WHEN your kids tell you this is better than a Bentley, Porsche or Ferrari then you have to take notice.
On the road: STYLE, space and on road ability combine in this the fifth generation Volkswagen Transporter.
Our special edition model marked 60 years of the Transporter in the UK in one guise or another and certainly stood out with its candy white body, black roof and fetching 18ins alloys.
Available in short and long wheelbase and as a Kombi or panel van, it is set to be updated in September or October.
Our short wheelbase van was powered by a 2.0 litre BiTDI engine mated to an extremely smooth six-speed manual gearbox.
The unit puts out 178bhp and has 295lb/ft of torque.
Gravelly under acceleration it nevertheless quietens down as speed increases.
The Sportline handles a lot better than you might think from something of this nature.
The ride is more than bearable and its driving characteristics would put some saloons to shame.
What’s more getting behind the wheel it also puts a big smile on your face, especially when you are clocked by fellow owners who give you the thumbs or a cheery flash of the headlights.
On the inside: DRIVE any VW and there’s a real feeling of familiarity and that’s true even of their commercial vehicles. There might not be much room to the cabin but what there is has been well thought out. Everything is within easy reach – fortunate really as there are no steering wheel mounted controls – and there’s nothing to confuse the driver.
There’s zero vision out the back, hence no rear view mirror, so you are reliant on the big wing mirrors and the addition of parking sensors and rear camera.
What do you get: STANDARD features include alarm with tow away, perimeter and interior cab protection, daytime running lights, climatic air conditioning, dual passenger seat and storage box, electric front windows, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors, front and rear parking sensors with rear parking camera amd a Kenwood DAB radio and single CD.
In addition there were the 18ins alloys in anthracite, body coloured bumpers and door handles, rear roof spoiler, darkened rear light clusters, Sportline decals and badging, side sliding door and heat insulating glass.
The interior featured embossed leather upholstery, leather steering wheel and gearknob, various storage compartments and a 60th anniversary plaque. Our car came with the optional rubber load floor covering and cab comfort pack among other items. How practical is it: THE cabin is not overly spacious, but there is room for three, albeit sat in rather close proximity.
Despite its size the Transporter is easy to move around and I didn’t have any problem parking it. The only issue was reversing off my drive, which required patience.
There’s 5.8 cubic metres of load space available and so accommodating bikes for a cycle race I was involved in was a hassle free procedure.
The aforementioned rubber matting also meant that the load, even when not strapped down, did not move while in transit.
Running costs: THE Transporter, in keeping with the VW marque, is not cheap, but people seem willing to pay a little extra for the heritage.
VW say you should manage around 36mpg on the combined cycle. We returned very close to that at 35mpg. CO2 emissions come in at 205g/km.
The Transporter comes with a three-year or 100,000 mile warranty, three years paint and 12 years body protection. In addition there is three years of Volkswagen Assistance, covering the UK and Europe.
Verdict: A VAN for all seasons.
Alternatives: Ford Transit, Mercedes Vito, Renault Trafic
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