Revving up
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The Volkswagen range doesn’t stop at the popular Transporter. If your work demands something even larger, or with more body and drivetrain options, then there’s the Volkswagen Crafter, from six to more than seven metres in length and with payloads of more than 2.5 tonnes in some models.
The original Crafter debuted in 2006, while the one we’re looking at below arrived in 2017, gaining small updates over the years to keep it competitive with tough rivals like the Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter. Equipment levels are basic but it’s an easy van to drive despite its size, and VW’s lineup of diesel engines provides a good balance between performance, economy, and longevity. Buying a used Crafter could save your business quite a bit of money too, so read on below to find out more.
As with the Volkswagen Transporter further down the range, the Crafter is all VW’s own work in its latest generation, on sale since 2017. That means most of it will be familiar to those already in the VW family, and should be for some time to come - big vans like this tend to have a long shelf-life, with the original (Mercedes-based) crafter lasting from 2006 until 2017.
Like before though, the Crafter comes in a huge range of variants, suited to just about every commercial task. As well as lineup of four 2-litre TDI diesel engines, Volkswagen offers front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants (some in heavy-duty form), six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearboxes, and then a huge range of body styles: medium and long wheelbase, standard and maxi bodies, and low, medium, high, and super-high roofs. And that’s just the panel vans - there are chassis-cab variants too.
The Crafter’s cabin, like the Transporter, is surprisingly car-like, though unlike the Transporter, don’t expect car-like levels of kit - even air conditioning resides only on the options list. Startline models are basic indeed so Trendline may be worth seeking out for used buyers, but you do get plenty of storage in all, while other options include things like swivelling seats and heated windscreens.
It’s very much a commercial vehicle to drive but not a difficult van to operate or manoeuvre, which should keep the stress levels down during busy days. Other vans to consider if you’re looking at the Crafter include the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, each of which also comes with a huge range of possible variants, engines, and drivetrain combinations.
The ideal van will depend very much on the needs of you and your business. The 102PS variant may be suited to light duty work but the 140PS model certainly brings more variety, available in three different drivetrain layouts and in heavy-duty form. As far as trim level goes, it’s hard to ignore the extra features of the Trendline. It’s still not as well-equipped as even a basic Volkswagen Polo, but should make day-to-day duties a little easier. We’d also recommend finding one with some of the optional extras, such as parking sensors, air conditioning, or a heated windscreen.
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While the smaller Volkswagen Transporter has begun to bridge the gap to VW’s passenger cars, the Crafter is still very much a working vehicle, so even relatively common features in cars, like air conditioning, may not be present on the used van you’re looking at. If you do want more kit though, Trendline trim is the one to seek out.
The Volkswagen Crafter’s dimensions are:
The Volkswagen Crafter’s load capacity is:
Like other panel vans, the Volkswagen Crafter attracts a flat rate of tax for light goods vehicles under 3500kg, currently set at £335 per year. Heavy-duty versions are subject to a different rate.
Volkswagen doesn’t quote insurance group ratings in its literature for the Crafter. As with most vans though, insurance rates will vary depending on what you plan to use the van for, where you’re using it, and what body style, payload, engine, and other characteristics the van has, so we would recommend speaking to a broker to find a competitive quote.
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inc. VATWhat is the most popular colour for Volkswagen Crafter ?
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What is the average mileage for Volkswagen Crafter ?
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How many Volkswagen Crafter cars are available for sale?
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