After months of teasers and incremental updates, the new Volkswagen Transporter has arrived. This latest version, known as the T7, is an evolution of VW’s popular medium panel van and is positioned alongside the Ford Transit Custom.
The T7 Transporter will be offered in two body lengths and two roof heights. The standard version measures 5,050mm in length with a 3,100mm wheelbase, representing an increase of 146mm and 97mm over the previous model. Despite these increases, the standard roof height remains under two meters, allowing access to multi-storey car parks.
Volkswagen has also enhanced the van’s practicality by increasing the width between the internal wheel housings by 148mm to 1,392mm, and the maximum load length is now 2,602mm in the standard wheelbase model.
The standard Transporter provides 5.8 cubic meters of cargo space. For those needing more capacity, the extended wheelbase and high roof versions offer up to nine cubic meters of cargo space and a maximum load length of 3,002mm.
In addition to the traditional panel van, the new Transporter lineup includes a Kombi with two rows of seats, a double cab ‘dropside’ truck, and a nine-seater Shuttle, known as the Caravelle in other markets. There’s also a rugged PanAmericana version featuring black wheel arch cladding, exclusive fabric seats, and standard 19-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the new Transporter features a 12-inch fully digital instrument panel and a 13-inch central touchscreen, both standard across the range. It also includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights, keyless start, and various safety systems such as lane-keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking, and traffic sign recognition.
Additional interior updates include a switch for the traditional handbrake lever, now replaced by a dashboard button, and a gear selector on the steering column in automatic models, which frees up space for a larger central storage compartment.
Diesel, plug-in hybrid and all-electric Volkswagen eTransporter
The new VW Transporter will be available with three diesel engine options, offering power outputs of 109bhp, 147bhp, or 168bhp. All-wheel drive is available on the two higher-output engines. There will also be a plug-in hybrid (eHybrid) version with a combined power output of 229bhp.
The most significant update is the introduction of the all-electric VW eTransporter. It will come in three versions with power outputs of 134bhp, 215bhp, and 282bhp. Each variant uses a single electric motor driving the rear wheels and is equipped with a 64kWh battery, providing an estimated range of around 200 miles per charge.
Further details about the Volkswagen Transporter and eTransporter are expected to be revealed in September when the van is officially unveiled. The first models are anticipated to arrive in the UK in 2025.
