2025 Volkswagen Transporter review: Quick drive

When is a Volkswagen Transporter not really a Volkswagen Transporter?

When Volkswagen gets into bed with Ford to produce its seventh-generation mid-sized delivery van. At least that’s what the dyed-in-the-wool VW-loving tradies will be saying — and have been saying online — about this all-new Transporter. 

It all comes down to cost saving, and to boost the profitability of its commercial vehicle lineups, Ford and Volkswagen entered into this partnership back in 2017.

The agreement saw Volkswagen lead the small van side of things with the Caddy and Ford Transit Connect that’s sold in Europe, while Ford is responsible for the mid-sized van — the Transit Custom and this Transporter — and the Ranger ute and its Amarok cousin.

Both brands are keen to point out that each is developed to their respective standards and criteria, so ultimately it’s all about splitting the engineering costs. Volkswagen representatives at the global Transporter launch were cagey when discussing what’s theirs and what’s Ford’s, but they did acknowledge that Ford is the market leader when it comes to vans (at least in Europe). 

Nonetheless, VW offers a broad range of models and variants including the Transporter panel van, Kombi crew cab, nine-seat people mover and even dropside body types, and will offer two wheelbase lengths and two roof heights alongside diesel, electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains with front-, rear- and all-wheel drive layouts — the latter badged as 4Motion.

The passenger market-oriented Caravelle provides seating for up to eight people and comes with diesel or electric power. 

Ahead of its Australian release later this year, at international launch of the new T7 we tried three different versions: the diesel Transporter, the battery-powered e-Transporter and the people-moving electric e-Caravelle.

How much does the Volkswagen Transporter cost?

There are no official prices yet for the new-generation Volkswagen Transporter, as it’s not due to arrive in Australia until mid-2025 at the earliest.

For reference, the outgoing Transporter has a starting price of $42,790 before on-roads for the reduced payload version. If pricing remains aligned with the outgoing Transporter, expect to be paying upwards of $46,000 before on-road costs for TDI diesel models.

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What is the Volkswagen Transporter like on the inside?

The front cabin of the Transporter is a blend of hard-wearing materials and modern tech, with an upright dashboard layout that houses a dual-screen setup.

All that differentiates it from the Ford Transit Custom is the Volkswagen multifunction steering wheel, which is nice to hold but means it doesn’t get the Ford’s nifty folding steering wheel that can transform into a table or worktop when parked. 

Aside from some fiddly temperature controls housed within the touchscreen that require too many stabs of your finger and are annoying to use on the move, the infotainment system works well, and having wireless phone mirroring is a boon.

The optional wireless charging pad is tucked away down low, leaving it ripe for you to forget your phone when you get out of the van. 

We do like how many USB charge ports are available, including additional ones in the open tray on top of the dash. An extra compartment above the usual glovebox boosts storage options inside, as well, and with the gear shifter and electronic parking brake moving onto the centre dashboard below the touchscreen, there’s more space around the floor, making it easier to scoot across to the other side if needed.

The optional rear-view camera provides unimpeded views of what’s behind, and regardless of bulkhead or rear doors is a useful bit of technology. 

When it comes to how much the Transporter can carry, one of the headline figures is the amount of extra width there now is between the rear wheel-arches. There’s another 148mm between them, and in long-wheelbase guise the Transporter can now carry three Euro pallets.

Irrespective of powertrain, the rear cargo area is identical in size and shape, which is a plus if you’ve got multiple vans to fit out with mixed drivetrains. 

Volkswagen will offer a dual-cab or crew-cab body in addition to a dropside, but for those seeking a true MPV, the passenger-centric Caravelle can move eight people in relative comfort and still has much of the versatility of a van. Its rear seats can be reconfigured or even removed as needed.

Multiple child seat mounting points and extra USB charge ports mean the Caravelle can be as much of a solution for larger families as for cargo professionals.

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

There is a wide range of powertrains with multiple power outputs available across diesel combustion engines and pure electric variants, which are badged as the e-Transporter and e-Caravelle in Europe. There will also be a plug-in hybrid petrol powertrain coming, but this won’t arrive until later in 2026.

Volkswagen did confirm to CarExpert that it is developing a smaller capacity battery for the e-Transporter that uses an 85kW electric motor to create a more affordable variant that will be suitable for shorter duty cycles. This is undergoing final homologation and is expected to be added to the range later in 2025. 

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

How does the Volkswagen Transporter drive?

Right from the get-go, we like the elevated driving position that the Transporter provides, especially in comparison to other vans in the same segment. You get a good view of the road and credit to Volkswagen for installing side mirrors that aren’t too bulky yet provide good visibility. 

We do think that the standard seats could be a bit more comfortable, but the level of adjustability in both the seat and the steering wheel (for reach and rake) makes finding a suitable driving position quite easy. 

The 125kW diesel engine has decent pulling power and good levels of refinement in terms of noise and vibration. Its eight-speed automatic gearbox is pleasant to use, generally shifting effortlessly whether going up or down the gears. You get the best results from it when you don’t hustle it along too quickly. 

As refined as the TDI may be, the electric e-Transporter ushers in a whole other level of smoothness and quietness. Interestingly, despite multiple power outputs across the electric range, all motors generate the same level of torque, which is key to hauling heavier loads. 

Other than the obvious difference in power delivery, the ride comfort and quality of the diesel and electric Transporters are quite similar. The suspension can seem a little busy at times with its vertical movements, but both vans were empty in the rear for our test drive.

That aside, it steers nicely and feels quite manoeuvrable in urban settings. The suite of cameras available provides a 360-degree view to help in tighter spaces, but this is a van that feels every bit as adept at doing city centre deliveries as it is at covering longer distances on the highway.

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What do you get?

Volkswagen is putting an emphasis on technology in the Transporter. That means even the most basic entry-grade panel van gets LED headlights and tail-lights, while the interior gets a dual-screen dashboard layout — an upgrade over the previous Transporter. 

There will be two digital displays on the dashboard: a 12-inch driver’s instrument cluster and a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen with DAB+ digital radio and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. All models will come with a multifunction steering wheel, keyless start and numerous driver assistance systems as standard, too.

Flagship PanAmericana versions are differentiated by grained bumpers, sill and wheel-arch trims plus 17-inch Monte Carlo alloy wheels. Exclusive upholstery inside carries the PanAmericana name and the driver’s seat is an eight-way electrically adjustable unit with lumbar support, and the front passenger even gets a six-way adjustable seat. 

2025 Volkswagen Transporter equipment highlights:

• Six powertrains from launch, three diesel and three electric
• Front- or all-wheel drive drivetrains
• Up to 2800kg towing capacity
• Wider cargo area between wheel-arches
• Rugged PanAmericana version
• 13-inch touchscreen as standard
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay 
• Pixel LED daytime running lights
• Electric version gets 125kW DC charging
• 360-degree camera system available
• Up to 2300W electrical output for tools

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

Is the Volkswagen Transporter safe?

This Transporter has yet to be assessed by either Euro NCAP or ANCAP, though going by the current crop of other Volkswagen commercial vehicles, it should score well.

The Volkswagen Caddy, Caddy Cargo, Multivan and Amarok all scored five-star NCAP ratings between 2021 and 2022, so we see little reason for the Transporter to not do the same. Tellingly, the Ford Transit Custom, which shares much of its underpinnings with the Transporter, achieved a 96 per cent ‘Platinum’ rating from ANCAP in 2024. 

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Front airbags
• LED daytime running lights and headlights
• Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring
• Swerve Support and oncoming vehicle braking when turning
• Lane keep assist
• Cruise control with intelligent speed assist
• Rear parking sensors
• eCall emergency call system
• Airbags for driver and front passenger, side airbags and curtain airbags in the cab, curtain airbags in the passenger compartment (Caravelle)

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

How much does the Volkswagen Transporter cost to run?

Volkswagen Australia provides all commercial vehicles with a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance for the first year.

Assuming that Volkswagen applies the same warranty conditions to the e-Transporter and e-Caravelle as it does to its other electric passenger vehicles, the high-voltage traction battery would be covered for eight years/160,000km, whichever occurs first. This warranty is based on the battery maintaining 70 per cent of the net energy content. 

The WLTP combined driving range of the Volkswagen e-Transporter is between 294 and 357km for the standard wheelbase and 289-530km for the long-wheelbase version.

Energy consumption for short- and long-wheelbase models varies between 19.9-25.5kWh/100km and 20.2-25.9kWh/100km, respectively. On the diesel side of things, the TDI’s fuel consumption varies between 6.9-8.9L/100km and 7.0-9.0L/100km for the short- and long-wheelbase versions, respectively.

To see how the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Volkswagen Transporter

Volkswagen diehards are unlikely to be impressed by the Transporter as it feels more like a Ford, but everyone else will find that it performs well and drives to a very high standard, surpassing many other rivals when it comes to refinement.

The battery-powered version isn’t shy of torque and takes a lot of the strain out of driving, while the e-Caravelle is the answer for those for whom a large SUV doesn’t cut it in terms of practicality.

Interested in buying a Volkswagen Transporter? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

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