For those who don’t know much about it, this vehicle is as important for Volkswagen as the Beetle. Back in the 50s, when the company was still struggling to appear on the map, the very first Transporter was created as its utilitarian variation, combining all its famous characteristics to a cabin big enough to carry several people or boxes of goods. Transporter’s first generations became particularly famous in the United States and Brazil, respectively as a symbol of the hippie culture and as an extremely cost-efficient work van, but the Germans didn’t stop there. The following generations became more conventional full-size vans, but this only means each one became even better at this job. T6 intends to carry on with all that, but also bring back some of the fun of yore.
If you look at pictures of the previous Transporters, you’ll notice that the only stylistic change that wasn’t related to moment trends or safety regulations is that bump on the front. And that only appeared when Volkswagen finally gave up on rear engines. Therefore, it’s not surprising that T6 looks so much like its predecessors. It adopted the maker’s latest design trend, as usual, but remains as recongnizable as always. The shapes of creases, lights and air passages feature a deeper visual connection, with an overall result that looks even more imponent and solid – “as if milled from a solid block”, according to the company. There are some details which depend on the variation (these will be presented later), but none that escapes from the core intentions.
Speaking of T6’s versions, they are as numerous as usual. For this vehicle, “Transporter” actually refers only to the base of the lineup, composed by the cargo siblings. Those are short and long-wheelbase panel vans, combined-use van, all those with high roof, and single or crew-cab pick-up trucks. At the other end, Multivan brings several items concerning comfort and appearance, so as to make a great choice for big families, “outdoor sports enthusiasts” and, in the case of the Business sub-variation, high-end corporate transportation. Caravelle, in turn, uses an intermediate level of refinement to perform a little of both the previous tasks. And there’s California, with the usual plethora of equipments dedicated to take your camping experience to the next level.
Regardless of the model, T6’s interior will always remind you this is a German car: it was conceived following the Bauhaus concept where form follows function. The rectilinear design gives you storage areas of multiple sizes and shapes, which are covered in the passenger versions so as to make part of the two-tone trim you see in the pictures. The dual colors were also extended to the seats and door panels. This is very interesting because it makes the room much more pleasant to inhabit (professional drivers will be thankful), and doesn’t make the van any less functional. When it comes to the passengers, the regular Multivan’s second row of seats is rearward-facing, while Business’s rows carry only two, but with bigger and more comfortable seats.
As any good van, T6 became even more practical to use. The seats can be folded individually, enabling the user to carry the best proportion of people and cargo for each moment. In most versions, the tailgate now closes with much less effort and noise. In the upscale ones, it uses an electric system: it’s opened with the handle or a button, but it’s always closed with another button. Parallel to that, the Dynamic Chassis Control offers three driving modes, which adapt several driving parameters so as to make the handling even better. And the infotainment central, which uses a 6.3” touchscreen, is safer to operate: a hands-free Bluetooth system is standard, but if you have to use your hands, a proximity sensor allows you to use several functions only with wiping motions.
Like most modern cars, electronics have made T6’s safety package bigger than ever. Between standard and optional items, Front Assist “recognises critical distances to the vehicle in front and helps to shorten the stopping distance”. If the driver misses an obstacle, City Emergency Braking “applies the brakes and ensures that the collision speed is reduced”. Driver Alert “recognises any deviations from normal driving behaviour and recommends the driver takes a break”. Light Assist “performs automatic, camera-controlled switching on and off of the main beam”. And there are other items, such as adaptive cruise control, automatic post-collision braking, heated windscreen, hill-descent assist, and stability controls for both the van and an eventual trailer.
While most recent Volkswagens stop bringing news at all when it comes to engines and transmissions, T6 accounts for an exception: the diesel range uses a new generation of TDI engines, all compliant with Euro 6 standards. These are actually one transverse-mounted, four-cylinder 2.0 engine, whose output can be 83, 100, 148 or 201 hp. If you’d rather burn gasoline, your engine comes from the TSI family, but it’s another four-cylinder 2.0. In this case, you get either 148 or 201 hp. Along with start/stop system offered as standard, they all feature other improvements towards fuel efficiency, which means “overall fuel consumption could be reduced by 15% on average”, according to VW. In other words, “the new engines save a litre of fuel compared to the previous generation”.
In order to celebrate this release, VW will offer the Generation Six edition. Based on Multivan Comfortline, it adds several exclusive items: “tinted windows, LED headlights and rear lights, fog lights with cornering light and the chrome package” come as standard, as well as many safety systems, Composition Media radio, two-tone Alcantara seats, steering wheel and gear lever in leather with contrasting stitching, and exclusive floor mats. The optionals, in turn, are “four two-tone paintwork finishes with colour-coordinated decorative elements on the dash panel, plus 18-inch retro-design 'Disc' alloy wheels in two different colour patterns”. T6 will go on sale starting with Europe with a last piece of great news: “prices are on a par with the previous model or slightly lower”.