Volkswagen Crafter 2011 European Launch

Five years after its introduction Volkswagen’s Crafter has undergone a generational midlife makeover.

It gets a new less aggressive-looking front end sporting daytime running lights, higher payloads, some tweaks to the cab interior and a whole new range of 2.0-litre four-cylinder Euro 5 diesels which also qualify for Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EEV) status. UK showrooms will be stocked with the new models by the end of July.

Although the five-cylinder 2.5-litre engines in the current Crafter also comply with Euro 5 emissions levels — and EEV status — they require regular topping up with AdBlue to do so. This is not the case with the new powerplants. It’s one of the reasons why VW claims it has managed to reduce servicing and maintenance costs by up to 25 per cent.

New Engines

Derived from the same 2.0TDI/BiTDI diesels found throughout the rest of VW’s light commercial line-up — Caddy, Transporter and the Amarok pick-up — they have been tuned for low-down torque delivery. Available at maximum power outputs of 109hp (peak torque of 300Nm), 136hp (340Nm) and 163hp (400Nm) the line-up will be completed when a 143hp version becomes available in November; not dissimilar to the outputs offered by the current engines.

They are said to be up to 33 per cent more fuel efficient than their predecessors and consequently have a roughly similar drop in CO2 emissions. These are reduced further on the CR35 BlueMotion models (136/143hp) thanks to a longer final drive ratio, Stop/Start, battery regeneration courtesy of energy recovery during braking and cruise control.

Crafter’s rear wheels are driven via a manual six-speed gearbox. The engine is mounted longitudinally which is the reason VW gives for the unavailability of its excellent semi-auto Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). The automated manual ShiftMatic ’box will no longer be offered in the UK which leaves Crafter bereft of any auto ’box for the time being.

Next year may see the introduction of a fully automatic option, possibly adapted from the one found in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Crafter and Sprinter share a significant amount of underbody DNA thanks to a joint development deal and Merc builds all Crafters for VW these days.

Weights & Measures

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 — apparently sales of the current version have not been that spectacular — Crafter can also be had as a window van, chassis cab, chassis crew cab, dropside, tipper and Luton. A UK-converted Minibus is in the pipeline.

Updated Cab

Most noticeable among the cosmetic changes is the new front-end which brings Crafter more into line with the rest of VW’s LCV line-up, but the cab interior has also been updated. It retains the dash-mounted gearchange from the current range and gets a new instrument binnacle with the same easy-to-read, crisp white-lit dials found in the Transporter with a gearshift recommendation arrow — as well as telling drivers which gear they are in — as part of the package.

BlueTooth connectivity is among the new optional extras on offer and darker upholstery is provided to keep the cab looking smarter for longer.

On the Road

We began our test drives on the European Launch in a 109hp CR30 and headed from Denmark to southern Sweden across the amazing Øresund Bridge and immediately felt at home behind the wheel of the Crafter. The engine is familiar from the Transporter and although we felt it sounded a tad noisier, it performed well; even with a load on board. We would suggest, however, that the 109hp’s natural environment involves multidrop urban use.

The 136hp CR35 we took for a run next was much more at home on the open road. There was less need to hold higher revs to get it motoring and we soon found ourselves short-shifting to higher gears as a matter of course. It always seemed to have bags of torque on tap, which was not always the case with the 109hp. Fuel consumption will be much improved in comparison as a consequence.

It goes without saying, although we will, that the 163hp is stunning. With 400Nm of torque to play with from as low as 1,800rpm it never seems to run out of puff.

Crafter’s ride is on a level with its natural competitors and it handles well, as one would expect. All Crafters come fitted with the latest generation ESP system as standard, which brings with it a host of electronic active safety features.

Basic prices (excl VAT) start at £20,450 for a 3.0t 109hp short-wheelbase van, 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.

Verdict
VW has pulled it off. Not only has it given the current generation Crafter a welcome facelift, it’s successfully replaced the stalwart 2.5-litre diesels with a range of 2.0-litre state-of-the-art surrogates. Utilisation of the same basic range of engines in all its light commercials is a feat that deserves a round of applause.