2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan review

Volkswagen have been making campervans since the original Kombi in the 1950s, so the German brand knows a thing or two in this space.

At a factory level it has a range of California-branded camper versions of its current range of commercial vans, including the Caddy, T6.1 Transporter as well as the Crafter. It’s even shown off a California concept version of its new plug-in hybrid Multivan.

The Australian market has seen a number of these vehicles imported and sold locally, though the larger Crafter Grand California was never able to be sold here due to issues with getting the sliding side door on the left-hand side for Aussie roads.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia therefore said “if you want something done right, do it yourself”.

Well, sort of. In collaboration with recreational vehicle and caravan specialist Jayco, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia created the Crafter Kampervan by Jayco, first revealed to the public at the 2022 Caravan Camping Holiday Supershow and subsequently sold in limited numbers online later that year – all 60 of them sold out in minutes.

Now for 2024 Volkswagen and Jayco are back again with the aptly named ‘GEN2’ version of the Crafter Kampervan, complete with feedback-based updates and upgrades, in addition to a streamlined range. The commercial vehicles division has introduced a number of quality checks in the production process in line with factory standards.

While the initial allocation for GEN2 is quoted as the same “60+ units” as GEN1 for the remainder of 2024, the company has promised it’s working with its factory in Germany to secure more Crafter base units in 2025 to increase its Kampervan capacity.

As with the original, the 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan by Jayco is fully backed by VW’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as well as five years of standard roadside assistance. These are also manufactured in Melbourne by Jayco, making this quite the localised project.

Is this the perfect campervan for the adventurous and nomadic?

How does the Volkswagen Crafter compare?

View a detailed breakdown of the Volkswagen Crafter against similarly sized vehicles.

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How much does the Volkswagen Crafter cost?

The 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan by Jayco range starts from $157,990 plus on-road costs.

All prices exclude on-road costs

To see how the Volkswagen Crafter lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool.

What is the Volkswagen Crafter like on the inside?

There’s quite a lot going on here.

While the first row of seating and front of cabin is all stock standard VW Crafter, behind those factory swivelling front seats it’s all bespoke Kampervan.

There’s a folding table slotting between the two rows of seating that can also be removed and used outside, and there’s storage underneath the second-row seat base – the latter new with the GEN2 Kampervan. You can also convert the third and fourth seats into something of a second bed, and there’s a roller blind for the rear side windows.

Being based on the existing Crafter LWB with high roof, there’s a factory 8.0-inch ‘Discover Media’ navigation system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, FM radio, USB-C integration and four-speaker audio.

There’s a mid-life update coming to the Crafter later this year that will bring little in aesthetic changes but a substantial jump in tech, effectively bringing the new-gen Digital Cockpit setup from the likes of the Caddy and Golf as well as an enhanced suite of driver assistance and semi autonomous driving systems.

These tech upgrades will likely be reflected on 2025-build Kampervans.

As you move back there’s a full kitchen setup featuring a gas cooktop with hinged glass lid, a 90-litre 12V fridge, 240V microwave, and even a full shower and toilet behind a mirror door complete with an on-demand gas-powered hot water system. It’s like a rolling hotel room!

Feeding all these ‘Habitat’ features are a 120-litre fresh water tank, an 80-litre grey water tank, as well as a 9kg gas bottle stored in a sealed compartment.

Externally there’s a combined dual-USB and 240V power outlet accessible from the outside working area, as well as mains power and water inputs on the right-hand side of the vehicle.

A revised electrically operated side step – which opens and closes via a switch but also automatically folds away when the vehicle is put in Drive – has been optimised for the GEN2, and aids ingress and egress.

There are heaps of storage drawers and cupboards dotted about. Volkswagen says it has enhanced storage in areas like the kitchen and both beside and under the rear double bed area.

Natural ventilation has been improved with the various additional fly screens that have been applied in this second iteration, allowing the side and rear windows to be left open but covered by the insect-blocking nets. You also get blackout blinds throughout for added privacy when you need it.

The rear bedding area features a queen-width mattress and fixed bed, including a 1.8m-long Cloud9 Luxury inner spring mattress. VW Commercial Vehicles says this bed is upgraded from the GEN1 Kampervan, and the bed height has been raised to allow for the additional rear storage.

You also get USB and 240V power outlets in the sleeping area to charge your devices, and there are a pair of personal reading lights with additional USB charge points.

There are swivel fans for cross-ventilation, and they fold into their mounts to allow for more headroom when not in use.

Above the bed area is an AC outlet fed by a Dometic Harrier Lite roof-mounted air-conditioner. There’s also an Eberspacher diesel heating system for cooler climates.

Completing the rear quarters is a Sphere 12V TV with built-in DVD player, which can be attached to a swivel mount in the kitchen or on the bedside.

Out back behind the tailgate is a trundle tray with a 75kg load limit, where you’ll also find the awning tools as well as pockets to store the factory chair and table set when not in use.

You also need the facilities to power this stuff, so the Crafter Kampervan comes equipped with a 400Ah lithium house battery enclosed in a batter box, teamed with a 3000W inverter which can run all of the vehicle’s 240V sockets off grid, as well as a 60A DC-DC charger which uses the vehicle’s engine to quickly top up the battery – all supplied by Projecta.

VW Commercial Vehicles and Jayco have nearly doubled the capacity of the onboard battery as well as the charging capacity of the DC-to-DC charger (from 30A to 60A).

There’s also a secondary OEM vehicle battery and 200W solar panel on board, with VW quoting off-grid capacity of more than three days with no AC, or 6-7 hours with AC. Solar blanket input is also supplied via an Anderson plug, which is positioned for windscreen or rear mounting.

The company says the Crafter Kampervan GEN2 offers better standard battery capacity, inverter size and DC-DC charging capacity than key rivals from Trakka, Horizon and even Jayco’s own motorhome range. It’s all controlled via a

What’s under the bonnet?

The Crafter Kampervan range is powered by a 2.0 TDI 410 bi-turbo diesel with standard 4Motion all-wheel drive.

To see how the Volkswagen Crafter compares with its rivals, check out our comparison tool.

How does the Volkswagen Crafter drive?

Despite its very hefty dimensions, the Crafter Kampervan is surprisingly easy to drive.

We had a stint each in the Kampervan Style and All-Terrain, with the first leg starting in Phillip Island and finishing in Gembrook in Victoria’s far-east, and the second stint starting from our Gembrook stop and ending in the Toolangi Forest.

Keep in mind the Kampervan is based on the LWB High Roof variant of the Crafter, meaning it’s a massive 6836mm long, 2040mm wide (2427mm incl. mirrors) and rides on a 4490mm wheelbase. It’s also a whole 2850mm tall – she big!

Even though VW doesn’t quote a weight figure for either Crafter Kampervan variant, the added weight of the conversion plus the 4.3t GVM upgrade means there’s a lot of heavy duty stuff for the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel to lug around.

So, even with just one person on board, it’s not particularly quick. That said, with the amount of kit on board and the likelihood of knick-knacks being stored in cupboards or in the fridge, you wouldn’t want to be driving this thing particularly quickly or aggressively, lest you damage or unsettle what you’re carrying.

Our first leg was undertaken in the All-Terrain variant, which has the same driveline and standard spec of the Style but adds a 50mm total suspension lift package on top of smaller 16-inch steel wheels with all-terrain tyres, as well as a snorkel and Seikel underbody protection.

With a conventional eight-speed automatic and 410Nm on tap from 2000rpm, there’s a relative smoothness and linearity to the heavy-duty Crafter’s drivetrain that’s perhaps less hesitant off the line and more conventional on the move than some of VW’s smaller commercial vans with dual-clutch transmissions.

It responds quite accurately to inputs, though if you’re needing to get a move on quickly – for example, while pulling out of a slip lane or driving through a roundabout break point on a high-speed country highway (like Victoria’s Bass Hwy) – you need to really wring its neck. This somewhat upsets the otherwise refined ambience.

Speaking of refinement, given the open cabin and boxy proportions, the Crafter Kampervan’s insulation from road and wind noise is admirable. The only real noise I heard were the insides of the cupboards and fridge flexing over harder bumps.

The raised ride height and chunkier tyres of the All-Terrain appeared to soak up road imperfections a bit better than the Style, and it offers a little more peace of mind when negotiating steeper dips and driveways so you’re not always scared of scraping it – plus, I think it looks freaking tough.

Hopping into the lower-riding and street-focused Style there wasn’t a huge difference but there was a slight added firmness which also meant better handling as a trade-off. We also found the leg in the Style to yield better fuel consumption, despite the bulk of the All-Terrain’s route being on the highway – better aerodynamics, perhaps.

If anything the Style is even more car-like, making it an easy thing to pilot even if, like the All-Terrain, you need to give that little extra gap when making breaks in traffic. But really, I was surprised at how easy it was to pilot.

The basic instrument cluster with clear analogue gauges and a monochrome multifunction display are all familiar with the VW Commercial range as well as entry-level passenger car product. It offers a variety of displays for trip computer, assistance features, digital speedometer and various quick select settings.

Both versions offer a commanding view of the road ahead and all the driver controls and ergonomics are decidedly car-like, which makes it a pretty seamless transition for a VW owner like myself.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel, for example, is just like the one in my sister’s Polo, and it’s hooked up to a nicely weighted electromechanical power steering system which is speed-sensitive and nicely accurate in feel.

I will note rearward visibility is obstructed by the rear bulkheads and bedding area, and it’s a shame there’s only a rear-view camera instead of a surround-view monitor. At least there are front and rear parking sensors to help you avoid backing into something or binging the nose while parking.

Speaking of assistants, the Crafter Kampervan comes with VW’s ‘Front Assist’ encompassing autonomous emergency braking and forward collision warning; driver fatigue monitoring; adaptive cruise control; speed limiter; blind-spot monitoring; rear cross-traffic alert; and lane-keep assist.

The All-Terrain we tested showed an error for the adaptive cruise control during the freeway stint, but otherwise having the added eyes on the back of your head from the blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings help a lot given this thing’s colossal length, and the lane-keeping system helps you stick between skinnier lane markings.

It’s not quite as sophisticated a suite as some of VW’s newer passenger and commercial offerings, though the incoming mid-life update for the standard Crafter range should bring stuff like Travel Assist and extended functionality of other systems for greater autonomy.

While not explicitly confirmed on the event, VW Commercial’s team alluded to these changes being reflected on future Kampervans likely from 2025 onwards, as supply from the European factory improves in the new year.

What do you get?

For 2024 the range has been trimmed to two variants – the Style and All-Terrain.

Crafter Kampervan Style highlights:

Exterior

• 17-inch ‘Lismore’ alloy wheels
  • 205/70 R17 tyres
• Automatic LED headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• Headlight washer system
• Fog lights incl. cornering function
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Electric folding mirrors
• Sliding door, left
• Rear barn doors with heated window
• Heat-insulating windshield, laminated glass
• Heated rear windows

Infotainment

• Discover Media infotainment system
  • 8.0-inch touchscreen
  • Satellite navigation
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
  • Bluetooth
  • FM radio
  • USB-C inputs
  • 4-speaker sound system

Kampervan Habitat Features – Batteries, Technology and Entertainment

• Projecta Power Management system
  • 240V 30A DC built-in charger
• Projecta 60A DC-DC charger
• Projecta 400Ah lithium house battery
• Lippert control panel
• 12V and 240V power sockets
• Roof-mounted solar panel, 200W
• Sphere 12V TV incl. built-in DVD player
• Furrion stereo CD/DVD/radio
• Internal, external stereo speakers
• Wi-Fi extender
• Digital TV aerial

Kampervan Habitat Features – Exterior

• Fiamma manual box awning – 4.0m
• 9kg gas bottle
• External shower, water access
• External 240V power point
• External 12V power point
• External TV point
• LED Annex light

Kampervan Habitat Features – Interior

• Large pot drawers incl. Ezi-Glide runners
• Kitchen cabinets
• Trundle tray under bed storage
• Bedside storage compartment
• External electric step for left sliding door
• Bathroom
  • Toilet
  • Shower
  • Vanity
• Kitchen
  • Benchtop
  • Sink
  • Cabinetry
• 12V fridge – 90L
• Gas cooktop with hinged glass lid
  • 2 burners
• Microwave 240V
• LED light strip under overhead cupboards
• Domestic Harrier Lite rooftop-mounted AC
• Eberspacher diesel heating system
• Fresh water tank – 120L
• Grey water tank – 80L
• On-demand gas hot water system
• 2 x fans
• LED lighting

Kampervan Habitat Features – Comfort

• 2 x table settings
• Cloud 9 double bed
  • Innerspring mattress
  • Pillow top
• Roof hatch in living area
• Exhaust fan hatch in shower
• Side, rear door fly netting

Accessories and Loose Items

• External fittings, attachments, hose
  • Back water hose
  • Blue non-toxic water hose
  • 3-piece brass adapter set
• 1 x duvet
• 1 x blanket, throw rug
• 1 x kitchen drawer management system
• 1 x plastic chopping board
• 1 x power extension lead
• 2 x fold-out chairs
• 1 x fold-out camper table
• 1 x fire extinguisher
• 2 x Fiamma level pro set
• Solar screens for all front windows

Crafter Kampervan All-Terrain adds:

Exterior

• 16-inch black steel wheels
• 235/65 R16 AT tyres
• Snorkel
• 50mm total lift package
• Seikel underbody protection
  • 4 x shields

Options

The Crafter Kampervan range is available with a range of paint finishes – the only options available.

Solid: $NCO

• Candy White

Metallic: $2385

• Reflex Silver
• Indium Grey

Two Tone: $4060

• Candy White + Deep Ocean
• Candy White + Cherry Red
• Candy White + Mojave Beige
• Reflex Silver + Indium Grey

Is the Volkswagen Crafter safe?

The Crafter Kampervan doesn’t have an ANCAP safety rating, nor does the standard Crafter lineup.

Standard safety features include:

Safety Equipment

• Dual front airbags
• Dual front-side, curtain airbags
• Multi-Collision Brake
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
• Hill Hold Assist

Driver Assistance

• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver fatigue detection
• Forward collision warning
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Front, rear parking sensors
• Speed limiter

How much does the Volkswagen Crafter cost to run?

The Crafter Kampervan lineup is covered by Volkswagen’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years of standard roadside assistance.

In addition to coverage by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’s dealer network, the Crafter Kampervan has access to the Jayco and JARSA networks for servicing and repairs.

The standard Crafter offers five-year Care Plans for scheduled maintenance – with 12-month/20,000km intervals. For the Crafter 4Motion, the prepaid plan costs $2600.

CarExpert’s Take on the Volkswagen Crafter

This kind of product is a lot more niche than the stuff we normally review.

What the Crafter Kampervan by Jayco presents is a very specific solution to a very specific set of needs. While the campervan market appears to be lucrative and in demand, it’s still a small subset of overall new car sales

But for what it is, it looks and feels like a factory product and oozes cool factor with its Kombi-inspired paint options.

It’s also super easy to drive, doesn’t sacrifice on the sort of mod-cons you expect in a modern commercial vehicle and comes backed by the full manufacturer’s warranty and is competitively priced with rival products – even within Jayco’s own range.

Credit to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia for coming up with a localised solution in the face of not being able to get the factory-made Crafter Grand California to Australia. The local partnership and conversions business creates a tailored product for our market, creating jobs in the process – who said local manufacturing was dead?

But with just 60-ish units pencilled in for the remainder of 2024, and given the last run only lasted about 10 minutes once it went on sale online, you’re unlikely to see many of these Crafter Kampervans running around even if the entire allocation for this year is exhausted.

What it also represents is a commitment from Volkswagen Australia to local partnerships to develop bespoke products for the local market. The Kampervan by Jayco is one of numerous collaborations the German brand’s commercial division has engaged in, and the company says there are more to come.

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