The Transporter is still a fantastic vehicle but it does lack some modern features of its industry counterparts
What’s not
• One of the downsides of having a heavily-built van with the above mentioned safety systems is that payload with inevitably suffer and the Transporter only holds 906kgs of cargo. The rival Citroen Dispatch, for example, will hold 1,200kgs.
• We were surprised to see that this van didn’t have a bulkhead as standard. As such, it was noisier in the cab than we would expect for a modern vehicle and of course safety is compromised too as any loose loads will come flying into the cab area in the event of an accident.
• Getting up on the businessvans.co.uk safety soapbox, we once again ask why a law hasn’t been passed making reversing sensors a legal requirement on all panel vans. Well, no such law has been passed (or indeed looks likely to be passed) and this wonderful safety item sadly remains on Volkswagen’s options list.
Verdict
The Transporter always was – and still is – a superb driving machine that will delight drivers with its ride and handling and owners with its low running costs and excellent residual values. We are looking forward to seeing the next facelift which is on the horizon – possibly for 2015.
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