm Gross payload 1,009kg Load volume 5.8m3
Engine size/power 218hp electric motor with 64kWh battery Range 192 miles (WLTP) CO2
0g/km
VERDICT The new electric van is a worthy addition to the Transporter’s esteemed lineage
Overall rating:
he seventh generation of the Volkswagen Transporter is the first in an illustrious line to share a
platform with a van from another brand. Purists may have found this mixing up
of a much-loved recipe hard to swallow, but in partnering with the Ford Transit Custom, Volkswagen has surely blended the Transporter with the outstanding medium van currently available – which is also the clear UK market leader. Built at Ford’s plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, the first tranche of models to arrive in UK showrooms in March will be short and long-wheelbase (SWB and LWB), low-roof (LR) e-Transporter and Transporter panel vans. Te range will subsequently expand to include high-roof, Kombi, Shuttle and double-cab chassis models, which are exclusive to Volkswagen and not available in the Ford Transit Custom range. All models are offered as standard or long wheelbase versions. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will join the line-up in 2026. Te front-wheel drive ICE Transporter
is powered by three 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI engines with outputs of 110hp, 150hp and 170hp. Te 110hp and 150hp engines are paired with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard while the 170hp unit
is combined exclusively with eight-speed automatic transmission, which is an option with the 150hp engine. Te 150hp van is also offered with VW’s 4Motion all- wheel drive. Te rear-wheel drive e-Transporter
will be available in the UK with outputs of 136hp and 218hp coupled with peak torque of 430Nm. Both versions come with a 65kWh lithium-ion battery. Te diesel Transporter is up for
grabs in three trim levels – Commerce, Commerce Plus and Commerce Pro – with prices ranging from £30,995 to £40,345, excluding VAT. Te electric van comes in Commerce Plus and Commerce Pro grades with prices ranging from £41,965 to £48,705, excluding VAT and the Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG), which cuts an additional £5,000 from the starting price. Tested here is the 218hp e-Transporter L1H1 in left-hand drive with specification that corresponds most closely to the Commerce Pro level of trim that will come to the UK in right-hand drive. Characterised by the clean, sharp
lines that recall previous-generation Transporters, Volkswagen’s van is more conservatively styled than the Ford Transit Custom it is based upon. Te brand admits some customers were
not happy with equipment levels on the T6.1 and has worked to ensure it receives no similar complaints about the T7. All models include LED headlights and
daytime running lights, power-adjustable and heated external mirrors, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat with manually adjustable two-way lumbar support, a 12in driver display, a 13in infotainment touchscreen, cruise control, rear parking sensors and keyless start. Further features with Commerce Plus include body-coloured exterior trim, front parking sensors, a reversing camera, front and rear mud flaps, keyless start with Safelock, and an anti-theft alarm system. Stepping up to Commerce Pro adds
30
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