Volkswagen Transporter review

While some ‘luxury’ stuff like air con and sat nav are on the options list, you’ve plenty as standard on even the most basic Transporters: remote locking, electric windows and mirrors, a bunch of driving aids such as hill start assist and crosswind assist, plus a 6.5-inch media system with DAB, phone link-up and a multi-function steering wheel to toggle through it all.

Anything else you’d care to add is all nicely bundled up, too: an extra £1,314 adds air con, rear parking sensors, an alarm and an illuminated glovebox (!) to entry-level T6.1s in a ‘Business Package’, for instance. A parking camera is a bargain £294 if you’re new to the van world and fear sensors won’t be enough. 

More key options include full-height ply lining for your load bay at £795 and body-coloured bumpers on Startline versions at £876. Electric sliding doors on both sides will set you back £1,242, while adaptive cruise control is standard on Highline versions but a £444 option on base spec Startline versions. Top spec Sportline bundles in almost everything as standard, although you’ll still have to pay extra for sliding doors and a tow bar.

Claimed fuel economy ranges from 40.8 to 32.4mpg depending on whether you’ve gone for 109 or 201bhp (or something in between), though our 42mpg bettered the official claim on our 109bhp model by over ten per cent without any concerted effort – and with close to a full payload, at one point. The corresponding CO2 emission claims are 181 to 229g/km.

You get a three-year/100,000-mile warranty, as well as three years of paint and 12 years of body protection. Not to mention three years of Europe-wide Volkswagen Assistance breakdown cover.