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The new generation of Volkswagen Transporter is completely different to the current model, with a new chassis, powertrain and interior.
It's based on the Ford Transit Custom, and unlike the previous model, this latest Transporter is available with a diesel engine, as a plug-in hybrid and with a fully electric battery option.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles says that the new Transporter is clearly identifiable as a VW with its "clean front and rear design" that includes LED headlights and LED tail lights as standard. But that's not the only defining feature of the new Transporter van.
Like it did with the Volkswagen Amarok, which was also developed by Ford and re-badged as a VW, they've made a big effort to try to make their version of the medium van stand out. It's not quite as belt-and-braces as the Amarok makeover is - more on that later - but it's an OK attempt at it.
Perhaps the big headline grabber though, is that Volkswagen is attempting to stand-out from the Ford version by offering up even greater value for money. That's not normally something you'd associate with Volkswagen vans which normally come at a premium, but there's a two pronged attack on the medium-size Transit van.
Firstly, the starting price in the UK undercuts the Ford. At the time of writing it's about ยฃ1500, but beware all is not quite as it may seem. You don't get a great deal for the money, and it's not a like-for-like comparison to the entry-level Ford.
Secondly, you do get a better warranty, servicing and roadside assistance package. This is where the VW does giver better value. It's their five year promise and with it you get five years of every kind of support you could ask for.
The new Transporter also gets a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system that includes DAB+, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's a multifunction steering wheel, rain sensing wipers and lane keeping assistance system. Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist and Dynamic Road Sign Display with wrong-way warning will also be included.
The new Volkswagen Transporter will also be offered in a range of body styles with a panel van, panel van Plus - that gets a second row of seats, and as a panel van with L-shaped partition - to allow long items to be carried, like a canoe or bicycle with additional passengers. There will also be a Kombi van with rear windows, and a dropside vehicle based on a double cab with a long wheelbase.
Then there will be a Caravelle passenger car version, and possible a Volkswagen California campervan derivative. High roof Transporter vans as well as versions with an extended wheelbase will be offered. The high roof Transporter van can now also be combined with the shorter wheelbase model.
Due to the platform change, the new Transporter has got longer. The next generation Volkswagen Transporter will now be 5,050mm long โ an increase of 146mm compared with the predecessor.
This is due to an increase in the wheelbase, which has been extended by 97mm to 3,100 mm. There will also be the of a long wheelbase model Transporter which is 400mm longer, bringing the total length to 5,450mm.
The width has also increased to 2,032mm which is 128mm wider thant the previous model.
The new platform with its increased exterior length, width and wheelbase has meant that the Volkswagen Transporter will have a greater load volume and payload capacity. The new Transporter range in 2025 will have a load volume starting at 5.8 m3. The increase in the van's width will mean that the maximum width between the wheelarches for the Volkswagen Transporter will be increased by 148mm to a maximum of 1,392 mm.
Payload of the next Transporter in the standard wheelbase, and as a diesel model, will increase to 1.3 tonnes - up from 1.2 tonnes.
The maximum trailer towing weight also increases from 2.5 tonnes to 2.8 tonnes for the diesel vans.
For the first time, the new Transporter will be available with a plug-in hybrid option called Transporter eHybrid. There will also be a fully electric driveline eTransporter that will be an official model in the line-up - unlike the Volkswagen 6.1 eTransporter which was made by ABT.
There will be diesel variants, which will have three outputs of 81kW (110 PS), 110kW (150 PS) and 125kW (170 PS).
The next gen Volkswagen Transporter range will then be increased with a plug-in hybrid driveline which will come with 171kW (233 PS).
Finally, the fully electric Transporter range will have a total of four electric motors with 85kW (116 PS), 100kW (136 PS), 160kW (218 PS) and 210kW (286 PS).
Battery options for the fully electric Transporter will include 83 kWh, while the entry-level model with 85kW motor will get a 54kWh battery.
TDI and eHybrid models will be front-wheel drive as standard, but a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is available as an option for the TDI versions from 110kW upwards.
Ford also plans to release a similar range of models, and has announced that its Ford Transit Custom line-up will also get hybrid and full electric models.
