Volkswagen Transporter T5 2009 Review - International

First Drive
Rome, Italy

Not so much
>> The driver's seat has been revised but still lacks support
>> No major structural changes, so five-star NCAP not likely
>> Side impact airbags are still an option, should be standard

Commercial vehicles have a longer model life than passenger cars. Whereas a new Volkswagen Golf comes along every six years, cargo carriers need to last exactly twice as long between new models. And so when something new happens to a commercial vehicle, it's a big event.

This facelift of the Transporter T5 comes exactly six years after the current generation model was released -- and needs to stay looking fresh for another six years.

The new nose masks significant changes. All diesel engines (previously there were 62kW and 75kW versions of the 1.9-litre, and a high output 2.5-litre) have been replaced by a new series of 2.0-litre turbodiesels which vary in output and fuel efficiency. The other big news is that Volkswagen's highly regarded automated twin clutch gearbox is available on the top tier diesel models.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine doesn't change much: it's slightly more fuel efficient (down from 10.5L/100km to 10.3) and now meets Euro 5 emissions. The petrol variant accounts for less than 5 per cent of Transporter sales globally and less than 10 per cent of Transporter sales in Australia.

The flagship of the new fleet is a twin-turbo, 132kW version of the 2.0-litre diesel four-cylinder which replaces the 2.5-litre turbodiesel five-cylinder in the current model.

Interestingly, the payload of most models remains unchanged, but the payload on variants that were previously powered by the five-cylinder diesel engine has gone up by about 40kg to account for the weight reduction from switching to the smaller and lighter four-cylinder diesel engine.

The twin-turbo donk has a little more power than the old five-cylinder, but the same torque (400Nm). However, that torque arrives at lower revs and across a broader range -- 1500-2200rpm compared with the old engine's 2000-2300rpm. It also uses less fuel -- down from 8.4L/100km to 7.5.

With the seven-speed DSG it's a formidable combination.

Volkswagen had to develop a more robust version of the DSG to handle the extra torque. Curiously, while most DSGs used in Volkswagen passenger cars tend to experience a slight delay on take-off or when downchanging, the DSG in the Transporter seems to be more intuitive. Perhaps the vehicle's extra weight and the engine's extra torque are a better combination.

The 132kW version is, for a van, nothing short of brisk. It does the 0-100km/h dash in 9.9 seconds -- as quick as most passenger cars -- and the 0-80km/h dash in just 7 seconds. By comparison, the 75kW version does 0-100km/h in 15.3 seconds and 0-80km/h in 9.4 seconds.

Acceleration when on the move is also more responsive because the DSG is a quick thinker and can find the perfect ratio for overtaking because there's more to choose from. At 110km/h in seventh gear the engine ticked over at 1900rpm.

We also sampled the regular six-speed manual in the 103kW version (which curiously at 110km/h ticked over at a slightly lower 1800rpm). It has sufficient power, but we were unladen at the time and you could certainly feel the reduction in torque in the middle of the rev range compared to the twin-turbo unit.

Volkswagen didn't make a song and dance about it but the engineers also have switched to an electro-hydraulic power steering system. It draws less energy and so uses less fuel. It also makes the steering lighter at parking speeds and gives it more feel at freeway speeds.

The engineers also revised the suspension to focus a little more on ride comfort, and the stability control system -- now standard on all Transporters sold globally -- has been updated, and a hill-hold assist feature added.

The front seats have changed, too, but I regret to report they still aren't brilliant. The cheeks of the lower cushion are too soft and offer little in the way of support. The seats in a Volkswagen Polo are better, and yet van drivers would likely spend more time than a Polo driver would behind the wheel.

At least there are plenty of other creature comforts to make the drive a more pleasant experience in the new Transporter. Basically it gains a whole raft of technology and gadgets from the passenger car range. Options now include touch screen navigation, a premium Dynaudio sound system, a rear camera (as well as rear sensors), tyre pressure monitors, cornering lights on models equipped with front fog lights, and a blind spot warning system.

The side mirrors have been redesigned, too, into a more aerodynamic shape. The convex glass on both sides creates a broader view of the world around you.

The instrument cluster is borrowed from the Polo/Golf family, which means between the large dial speedometer and rev counter there is a digital information display.

We were delighted to discover the digital speed readout (handy for Australia's such strict speed enforcement with narrow margins for error) but disappointed to find the basic diesel variants don't get a digital speed display even though the vehicle has a digital screen. Surely it would be more expensive to remove this handy licence-saving feature than it would be to leave it in.

There are some minor changes under the skin, but none that affect the car's structure, according to the head of the new Transporter's development, Dr Holger Westendorf. The changes were apparently made to simplify the manufacturing process rather than improve the vehicle's crash performance.

This means that the new generation T5 Transporter will likely retain only a four star rating from the independent crash test authority, NCAP.

Four stars is good in a class where most vans have ratings of three stars or lower, however the Transporter is a long way from a five star result. According to Euro NCAP, the Transporter earned 26.93 points out of 37 when tested a few years ago. This puts it slightly above the score of the Hyundai iLoad (25.81/37) which is also a four-star van. However, the Volkswagen is available with the option of side airbags, the Hyundai iLoad is not.

Both Volkswagen and Hyundai have are a long way from reaching a five-star safety rating for their big selling vans. The Mercedes-Benz Vito, which had scored 30.66 points and earned four stars two years ago, now is rated at five stars when equipped with side and curtain airbags (earning a five-star score of 32.66) following a test earlier this year.

Van safety is likely to come under the spotlight in the coming years so it will be interesting to see if Volkswagen will make any further changes to the Transporter given that a lot of rivals will likely make safety improvements over the next six years.

Volkswagen Australia is yet to confirm the local engine lineup ahead of the car's local launch at the start of next year.

urrently the Transporter has 62kW, 75kW and 128kW diesel variants. We are guessing that the company may opt for 75kW, 103kW and 132kW diesel variants. And we expect the 2.0 petrol will continue.

So, first impressions are positive and we look forward to driving the new range on local roads, once Volkswagen Australia decides which variants to import. No doubt Volkswagen will be doing run-out deals on the current Transporter range but I'd be tempted to wait for the new model.

VW Transporter
Price Guide: Likely to reflect the current pricing, which starts at $30,490 for the 2.0-litre petrol, $34,990 for the low output diesel and $40,490 for the high output diesel (plus dealer charges and registration).
Engines: All diesel engines are completely new. Although not confirmed, Australia is likely to get a choice of three 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engines of varying outputs: 75kW/250Nm, 103kW/340Nm and a twin turbo 132/400Nm. The 2.0-litre petrol engine (85kW/170Nm) doesn't change much (10.3L/100km instead of 10.5L and it now meets Euro 5 emissions).
Consumption L/100km:  Respectively in the same order as above, the figures for short wheelbase vans are: 7.2, 7.4, 7.5 and 10.3.
Emissions g/km: Respectively in the same order as above, the figures for short wheelbase vans are: 190, 195, 197 and 241.
Transmissions: Five-speed manual only on low output diesel and 2.0 petrol. Six-speed manual or optional seven-speed automated twin clutch (DSG) on the 103kW and 132kW diesels.
On sale: Volkswagen says the new Transporter T5 range should be in Australian showrooms between January and March 2010.