By: IOL Motoring Staff
Port Alfred - Volkswagen's sixth-generation T-Series Transporter, launched in South Africa at the weekend, is an object lesson in how much you can do with a model range if you get the basics right.
And the basics are VW's famous (notorious?) two-litre turbodiesel four in three different level of tune, and five or six-speed manual or seven-speed double-clutch transmissions driving the front wheels - all carried over intact from the previous T5 range.
The Crew Bus and Caravelle derivatives are also available with 4Motion all-wheel drive.
As before, the platform includes short and long-wheelbase derivatives in almost every body style; its styling, however is distinctly new, with a more sharp-edged front treatment and strong horizontal lines, running the full length of the body; daytime running lights are standard across the range, matched with LED headlights on upmarket models.
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The interior has had a comprehensive make-over, with new steering wheels, redesigned storage areas - and more of them, including front door pockets that'll swallow a 1.5-litre soft-drink bottle and an A4 folder at the same time - as well as new touchscreen infotainment displays in more stylish settings.
The range includes commercial vehicles - the Pick Up, Panel Van and Crew Bus - and passenger transport (Kombi and Caravelle) with a T6 version of the California Beach camper coming along to join the fleet late in 2016.
All of them, however, now come with multi-collision braking as standard, in addition to an electronic stability programme, hill hold, a Composition Audio sound system with Bluetooth, and aircon; the Kombi and Caravelle also have fatigue detection, power-adjustable mirrors, and a height-adjustable drivers' seat.
PICK-UP
This is not your average bakkie: it comes in long-wheelbase format only, and the cab-forward architecture gives it a huge 5.7 square metre, completely flat load bed with three 390mm aluminium dropsides. Even the double-cab version offers a 4.2 square metre load-bed. erble
The single cab version is only available with the base 75kW engine, rated for 250Nm from 1500-2500rpm, at a nominal laboratory fuel-consumption of 7.3 litres per 100km, mated to a five-speed manual cogset.
The double-cab is also available with the range-topping 132kW twin-turbo TDI, tuned for 400Nm from 1500-200rpm and driving via a seven-speed DSG 'box.
PANEL VAN
The heavy-duty healer of the Transporter range, available in short or long-wheelbase layout, has double rear doors and a sliding door on the left of the body as standard - although the body shell is so stiff you can have a second sliding door on the right for a few dollars more.
The double doors give van doors open 1473mm wide and 1299mm high, accessing a 5.8 cubic metre cargo bay, stretching to 6.7 cubic metres (enough to swallow three euro pallets) in long-wheelbase format, with plenty of load-lashing rings.
The 75kW engine with five manually-stirred speeds is standard, while the short-wheelbase-only Sport Van boasts a 103kW TDI rated for 340Nm from 1750rpm with a seven-speed DSG.
CREW BUS
The Miss Versatility of the Transporter family comes in six flavours, starting with the 75kW, five-speed stick shift in short or long-wheelbase, backed up by a long-wheelbase 103kW DSG and 132kW variants in both short and long-wheelbase format, each with a seven-speed DSG self-shifter and all-wheel drive.
It has a single front passenger perch and removable three-seat rear bench (instant panel van - ta-daa!), a left-side glazed sliding door, a glazed tailgate, rubber flooring throughout and four load-lashing rings in the cargo bay.
KOMBI
Seating up to eight, the Kombi is available in base Trendline trim with a short wheelbase and either 75kW, five speed or 103kW, seven speed DSG motorvation.
The upmarket Comfortline trim comes in short wheelbase layout with 103kW and either six-speed manual or seven speed DSG - or in long wheelbase with DSG transmission.
The second and third-row seats are can be folded or removed without tools, and standard kit includes moulded trim roof headlining, heat insulating glass, multiple airvents and rear side-window curtains, electric mirrors and windows.
Trendline trim specifies rubber flooring, while Comfortline ups the ante with carpeting throughout, semi-automatic aircon via roof air-circulation, height adjustment, lumbar support and armrests for the two front seats and a Composition 'Colour' sound system with SD card slot, USB port and Bluetooth connectivity.
CARAVELLE
Volkswagen's flagship family ferry comes with the 132kW twin-turbo and seven-speed DSG as standard, with your choice of front or all-wheel drive.
This seven-seat 'lounge on wheels' comes with rotating individual second-row seats that can be turned to face the third-row bench, as well as sliding fore and aft for maximum versatility.
The third-row bench seat can also slide fore and aft as required for cargo space or family accommodation, and there are drinks holders in the sidewall panels drawers under the seats as well as a removable rubbish bin.
The base Comfortline trim includes decorative inserts for the side panels, semi-automatic Climatronic climate control, roller sun blinds in the passenger compartment, a boot-space cover, multifunction steering wheel, rain sensor, leather seat trim covers and automatic anti-glare interior rear-view mirror.
The flagship highline trim adds fog lights with a cornering light function, 17 inch alloy rims, a detachable towbar, Discover Media navigation system, fatigue detection, full LED lighting, an electric sliding door, three-zone climate control and a multi-adjustable middle table.
ON THE ROAD
Denis Droppa of our print sister publication Star Motoring drove the short wheelbase 103kW/340Nm Kombi Trend DSG version, the second least expensive of the people-carrying T6 versions at R513 300.
“While it doesn't have the poke of the 132kW/400Nm Caravelle,” he reported, “it quite happily hummed along carrying six people and their luggage, with enough torque to ensure that steep hills didn't significantly hinder its forward progress.
“It also averaged a very creditable 8.5 litres per 100km in mostly open-road cruising. The ride quality seemed a little better than the old T5 too.
“The improved clutter space includes large door storage pockets, but only the Caravelle gets nooks in the dashboard that are large enough to accommodate a modern smartphone.”
Read his full launch report in Star Motoring on Thursday.
PRICES - PICKUP
2.0 TDI Single Cab Pick Up LWB 75Kw - R293 900
2.0 TDI Double Cab Pick Up LWB 75kW - R332 800
2.0 BiTDI Double Cab Pick Up LWB 132kW - R409 800
PANEL VAN
2.0 TDI Panel Van SWB 75kW- R362 600
2.0 TDI Panel Van LWB 75Kw - R370 600
2.0 TDI Sport Van SWB DSG 103kW - R432 600
CREW BUS
2.0 TDI Crew Bus SWB 75kW - R421 100
2.0 TDI Crew Bus LWB 75kW - R429 100
2.0 TDI Crew Bus LWB DSG 103kW - R464 400
2.0 BiTDI Crew Bus SWB DSG 132kW - R489 400
2.0 BiTDI Crew Bus SWB 4Motion DSG 132kW - R519 900
2.0 BiTDI Crew Bus LWB 4Motion DSG 132kW - R527 900
KOMBI
2.0 TDI Kombi Trendline 75kW - R481 800
2.0 TDI Kombi Trendline DSG 103kW - R513 300
2.0 TDI Kombi Comfortline 103kW - R566 400
2.0 TDI Kombi Comfortline DSG 103kW - R583 900
2.0 TDI Kombi Comfortline LWB DSG 103kW - R591 900
CARAVELLE
2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Comfortline DSG 132kW - R738 300
2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Comfortline 4Motion DSG 132kW - R770 800
2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Highline DSG 132kW - R816 300
2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Highline 4Motion DSG 132kW - R848 800
Transporter models come with a two year, unlimited distance warranty and a three-year or 60 000km maintenance plan, while the Kombi and Caravelle are covered for three years or 100 000km and maintained for five years or 60 000km.
All T6s need to go home to Mama once a year or every 15 000km, whichever comes first.
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