Likes
- Attractive styling
- Excellent driving dynamics
- Supremely practical
- Strong performing engine
Used Volkswagen Transporter review
2016 - 2021
Dislikes
- Major concerns for reliability and longevity
- DSG gearbox can fail
- No rearview camera on many models
- Expensive parts and servicing costs
Stuff you should know
While the Transporter may be fundamentally engineered as a commercial trade vehicle, many within the “van life” community have embraced the ultra-practical Volkswagen as a highly desirable exploration vehicle.
However, while it is undoubtedly one of the more stylish vans on the market and offers a refined and almost car-like driving experience, the Transporter has a far from ideal reputation when it comes to reliability and maintenance.
While available in a host of configurations and receiving a recent mid-life update, is the Transporter a van to be considered at all?
What goes wrong
- Head gasket issues
- Diesel and vacuum pump problems
- Turbo failures
- EGR cooler failures
- Timing belt tensioner and idler failures well before service intervals
- DPF issues
- Driveshaft and hub failures
- DSG transmission mechatronic units are riddled with issues and are very expensive to repair
- Various electronic gremlins
- Reports of water leaking into the Transporter via the sliding windows on the crew cab body shell
- Reports of water filling the rear tailgate
- Reports of the door handle either failing or just sticking in place
- Common issues or failures with the central locking
- Water can build in the inner wheel arches potentially leading to rust
- Air conditioning can fail
- A heater fan can become very loud
- An infotainment system can freeze and/or fail
- Lighting behind the gauge cluster can fail
- Button the steering wheel can fail
- Reports of various electronic gremlins
- Head gasket issues
- Diesel and vacuum pump problems
- Turbo failures
- EGR cooler failures
- Timing belt tensioner and idler failures well before service intervals
- DPF issues
- Driveshaft and hub failures
- DSG transmission mechatronic units are riddled with issues and are very expensive to repair
- Various electronic gremlins
- Reports of water leaking into the Transporter via the sliding windows on the crew cab body shell
- Reports of water filling the rear tailgate
- Reports of the door handle either failing or just sticking in place
- Common issues or failures with the central locking
- Water can build in the inner wheel arches potentially leading to rust
- Air conditioning can fail
- A heater fan can become very loud
- An infotainment system can freeze and/or fail
- Lighting behind the gauge cluster can fail
- Button the steering wheel can fail
- Reports of various electronic gremlins
- Head gasket issues
- Diesel and vacuum pump problems
- Turbo failures
- EGR cooler failures
- Timing belt tensioner and idler failures well before service intervals
- DPF issues
- Driveshaft and hub failures
- DSG transmission mechatronic units are riddled with issues and are very expensive to repair
- Various electronic gremlins
- Reports of water leaking into the Transporter via the sliding windows on the crew cab body shell
- Reports of water filling the rear tailgate
- Reports of the door handle either failing or just sticking in place
- Common issues or failures with the central locking
- Water can build in the inner wheel arches potentially leading to rust
- Air conditioning can fail
- A heater fan can become very loud
- An infotainment system can freeze and/or fail
- Lighting behind the gauge cluster can fail
- Button the steering wheel can fail
- Reports of various electronic gremlins
Should you buy it
While the Transporter is a stylish, enjoyable to drive and supremely practical, the chances of things going very wrong are way too high in our opinion and we just don’t think the Transporter it’s worth the risk.
Unless you’re mentally and financially ready for the potential stress that comes with a Transporter, sorry but no, you shouldn’t buy one.
While the Transporter is a stylish, enjoyable to drive and supremely practical, the chances of things going very wrong are way too high in our opinion and we just don’t think the Transporter it’s worth the risk.
Unless you’re mentally and financially ready for the potential stress that comes with a Transporter, sorry but no, you shouldn’t buy one.
Should you buy it
While the Transporter is a stylish, enjoyable to drive and supremely practical, the chances of things going very wrong are way too high in our opinion and we just don’t think the Transporter it’s worth the risk.
Unless you’re mentally and financially ready for the potential stress that comes with a Transporter, sorry but no, you shouldn’t buy one.
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Models, pricing & features
Tech specs
Body Styles
- 4 door Van
- 5 door Van Wagon
- 2 door Cab Chassis
- 4 door Cab Chassis
- 2 door Traytop
- 4 door Traytop
Engine Specs
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 75kW / 250Nm (TDI250 Runner 2015 – 2018, TDI250 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 103kW / 340Nm (TDI340 2015 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 132kW / 400Nm (TDI400 2015 – 2016)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 132kW / 400Nm (TDI400 2016 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 150kW / 450Nm (TDI450 2017 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 81kW / 250Nm (TDI250 2020 – 2022)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 110kW / 340Nm (TDI340 2020 – 2022)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 146kW / 450Nm (TDI450 2020 – 2022)
Transmission
- 5-speed Manual (TDI250 Runner, TDI250)
- 6-speed Manual (TDI340, TDI400, TDI450)
- 7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (TDI340, TDI400, TDI450)
Fuel Consumption
- 6.1 – 8.6 / 100km (TDI250 Runner)
- 7.3 – 8.8 / 100km (TDI400)
- 7.6 – 9.5 / 100km (TDI450)
Length
- 4890mm – 5304mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon)
- 5300mm (2 door Cab Chassis, 4 door Cab Chassis)
- 5500mm (2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Width
- 1904mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon, 2 door Cab Chassis, 4 door Cab Chassis)
- 1994mm (2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Height
- 1990mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon)
- 1948mm (2 door Cab Chassis)
- 1960mm (4 door Cab Chassis,
Body Styles
- 4 door Van
- 5 door Van Wagon
- 2 door Cab Chassis
- 4 door Cab Chassis
- 2 door Traytop
- 4 door Traytop
Engine Specs
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 75kW / 250Nm (TDI250 Runner 2015 – 2018, TDI250 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 103kW / 340Nm (TDI340 2015 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 132kW / 400Nm (TDI400 2015 – 2016)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 132kW / 400Nm (TDI400 2016 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 150kW / 450Nm (TDI450 2017 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 81kW / 250Nm (TDI250 2020 – 2022)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 110kW / 340Nm (TDI340 2020 – 2022)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 146kW / 450Nm (TDI450 2020 – 2022)
Transmission
- 5-speed Manual (TDI250 Runner, TDI250)
- 6-speed Manual (TDI340, TDI400, TDI450)
- 7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (TDI340, TDI400, TDI450)
Fuel Consumption
- 6.1 – 8.6 / 100km (TDI250 Runner)
- 7.3 – 8.8 / 100km (TDI400)
- 7.6 – 9.5 / 100km (TDI450)
Length
- 4890mm – 5304mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon)
- 5300mm (2 door Cab Chassis, 4 door Cab Chassis)
- 5500mm (2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Width
- 1904mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon, 2 door Cab Chassis, 4 door Cab Chassis)
- 1994mm (2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Height
- 1990mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon)
- 1948mm (2 door Cab Chassis)
- 1960mm (4 door Cab Chassis, 2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Wheelbase
- 3000mm – 3403mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon)
- 3400mm (2 door Cab Chassis, 4 door Cab Chassis)
- 3403mm (2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Kerb Weight
- 1734kg (4 door Van)
Towing
- 750kg (unbraked) – 2500kg (braked) (All Models)
Ancap Ratings
- Not tested (All Models)
Body Styles
- 4 door Van
- 5 door Van Wagon
- 2 door Cab Chassis
- 4 door Cab Chassis
- 2 door Traytop
- 4 door Traytop
Engine Specs
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 75kW / 250Nm (TDI250 Runner 2015 – 2018, TDI250 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 103kW / 340Nm (TDI340 2015 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 132kW / 400Nm (TDI400 2015 – 2016)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 132kW / 400Nm (TDI400 2016 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 150kW / 450Nm (TDI450 2017 – 2019)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 81kW / 250Nm (TDI250 2020 – 2022)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 110kW / 340Nm (TDI340 2020 – 2022)
- 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel, 146kW / 450Nm (TDI450 2020 – 2022)
Transmission
- 5-speed Manual (TDI250 Runner, TDI250)
- 6-speed Manual (TDI340, TDI400, TDI450)
- 7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (TDI340, TDI400, TDI450)
Fuel Consumption
- 6.1 – 8.6 / 100km (TDI250 Runner)
- 7.3 – 8.8 / 100km (TDI400)
- 7.6 – 9.5 / 100km (TDI450)
Length
- 4890mm – 5304mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon)
- 5300mm (2 door Cab Chassis, 4 door Cab Chassis)
- 5500mm (2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Width
- 1904mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon, 2 door Cab Chassis, 4 door Cab Chassis)
- 1994mm (2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Height
- 1990mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon)
- 1948mm (2 door Cab Chassis)
- 1960mm (4 door Cab Chassis, 2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Wheelbase
- 3000mm – 3403mm (4 door Van, 5 door Van Wagon)
- 3400mm (2 door Cab Chassis, 4 door Cab Chassis)
- 3403mm (2 door Traytop, 4 door Traytop)
Kerb Weight
- 1734kg (4 door Van)
Towing
- 750kg (unbraked) – 2500kg (braked) (All Models)
Ancap Ratings
- Not tested (All Models)
Warranty & servicing
Warranty
- 3 years / unlimited km (TDI250 Runner, TDI340, TDI400, TDI450)
- 5 years / unlimited km (TDI250, TDI340, TDI400, TDI450)
Servicing
- 15,000 km / 12 months (All Models)
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of Feb 23, 2024.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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