Updated Crafter in VW Van Centres late July

Volkswagen’s Crafter has undergone a major upgrade and front-end facelift to take it to its second generation; and it will be available in the UK from the end of July. A quartet of four-cylinder 2-litre Euro 5 diesels replace the predecessor’s five-cylinder powerplants, the front-end has been redesigned and the cab has had a mild makeover.

Derivatives of the units found across the entire VW commercial vehicle range — Amarok, Caddy and Transporter — the Crafter’s new engines are rated at 109hp, 136hp, 143hp and 163hp and as well as complying with Euro 5 emissions levels, have Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EEV) status. Tuned for low-rev torque delivery they are said to be up to 33 per cent more fuel-efficient than the ones they replace. The 143hp will join the engine line-up in November.

Consequently, CO2 emissions are lower and are reduced even further on the 3.5t BlueMotion models. These come with a Stop/Start system, battery regeneration thanks to energy recovery during braking, cruise control and a longer final drive ratio.

There is also no longer the need for regular top-ups of AdBlue and servicing/maintenance costs have been reduced by up to 25 per cent.

Available with a choice of three wheelbases, four body lengths and three roof heights, Crafter can be had at gross vehicle weights of 3.0t, 3.5t and 5.0t. Payloads have increased by 83kg for the panel vans and 98kg for the chassis cabs; they start at 1,044kg and go up to 2,693kg.

Panel van load volumes range from 7.5m³ to 17.0m³ and although the six-seater Kombi has been dropped from the UK line-up, Crafter can also be had as a window van, chassis cab, chassis crew cab, dropside, tipper and Luton.

As far as the redesign goes, it’s most noticeable at the front-end; it’s now much more consistent with the rest of VW’s light commercial line-up, rather than looking like a downscaled version of one of its trucks. It also gets daytime running lights. Internally it gets the instrument binnacle from the Transporter, including the gearshift indicator.

Second generation Crafter brings with it an average price rise of around 1.5 per cent. The entry level 3.0t, 109hp short-wheelbase van has a basic price (excl VAT) of £20,450, while a 5.0t 163hp LWB Maxi high roof will set you back £32,940. Click here for a PDF of the full price list.

Click here for the full details from the European Launch.