Turning heads aplenty this VW Transporter is certainly a spectator sport
So, I’m parked down a quiet cul-de-sac in one of the less than salubrious neighbourhoods of my hometown. As I exit my vehicle and walk away, I notice two guys occupying the front seats of a make and model of commercial vehicle that shall remain unnamed stopping alongside my empty van to take a good, long look at it. Naturally, and as we have extensively reported in the pages of Professional Builder, with tool theft and van break-ins the bane of builders’ livelihoods I’m initially suspicious – but then it happened again.
In a supermarket car park, another LCV owner was casting covetous looks and Professional Builder’s latest test vehicle, but it certainly wasn’t speculation as to the value of the contents that prompted the curiosity. With 18in. alloy wheels – as well as a body kit that includes an imposing front bumper and rear spoilers – the Transporter Sportline will effortlessly attract an approving eye. What’s more, if you’re lucky enough to experience one of these vans for yourself then you’ll know that the beauty is far from skin deep.
A 204PS, 2.0litre drivetrain with 7-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox adds performance to the athletic aesthetic and there is the instinctive feeling from the driver’s seat that you have plenty power at your disposal. That’s a fact that is confirmed when accelerating, where you can achieve 0-60 in just 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 126mph.
Our panel van review model in Ravenna Blue metallic finish has a kombi version for a sibling but, whichever you choose, there’s plenty of home comforts, not least the heated leather front seats, an armrest and the Discover Media Navigation system accessed via the 9.4in. touchscreen, with DAB+ radio, Sat Nav and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It is from here that you can also keep a watchful eye on your surrounds with a rear-view camera. The optional Trailer Assist adds another safety dimension where the vehicle will automatically manoeuvre when parallel or reverse parking with a trailer.
This is not, of course, a vehicle that will attract every builder. The carpeted interior will, for instance, inevitably deter those in the wet trades. Some might equally shy away from making quite so bold a statement in their choice of wheels. Nonetheless, there are plenty of builders – in the multitude of trades that make up this most diverse of sectors – that could easily enjoy the style and comfort that the Transporter Sportline affords.
Discount the sharp design for a moment, for example, and you’ll find there’s all the cutting-edge functionality that has kept the VW Transporter at the top of its game for more than 70 years. Lowered suspension and a striking red stripe across its aggressive front grille it might have but there’s also short and long wheelbase versions available. Indeed, a healthy payload of 1,165kg on the SWB, with a load volume of 6.7m3, and towing capacity of 2,500kg makes this very much a vehicle with the heart and soul of a van, even if it has a body more akin to a GTI.
For further information on the VW Transporter Sportline visit New Transporter Sportline 6.1 | Panel Van or Kombi | VW Vans (volkswagen-vans.co.uk).
