The Volkswagen T6.1 Transporter range has entered 2022 unchanged, but for higher prices.

    Prices are up by $3000 across the entire range compared with those announced at the T6.1’s launch.

    “As with a number of brands, inflationary pressures are going to be felt eventually,” said a spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia.

    “There was pricing pressure throughout 2021 from which the customer was insulated.

    “No order placed before January 1 is affected and the great majority of current orders on most model lines were made before then.”

    Volkswagen continues to offer its Transporter line in a choice of short- or long-wheelbase van, five-seat Crewvan, and single- or dual-cab chassis body styles.

    There’s also a choice of three different tunes for the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine and, unusually for this segment, a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

    Pricing

    Transporter SWB Van

    • SWB TDI250 5MT: $41,990
    • SWB TDI340 6MT: $44,990
    • SWB TDI340 DSG: $47,990
    • SWB TDI340 DSG 4Motion: $50,990
    • SWB TDI450 DSG: $53,990
    • SWB TDI450 DSG 4Motion: $56,990

    Transporter LWB Van

    • LWB TDI340 6MT: $47,990
    • LWB TDI340 DSG: $50,990
    • LWB TDI340 DSG 4Motion: $53,990
    • LWB TDI450 DSG: $56,990
    • LWB TDI450 DSG 4Motion: $59,990

    Transporter Crewvan

    • SWB TDI340 DSG: $54,490
    • SWB TDI340 DSG 4Motion: $57,490
    • LWB TDI340 DSG: $57,490
    • LWB TDI340 DSG 4Motion: $60,490

    Transporter Chassis – with factory tray

    • Single Cab LWB TDI450 DSG: $58,490
    • Dual Cab LWB TDI450 DSG: $60,490
    • Single Cab LWB TDI450 DSG 4Motion: $61,490
    • Dual Cab LWB TDI450 DSG 4Motion: $63,490

    All prices are before on-road costs.

    Engines

    All Transporter models are powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine in varying states of tune.

    The TDI250 produces 81kW of power and 250Nm of torque, and is exclusively mated to a five-speed manual.

    TDI340 models develop 110kW and 340Nm and offer a choice of six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic options, with the latter also available with 4Motion all-wheel drive.

    Finally, the TDI450 develops 146kW and 450Nm and is solely available with a DSG, with the option of 4Motion all-wheel drive as well.

    Fuel Consumption

    Fuel economy for the 2022 Volkswagen Transporter varies based on model. Combined cycle figures for the range are:

    • TDI250: 6.9L/100km
    • TDI450 van: 7.3L/100km
    • TDI340 manual van, TDI450 dual-cab chassis: 7.5L/100km
    • TDI450 single-cab chassis: 7.6L/100km
    • TDI450 4Motion van: 8.0L/100km
    • TDI340 FWD and 4Motion van and Crewvan; TDI450 4Motion dual-cab: 8.3L/100km
    • TDI450 single-cab 4Motion: 8.4L/100km

    Front-wheel drive TDI340 and TDI450 models require AdBlue.

    All models have an 80L fuel tank except the TDI250, which has a 70L tank.

    Dimensions

    Short-wheelbase van models measure 4904mm long, 1904mm wide and 1978mm tall, with a 3000mm wheelbase.

    Internally, the short-wheelbase variants offer a maximum load length of 2575mm, max load height of 1410mm, and a max load width of 1700mm. There’s also 1244mm between the arches.

    The long-wheelbase vans are 5304mm long, 1904mm wide, and 1976mm tall with a 3400mm wheelbase.

    Inside, the long-wheelbase van offers a max load length of 2975mm, max load height of 1410mm, max load width of 1700mm, and there’s 1244mm between the arches.

    The cab-chassis is 5500mm long, 1994mm wide and 1948mm tall on a 3400mm wheelbase.

    Note there are different roof heights available across the range. Payload varies from model to model, from 853kg in the TDI450 single-cab to 1220kg for the TDI340 SWB manual van.

    Unbraked and braked towing capacity figures are 750kg and 2500kg, respectively, across the range. Likewise, all models have a 100kg towbar load limit.

    Servicing and Warranty

    The Volkswagen Commercial range is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

    Volkswagen also includes one year of roadside assist.

    In addition to capped-price servicing, Volkswagen offers servicing ‘Care Plans’.

    It’s offering five-year servicing plans for the cost of three-year plans until June 30, 2022. Plans for front-wheel drive models cost $1400, while those for 4Motion models cost $1600.

    Safety

    The current-generation Transporter hasn’t been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

    However, the entire range gets the following safety equipment as standard:

    • Autonomous emergency braking
    • Driver fatigue detection
    • Front, front-side and curtain airbags

    Van and Crewvan models also include:

    • Crosswind assist
    • Blind-spot monitoring
    • Rear cross-traffic alert
    • Reversing camera
    • Rear parking sensors

    Standard Equipment

    Despite the various body styles on offer, the Transporter line-up offers the following common standard equipment:

    • Automatic headlights
    • Rain-sensing wipers
    • Steel wheels
    • Height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support
    • Leather-wrapped steering wheel with height and reach adjustment
    • ‘Double grid’ cloth seats in Titanium Black
    • 6.5-inch Composition Colour radio system
    • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
    • LED interior lighting
    • Cruise control with speed limiter
    • Manual air-conditioning
    • Electric folding exterior mirrors

    There’s a catalogue of optional features too long to list, including a range of body modifications, roof heights, interior features, load area add-ons, functional equipment, suspension upgrades, and seat conversions.

    There are also optional driver assist features like adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assist, hill descent control and lane-keep assist.

    You can even add features like LED headlights, a digital instrument cluster, power sliding doors, and a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen.

    Colours

    The Transporter range is available in a range of solid, metallic and pearlescent finishes. All bar the solid finishes cost an extra $1340.

    MORE: Everything Volkswagen Transporter

    William Stopford

    William Stopford is an automotive journalist based in Brisbane, Australia. William is a Business/Journalism graduate from the Queensland University of Technology who loves to travel, briefly lived in the US, and has a particular interest in the American car industry.

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