Volkswagen Transporter Sportline

• Report 1: This Volkswagen Transporter Sportline is the GTI of the van world
• Report 2: Is the Volkswagen Transporter a good motorway vehicle?
• Report 3: Carrying bikes with the Volkswagen Transporter
• Report 4: Why is the Volkswagen Transporter so expensive?
• Report 5: How efficient is the Volkswagen Transporter?
• Report 6: How does the Volkswagen Transporter compare to the Mercedes Vito?
• Report 7: Adaptive cruise control is not available
• Report 8: Can the Volkswagen Transporter save Christmas?
• Report 9: What's a cheap alternative to a Volkswagen Transporter Sportline?
• Report 10: My Transporter's missing something (and it's all the better for it!)
• Report 11: Can I use the Volkswagen Transporter for an expedition?
• Report 12: The end of the road for our Volkswagen Transporter Sportline

Report 1: This Volkswagen Transporter Sportline is the GTI of the van world

With sporty looks and an extensive amount of standard equipment, we're excited to add this Volkswagen Transporter Sportline to the HJ fleet.

Date: 6 September 2023 | Current mileage: 2472 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 29.5mpg

Look at that red stripe! Phwoar. Blingy 18-inch alloy wheels, too, not to mention illuminated (!) side bars and - yes - a spoiler on the back. This Volkswagen Transporter Sportline looks like it's an aftermarket special but, actually, it's the latest factory range-topper. And it's ours for the next six months.

The gaping air vents at the front hint at the power under the Transporter Sportline's bonnet. It's the usual 2.0-litre diesel, but with power boosted to 204PS and a considerable 450Nm of torque. Paired with the DSG automatic gearbox, it'll accelerate to 62mph in 8.9 seconds - which is pretty sprightly for a mid-sized panel van.

The Volkswagen Transporter already handles surprisingly well for its size, but Eibach suspension drops the Sportline's ride height by 30mm - good news for agility, if not for comfort on the rural Shropshire roads where we'll be doing most of our driving.

With a VAT-inclusive retail price of more than £58,000 (yup, you read that right), this mean load-lugger ought to be pretty comprehensively kitted out.

And it certainly is - spec highlights include part leather/Alcantara trim, a fancy Digital Cockpit display and a reversing camera. These are all features you'd expect to see in a Volkswagen family car... not a van.

We suspect a lot of Volkswagen Transporter Sportline buyers will be looking at one as an alternative to an SUV, rather than as a workhorse.

So that's the way we'll be using it - negotiating multi-storey car parks, weekend camping trips and generally embracing #vanlife (just like we did with our old Volkswagen Caddy). We'll be bringing updates every few weeks, so keep an eye on this page to find out how we're getting on with our Transporter Sportline.

Report 2: Is the Volkswagen Transporter a good motorway vehicle?

Our Volkswagen Transporter Sportline spends most of its time on the M40 motorway. Is it an efficient and comfortable long-distance vehicle?

Date: 20 September 2023 | Current mileage: 3298 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 36.9mpg

If you cover a lot of motorway miles, a van probably isn't your first choice of transport. But, if you have a need to lug bulky items up and down the country, a Volkswagen Transporter's going to be a bit more practical than, say, a Volkswagen Golf.

I don't have a great need for shifting loads but, with our Volkswagen Transporter Sportline on my driveway and a calendar full of new car launches, it's been pressed into service as a motorway mile-muncher. Most of those journeys have been between home in Shropshire and Heathrow Airport for overseas events, or UK launches in the Cotswolds.

And, actually, the Volkswagen Transporter has fast become my favourite ever long-termer for the M40 run. I drop down both (yes, both) its driver's seat armrests and enjoy the upright driving position. Visibility is excellent, except to the rear... which means I even venture into the outside lane occasionally without being intimidated by other motorists.

Most of the time, though, the Volkswagen Transporter sits happily in the inside lane, cruise control on and returning late-30s MPG. In my experience, it'll quite easily beat its official 36.2mpg fuel economy figure. It's got a big 70-litre fuel tank, too, which means I can cover more than 500 miles between top-ups.

There's something else I really like about using the Volkswagen Transporter on motorway runs. Sometimes I like to pretend I'm doing something much cooler than I actually am - working as a roadie for a famous band, for example, or transporting organs (the bodily type, not the instrument). The time just flies by.

Report 3: Carrying bikes with the Volkswagen Transporter

How can you carry bikes in a Volkswagen Transporter without them falling over? We might have found the answer...

Date: 4 October 2023 | Current mileage: 4349 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 44.3mpg

The Volkswagen Transporter is perhaps the most desirable lifestyle vehicle on the market, so I was very excited about the opportunity to load our Transporter Sportline with bikes and head away for weekend adventures.

It's not quite that simple, though. The Volkswagen Transporter's load space is so vast that, if you load a bike into it, it'll slide about (no doubt damaging both the bike and the inside of the van). There are tie-down points in the floor but, other than that, not a great deal else for securing loads.

If I was keeping the van longer than a few months, I might be inclined to install some more permanent tie-down points on the walls of the van, but that's not an option for those of us using the Transporter as a company vehicle.

I've found a solution, though. And it's brilliant. It's called the BikeStow, and it's a freestanding fold-up bike rack that quickly turns your van into a mobile bike carrier.

The BikeStow is made at the family firm's unit in Stourbridge, where I collected our three-bike rack (other sizes are available). We'll be covering the BikeStow as a full review on HonestJohn Kit in the near future, but within days of collecting it, I was off on a road trip to a bike event in the north of England.

Traffic wasn't on my side but, as I covered in my last update, the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline is an exceptional motorway cruiser. Slow-moving M6 traffic meant the trip computer was showing an incredible 44.3mpg when I arrived at my campsite - way above the official 36.2mpg fuel economy figure.

Over the weekend, the BikeStow kept two bikes safe and secure (it's good to have a spare...), even when negotiating fairly challenging rural roads around the Forest of Bowland. Having the ability to quickly load and unload bikes in rainy conditions (without having to faff about with an external bike carrier) was an absolute pleasure, too, as was having plenty of space for storing camping stuff and even a private changing room on wheels.

Report 4: Why is the Volkswagen Transporter so expensive?

There's no denying it: the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline is quite an expensive van. But don't dismiss it just yet...

Date: 18 October 2023 | Current mileage: 4578 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 38.3mpg

"What's stopping you buying a Volkswagen Transporter?"

A question asked by a friend when I'd be raving about how brilliant our Volkswagen Transporter Sportline is, and how much I'm enjoying having a van in my life. The answer? "It's nearly £60,000..."

There's no dressing it up: that's a huge amount of money for a van. Even in car terms, £60,000 is a lot. You can get a new Porsche Cayman for that, or a Range Rover Velar. So why exactly is the Volkswagen Transporter so expensive?

Well, let's put it into context by looking at its competitors. There's a new Ford Transit Custom on the scene and the cheapest version of that is more than £40,000 (including VAT). Spec one to a similar standard as our Transporter Sportline, and you'll be looking at more than £55,000. A high-spec Mercedes Sprinter is similarly pricey.

So, yes, the Volkswagen Transporter is expensive, but it's not outrageously more expensive than competitors. And I think, to an extent, you do get what you pay for. As well as sporty exterior styling which makes the Transporter Sportline look more at home in suburbia than on an industrial estate, standard equipment includes part-leather seats, an easy-to-use infotainment system and a rear-view camera.

If you're reading this hoping I'll help you justify the cost of a Volkswagen Transporter, though, the key to this is concentrating on its residual values. There's a huge demand for desirable Volkswagen Transporters, which means the value of a Sportline like ours won't plummet as soon as you drive it out of the showroom.

Indeed, residual value experts say that the Transporter has the strongest residuals of any panel van on sale in the UK - so, while you'll need to pay out a lot for a new one, you shouldn't lose a lot in the long run. A quick search in the classifieds revealed year-old examples of the Transporter Sportline advertised for around £55,000 - which is a pretty minimal drop in price compared to new.

And, of course, these residual values are the key to monthly payments. Look for a lease deal on a Volkswagen Transporter, and it might not be as expensive as you think...

Report 5: How efficient is the Volkswagen Transporter?

We're quite surprised by how efficient our Volkswagen Transporter Sportline is proving to be...

Date: 1 November 2023 | Current mileage: 5011 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 37.3mpg

While vans aren't often associated with impressive fuel economy, it's arguably more important that a panel van like the Volkswagen Transporter sips on fuel - even more so than a little city car. Whether you're a fleet manager for a large corporation or a one-man band, running costs are likely to be one of the most important considerations in a new van.

It's a shame, then, that the Volkswagen Transporter isn't available with a modicum of hybrid power. But that's not necessary a bad thing - as our Transporter Sportline, with its 204PS 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, is proving to be surprisingly efficient in the real world.

In our experience, its official 36.2mpg WLTP fuel economy is more than achievable in the real world. Indeed, on a longer journey on a relaxed 65mph-or-so cruise, it'll comfortably exceed the claimed figure.

Of course, if you're planning to use your van around town or want something even more efficient, you might be better looking at the pure-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz instead.

Report 6: How does the Volkswagen Transporter compare to the Mercedes Vito?

Andy spends a week with the Mercedes Vito. How does it compare to his Volkswagen Transporter?

Date: 15 November 2023 | Current mileage: 5283 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 34.7mpg

I hate to brag, but I've just spent a week with not one but two vans on my driveway. That's because, as well as my Volkswagen Transporter Sportline, Mercedes sent us its new Vito Premium Night Edition for test. I'll be writing a full review for Honest John Vans shortly, but it seemed a good opportunity to pitch it against the Transporter.

Now, this isn't a particularly scientific test. For one thing, the two vans aren't direct competitors - the Vito here is a crew cab model, while my Transporter is a conventional panel van. But they're similar in size, and both are fancy range-toppers intended to appeal to the lifestyle market (i.e. me).

For comparison, the Mercedes-Benz Vito Premium Night Edition costs £52,920 inclusive of VAT in crew van form (the standard van is £50,328), while my fully-loaded Volkswagen Transporter Sportline is £58,995.

Yes, the van with the three-pointed star on the front is cheaper than my VW. Why is that?

Well, while both come with a 2.0-litre diesel engine combined with an automatic gearbox, the Vito is down on paper compared to the Transporter - 190PS vs 204PS. That's not a huge difference, but the Transporter is noticeably sprightlier, perhaps helped by its lower kerb weight compared to the Vito (2035kg vs 2220kg).

Interestingly, the Mercedes Vito is an old-school rear-wheel-drive van, while the Transporter puts all its power through the front wheels. You wouldn't normally notice much of a difference during day-to-day driving, but the week of my Vito test coincided with a flurry of snow across the UK - as a result, I ended up abandoning it on the road one evening because I couldn't get onto my driveway. I'm sure the Transporter would have fared better.

The most obvious difference, though, comes inside the two vans. You might expect a Mercedes-badged van to be posh, but the Transporter definitely takes the edge here. The VW feels more like a car, while the Mercedes is a lot more utilitarian inside. Not only are nicer materials used inside the Volkswagen, but it also has a higher specification: an eight-inch infotainment display, for example (compared to the Vito's seven-inch system), and VW's fancy Digital Cockpit dials.

Both of these are great vans and, as I said, this isn't intended to be a scientific twin test. But after a week with the Mercedes Vito Night Edition, let's just say I was very happy to jump back into my Volkswagen Transporter Sportline.

Report 7: Adaptive cruise control is not available

Driving in the rain is causing issues for the adaptive cruise control in our Volkswagen Transporter Sportline.

Date: 29 November 2023 | Current mileage: 5691 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 33.3mpg

I've been covering a lot of miles in the Volkswagen Transporter recently, with trips to both Heathrow and Stansted in the last week alone. I've said before that it's very good at making light work of long distances - I still enjoy driving it, especially in bad weather.

Thanks to the Transporter's high seating position, comfortable seats and superb view of the surroundings, it's a really pleasant way to spend a few hours. I'd actually pick the Transporter over most cars for a journey like this.

But there's one niggling issue that's made life with the Transporter not quite as pain-free as it was. In poor weather conditions, the sensor for the adaptive cruise control gets blocked easily - prompting a warning on the dashboard and the necessity to use your right foot to keep a constant speed.

A quick online search reveals that problems with the adaptive cruise control radar is a common issue for those who modify their vans - particularly if you fit an aftermarket front grille. I haven't done that, though... all I've done is driven it in the rain.

It's not a big issue and one that's easily sorted by giving the sensor a wipe with a damp cloth. But it doesn't take long before rain tricks the sensor into not working again. It's generally not advised to use cruise control in the rain, anyway, so maybe I should just accept that occasionally it's better to take control of the accelerator myself.

Report 8: Can the Volkswagen Transporter save Christmas?

A rescue mission for a set of window frames puts the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline to the test.

Date: 13 December 2023 | Current mileage: 6023 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 33.7mpg

Moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do - so imagine the extra pressure of moving house in the run up to Christmas. Chuck a renovation project into the mix and it can be a real test for even the most calm and collected people. My neighbour Andy is generally a calm and collected person, but I can tell he was feeling the pressure as all his thought-out plans went wrong during his recent house move.

"Can you do me a big favour? Is there any chance you could use your van to collect some window frames and deliver them to the new house?"

The builder was due to arrive the following morning and the window frames were necessary to keep the warmth in (and unwanted visitors out) over Christmas. I couldn't say no, could I?

I jumped into the Transporter, drove to a warehouse on the edge of Telford and collected the window frames. My biggest concern was damaging them during transit - I'm not a qualified van man, afterall, and I've already talked about the challenge of securing things in the back of the Sportline. But I propped the window frames up straight and secured them with straps fed through the standard lashing points in the back of the Transporter.

A slow drive followed, but I'm pleased to report they made it to their destination without falling over. I wouldn't say I saved Christmas for Andy and his wife Amy, but the Transporter definitely played its part...

Report 9: What's a cheap alternative to a Volkswagen Transporter Sportline?

Looking for a used van? Andy reckons he has the answer... and it won't be one you've heard of.

Date: 10 January 2024 | Current mileage: 6893 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 35.3mpg

We're coming towards the end of my time with the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline. One thing that's surprised me is how dependent I've become on having a van in my life. Before the Transporter arrived, I never thought a 30-something single bloke would have a use for a mid-size load-lugger, but now I'm struggling to imagine life without one.

The main thing I'll miss most is having access to such a capable bike carrier. Yes, you can get roof racks for pretty much any vehicle, and it's not too much of a faff to squeeze a bike into the back of my own BMW 3 Series Touring. But having the ability to chuck multiple bikes into the back of the Transporter, without having to remove wheels or compromise luggage space (and with the security of them being stored away from prying eyes) means you really can't beat a van for bike carrying. There's also the added benefit that you've got somewhere private to get changed after a particularly wet or muddy ride, too.

So I've decided, I want - no, need - a van. The problem is, I don't have £58,000 to spend on a Volkswagen Transporter Sportline, and even if I did, justifying that kind of money on an occasional bike carrier is tricky.

I'll start my search by looking at old Volkswagen Transporters. I wouldn't want anything older than a T5 (sold between 2003 and 2016) and, while there are a few ropey ones about for very little money, I reckon you'd need to budget at least £10,000 for a half decent example. Even then, you're looking at high-mileage vans with rough bodywork. And - after the 204PS Transporter Sportline - I think I'd find the older 1.9 TDI engines to be hard work (they were offered with as little as 84PS).

Everyone wants a Volkswagen van so, if I want my budget to go further, I'm going to have to look elsewhere. A friend has just bought a Vauxhall Vivaro ex-police van which could be a good option. A £10,000 budget gets you a lot more Vivaro than VW - expect to pick up a 2015 example at this price point. It'll still have been worked hard (all vans are), but you're not paying for the image like you are with a Transporter.

Of course, no one should buy a used van without considering a Ford Transit. I'd want a Transit Custom (that's a similar size to my Transporter Sportline), and my theoretical £10,000 budget gets a 2017 example with a six-figure mileage. I reckon that's where the sensible money would go, but after the luxury of my Volkswagen Transporter Sportline, a used Transit could be a shock to the system.

An interesting alternative that has caught my eye recently is the LEVC VN5. You might not be familiar with the name but you'll recognise one in the metal - it's essentially a London Taxi, using a clever range-extender petrol/electric powertrain. Electric vehicle prices have been hit hard on the used market recently, so I reckon one of these will be a bit of a bargain. Around £15,000 gets a 2021 example, and most have led easier lives than traditional vans. Will it be as good as a new Transporter? No, but for a quarter of the price...

Report 10: My Transporter's missing something (and it's all the better for it!)

The Volkswagen Transporter Sportline snubs interfering driver-assistance technology - and Andy thinks that's a good thing.

Date: 24 January 2024 | Current mileage: 7856 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 33.7mpg

I hope it's not too much of a shock for you to read that, occasionally, I might venture ever-so-slightly over the speed limit. Sometimes, I even change lanes without indicating. Yes, such lawlessness doesn't have a place in modern society and - before you write in to complain - I am making an effort to become a reformed character.

Many new cars that I drive are fitted with driver-assistance technology which makes it quite difficult to commit such heinous crimes. If you stray over the posted limit, the car will bong at you until you slow down (or find the button to turn said feature off). This is especially annoying as cars have a tendency to read road signs wrong - so you might be shouted at while driving at a perfectly law-abiding speed.

My Volkswagen Transporter Sportline doesn't have such features and I'd argue it's all the better for it. No, I don't want to drive it at reckless speeds in inappropriate areas, but I like that it considers me adult enough to make my own decision on what speed I should be doing or whether I need to indicate to change lanes.

It's not completely without some 'useful' driver-assistance tech, though. It does have High Beam Assist, which thinks it knows better than I do about when I want to use main beam (and only dips the lights after a car approaching in the opposite direction comes into view... by which time the Transporter's LED headlights have burnt the driver's retinas).

Adaptive cruise control is standard, too. That means I can set a speed (over the limit, should I wish), and the Transporter will slow down or speed up with the traffic in front. That's actually a very handy feature for motorway driving... at least when it works, anyway.

Report 11: Can I use the Volkswagen Transporter for an expedition?

We chat go Guy Deacon, a retired army officer who travelled 18,000 miles to South Africa in his modified Volkswagen Transporter.

Date: 7 February 2024 | Current mileage: 8532 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 34.3mpg

I've been watching a lot of #vanlife videos lately. At this time of year, I can think of nothing better than jumping into my Transporter and escaping from the real world for a bit of an adventure. And, in many ways, the Volkswagen Transporter is the ideal tool for the job - there's a reason why the roads of Cornwall, Wales and the Scottish Highlands are full of people having their own little adventures in converted Volkswagen Transporters.

Guy Deacon took it a step further, though. He's a retired British army officer who, in 2019, set off on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, driving from his home in Dorset to Cape Town in South Africa. There's a complication, though: Guy was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2010, meaning he has limited movement in his arms and fingers while the rest of his body has good days and bad days. There are times when he can do nothing but lie on the floor and wait to recover.

Keen to build awareness of Parkinson's and dispel the prejudice and stigma associated with it - especially in Africa - Guy set off on his incredible 18,000-mile adventure in his modified four-wheel-drive T5 Volkswagen Transporter. While many adventurers would rather use a Land Rover or Toyota Land Cruiser, Guy told me he chose a Transporter for a number of reasons. Firstly, because he's a bit of a Volkswagen enthusiast - he used to own a Subaru-engined Volkswagen T2.5 Syncro but it was "too f**king rusty" to take to Africa. Secondly, buy using a camper-converted Transporter, he could sleep inside the vehicle which provided extra security and privacy than having to camp alongside it.

Not that the Transporter was without its issues, though. Volkswagens are very rare in most of Africa, which meant that spare parts (and specialist knowledge) were hard to come by... "there were times I wanted to swap it for a Toyota," Guy told me. Fortunately, he had an expert just a phone call away - Rob Willis of Volkstrek prepared the vehicle and was eager to help, even shipping out parts at short notice.

Ahead of the trip, Guy had the Transporter's heavy rock and roll bed removed, replaced by stacking crates which could be ratcheted to the floor and configured into a single bed. Further modifications included a lightweight winch, a heavy duty 12V compressor and a serious set of all-terrain tyres.

If there's one thing Guy would do differently should he complete the expedition again, he said he'd rather have a van with a DSG automatic gearbox - like in my Transporter Sportline. Parkinson's makes changing gears tricky for Guy, although the impressive torque of the Transporter's 2.0-litre diesel engine meant he could often pull away in third gear, helping traction on challenging off-road tracks.

Guy's journey will be featured in a Channel 4 Documentary as well as a book called Running on Empty. Both will be out on World Parkinson's Day on 11th April 2024.

Report 12: The end of the road for our Volkswagen Transporter Sportline

Andy says goodbye to one of his favourite long-term test vehicles: the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline.

Date: 21 February 2024 | Current mileage: 9211 | Claimed economy: 36.2mpg | Actual economy: 33.8mpg

It's funny how you can get emotionally attached to a vehicle, isn't it? I'm not usually one for forming a close bond with a long-term test car but this week's collection of the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline really took the wind out of my sails.

If you've read my earlier updates, you'll know that I've become very used to having a van in my life. The ability to chuck bikes in the back (aided by the brilliant BikeStow), help with a house move or just enjoy a high seating position has made the Transporter exceptionally easy to live with.

The issue is - for a temporary custodian such as myself - the Transporter Sportline really is the ultimate van. Its 204PS engine means it's powerful enough to overtake when the desire takes you; its DSG gearbox is smooth shifting and takes the pain out of congested roads.

I also think it's the ideal size. A recent week with a Mercedes Sprinter made me appreciate the Transporter's dimensions - you can squeeze it into a multistorey car park and it doesn't look particularly out of place parked on my driveway.

I love the camaraderie of Volkswagen Transporter drivers, too. There's a real a sense of community. Other Transporter drivers wave at you, and no other van looks as home on a campsite or at the seaside. I do worry that the Transporter's popularity means it's becoming a bit of a fashion accessory - you could almost liken it to the Dry Robe phenomen which is currently facing a bit of a backlash in social media groups.

Still, I was so attached to my Transporter Sportline that I decided to take it for one last drive before it was collected this week. I stopped briefly at the top of my local hill - the Long Mynd - where the wild ponies in the pictures arrived to lick the salt off its panels. At this point, some passing runners stopped to compliment my van and to express concerns that the ponies might damage it - so I snapped a few quick pictures and then ushered them away (the ponies, not the runners).

After six months and around 7,000 miles, is there anything I dislike about the Transporter? Only its price tag, which I see has now exceeded £60,000. Maybe it's time to shop for a budget alternative...