We’re quite familiar with the VW Transporter here, having transformed one into a campervan and very much living the #vanlife experience with it on several occasions. Personally, it’s about high time the boffins over at Volkswagen refresh the old Transporter, and speak of the devil – it’s finally here! At the recent IAA Transportation 2024 trade fair, visitors got their first look at VW’s newest, shiniest 7th-generation Transporter and the Transporter Shuttle. It’s been given the top-down refresh for a new gen, completely redesigned inside and out, now featuring way improved interior space, a higher payload capacity, a better trailer weight, and more!
Just like the old Volkswagen Transporters, this new generation can be spec’d as two models – a 9-seater Shuttle version for passenger transport, and the commercial-focused panel van model. Either way, this marks a new expansion of Volkswagen’s “Bulli” family of vans, including one of my personal favourite EVs, the ID. Buzz, as well as the Multivan business and recreational van. If you’re shopping around for a new van, for whatever use case you’re planning for it, VW does have a pretty varied line-up now that you can pick and choose from. That said, this all-new VW Transporter is likely the sweet spot of the range for both commercial and personal use.
Electrified Or Combustion-Powered Vanlife Experience
Speaking of diversity and versatility, this brand-new 7th-gen Volkswagen Transporter could be optioned with a variety of powertrain options. If you want something more tried-and-true, it’ll come with three different “TDI” turbocharged diesel engines. Their outputs range from 110 PS to 150 PS and 170 PS. Although, if you choose the 150 PS engine option and up, 4MOTION all-wheel drive is available. Moreover, the slick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission comes as standard with the 170 PS motor and is optional with the 150 PS engine. We don’t know much now as far as performance, emissions, and fuel economy go, so stay tuned for that one!
Otherwise, you can also pick the “eHybrid” plug-in hybrid powertrain, which electrifies the 7th-gen VW Transporter’s engine to crank out a mighty 230 PS. It’ll come paired with an automatic gearbox too, but this model will only launch in 2026. However, if you want to go all-out, there are also the e-Transporter and e-Transporter Shuttle models, which replace the ICE engine with an electric powertrain. You could then choose from two distinct models – one with 136 PS, and one with 218 PS. Either way, you’ll find that both power outputs will be mated to a 64 kWh battery pack, though we’ve yet to hear just how much its range is. Hopefully, it’ll be good enough.
Improved Van-Ness, More Space, And Greater Versatility
Of course, all of these won’t matter if this all-new 7th-gen VW Transporter can’t do all the ‘van’ things you want it to. Thankfully, Volkswagen’s got it covered. For starters, the panel vans now come with up to 1.33 tonnes of payload capacity, an increase of 0.13 tonnes from the previous model. Meanwhile, the trailer weight capacity has been increased by 0.3 tonnes, now reaching up to 2.8 tonnes (braked, on a 12% gradient), depending on the model. For those of you who’ll properly use this for stowage, the cargo volume has grown by more than 10%. It’s been raised up to 5.8m³ with the normal wheelbase, or 9.0m³ with the extended wheelbase and high roof.
Elsewhere, just like the old VW Transporter, this from-the-ground-up update can be had with a multitude of different configurations. Specifically, there’s the Panel Van, Kombi, Shuttle, as well as the “Double Cab with Platform”. As I noted earlier, if you need more storage capacity, you’d be able to spec the optional high roof and extended wheelbase. With the Shuttle models, there are 3 trim levels that you can pick from, including the mid-range “Life” and top-tier “Style” trim levels. Another massive upgrade that you’ll notice right away is the upgraded cabin, with three 230V sockets, two large digital displays, and a much more refined interior space. Maybe when this comes out, maybe it’ll be time for me to work on a Transporter campervan 2.0 soon?