Purists might find it difficult to accept this mingling of a beloved recipe, but Volkswagen has undoubtedly combined the Transporter with the best medium van on the market right now—the Ford Transit Custom—by partnering with it.

The first batch of models to hit UK showrooms in March will be short- and long-wheelbase (SWB and LWB), low-roof (LR) e-Transporter, and Transporter panel vans, which are manufactured at Ford’s facility in Kocaeli, Turkey.

High-roof, Kombi, Shuttle, and double-cab chassis models—all unique to Volkswagen and not offered in the Ford Transit Custom lineup—will later be added to the lineup. Both regular and long wheelbase versions are available for every model. In 2026, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will be added to the lineup.

The three 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI engines that power the front-wheel drive ICE Transporter provide 110 horsepower, 150 horsepower, and 170 horsepower. While the 170hp unit is exclusively mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is an option with the 150hp engine, the 110hp and 150hp engines come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. Additionally, VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive is available for the 150 horsepower van.

With outputs of 136 horsepower and 218 horsepower and a maximum torque of 430 Nm, the rear-wheel drive e-transporter will be offered in the UK. There is a 65kWh lithium-ion battery included with both models.

Three trim levels of the diesel Transporter are available: Commerce, Commerce Plus, and Commerce Pro. Prices range from £30,995 to £40,345, VAT excluded.

With costs ranging from £41,965 to £48,705, without VAT and the Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG), which deducts an extra £5,000 from the initial price, the electric van is available in Commerce Plus and Commerce Pro classes.

The 218-hp e-Transporter L1H1 in left-hand drive is being tested here; its specifications are the closest to those of the Commerce Pro trim level that will be available in the UK in right-hand drive.

Volkswagen’s van is more conservatively fashioned than the Ford Transit Custom it is based on, with clean, sharp lines that evoke earlier generations of Transporters.

Equipment and loading

The company acknowledges that certain consumers were dissatisfied with the T6.1’s equipment levels and has taken steps to prevent similar grievances over the T7.

Every model has LED headlights and daytime running lights, heated and power-adjustable exterior mirrors, a six-way driver’s seat with manual two-way lumbar support, a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 12-inch driver display, cruise control, rear parking sensors, and keyless start.

Body-colored exterior trim, front parking sensors, a reversing camera, front and rear mud flaps, keyless start with Safelock, and an anti-theft alarm system are additional equipment included in the Commerce Plus specification.

Adding alloy wheels, heated seats, automatic air conditioning, wireless phone charging, more USB-C charging outlets, adaptive cruise control, blind spot assistance, an exit warning system, a laminated heated windscreen constructed of heat-reflecting glass, and more are all features of the Commerce Pro specification.

In addition, our test van was equipped with an electrically-folding towing bracket, three folding roof load carriers, an offside side loading door to complement the standard nearside one, and a leatherette, heated steering wheel that served multiple purposes but, fortunately for us, was not oblong in shape like the one in the Transit Custom, which is so made to allow it to be converted into a laptop holder or lunch table in certain versions.

The T7 has more loading capacity than its predecessor: the 5.8m3 load cube of our van is 5% more than the T6.1, the load width is extended by 148mm to 1,777mm or 1,392mm between the wheel arches, and the load length is raised by 60mm to 2.6m. The LWB van has a 3.0m load length and a 6.8m3 load cube.

Volkswagen claims that when the PHEV is delivered, all Transporter drivetrains will have maximum payloads of more than one tonne. With a maximum carrying weight of 1,038 kg and a towing capacity of 2.3 t, the e-Transporter is 300 kg more than the T6.1 but still less than the diesel’s 2.8 t. The e-Transporter uses a tire mobility kit rather than the spare wheel that the ICE van receives in order to save weight.

Performance and drive

We expected the e-Transporter to have similarly great driving qualities after driving the E-Transit Custom when it was introduced to the market last year, and we were not let down—handling and performance were both exceptional. In urban environments, acceleration is extremely sharp and continues to be powerful until driving on a freeway, when very little wind noise enters the cab. Even without a load in the rear, the van stays securely rooted to the road when pushed hard, and the suspension handles potholes and speed bumps nicely at moderate speeds. Unquestionably, the batteries’ placement results in a low center of gravity, which aids in handling and works well with precise steering.

There are a number of driving modes that may be chosen to fit various situations, such as Eco to save energy when not loaded and Tow for towing a trailer. Performance is significantly improved by Sport, but battery range is reduced. According to Volkswagen, the 218-hp e-Transporter can travel 190 miles between charges on the WLTP cycle, and up to 270 miles in urban areas. In these situations, the “B” mode can be used to increase regenerative braking when the driver depresses the throttle. The most adaptable and ideal for the majority of situations is normal mode.