More details of the 2024 Volkswagen Transporter have emerged, including information on the new mid-sized van’s payload and interior capacity.
The 2024 Transporter is bigger inside than its predecessor, with more space in every direction. VW has also confirmed a few basic details on the van’s weights, with a payload of up to 1.33 tonnes and a towing capacity of up to 2.8 tonnes.
VW has previously confirmed what body types will be available, and these include a panel van and double cab, and the powertrain options; an array of familiar diesels will be offered, in front- or all-wheel-drive configurations, and plug-in hybrid and electric models will follow later. There will also be two heights to pick from, which is not something that is a given in this category.
The rear loading bay has been stretched to be 61mm longer than the previous version, while the space between the wheel arches has been increased by 148mm. This comes thanks to a wheelbase that is now 97mm longer at 3,100mm on the shorter model and 3,500mm on the longer van. It will offer at least 5.8 cubic metres of space on the smallest model, and as much as 9.0m3 on the largest version with VW saying that there will be ‘various partition walls’ available for making best use of the space. This is set to include the L-shaped bulkhead that features in the Transporter’s sister van, the Ford Transit Custom.
Seating for up to six
There will be a selection of different options when it comes to seats in the Transporter, with the standard van offering two individual spots in the cabin. You will also be able to go for a three-, four-, five- or six-seat setup across two rows.
Those second row seats will be fully removeable, so the crew van can be used to carry more kit if needs be. There will be a passenger Kombi version at a later date with a three-seater third row as well, taking the maximum capacity up to nine.
More kit and uprated cabin
The new Transporter will further benefit from increased equipment levels, with standard features reportedly including LED headlights and a 13-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
There will be a stowage tray with wireless charging for smartphones and up to seven USB-C, USB-A and 12-volt sockets. It will also be available with an optional 230V (400W) power hub to power electric devices on site.
The latest news about the new Transporter coincides with the launch of the pre-order configurator in Germany, which lists starting prices for the base 110 TDI variant as €36,780, excluding taxes – that’s approximately £31,700, or some £2,000 more than a current base-specification T26 Transporter with a 110hp diesel.
Previously, buyers had been expected to commit to the new van without knowing huge amounts about it, but also with a lot of implied information. We simultaneously knew very little and a great deal about the next generation of Transporter, thanks to the now firmly established Project Cyclone.
This is the ongoing agreement between Volkswagen and Ford that entails the two companies collaborating on the creation of a range of commercial vehicles. This means that the Transporter is the same van as the Ford Transit Custom under the skin, but with .
This partnership has already borne fruit, with the new Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok the first jointly developed product to come out of it. While the Transporter T6.1 was a purely VW creation, the 2024 model is set to follow the path laid down by the Ranger and Amarok and will also be a jointly developed vehicle.
What sets the VW Transporter apart from the Ford Transit Custom?
VW says that the Transporter has a clean and recognisable look front and rear, with design features shared with other vehicles in the brand’s commercial vehicle line up. The basic shape is shared with the Ford, but the grille, LED headlights and details are all VW.
The interior has been tweaked for the Transporter, too, with VW badging featuring in the images that have been released. Going by the Amarok, the infotainment is likely to have been reconfigured to match VW’s look, too. However, it might well run on Ford’s operating system under the skin, as is the case in the pickups.
How big is the new VW Transporter?
The shorter VW Transporter is 5,050mm long and 2032mm wide, without mirrors. These represent an increase of 146mm and 128mm compared to its predecessor, granting it more load capacity. There is a longer model that stretches both the wheelbase and overall length by 400mm, making it 5,450mm in total.
The wheelbase of the new Transporter is also 97mm longer than the old one, at 3,100mm and 3,500mm respectively.
What 2024 VW Transporter bodies are available?
VW Commercial Vehicles will offer several different variants of the new Transporter. The base panel van kicks off the line-up, followed by a panel van Plus model that has a second row of seats.
There will also be a panel van with an L-partition, a rear-window-equipped Kombi, and a long-dropside vehicle with a double cab. The Kombi and panel vans can also be specified with an extended wheelbase and a high roof, but short-wheelbase versions can now also be specified in high-roof configuration. Consequently, there should be something to tick the box for most commercial users,
An upmarket Caravelle model, designed primarily for carrying passengers, will be offered later.
What are the payload and capacity ratings for the new Transporter?
Volkswagen has released a handful of key details about the capabilities of the new 2024 Transporter, compared to its predecessor:
- Payload of standard-wheelbase TDI Transporter: 1.3 tonnes (+0.1 tonne)
- Maximum braked trailer weight with 150/170hp TDI variant: 2.8 tonnes (+0.3 tonne)
- Maximum width between wheel housings: 1,392mm (+148mm)
- Stowage volume, standard wheelbase and roof: 5.8 cubic metres
What is the standard equipment for the 2024 VW Transporter?
New Transporter variants will benefit from standard-fit LED headlights and LED tail light clusters, improving visibility, as well as driver-supporting features such as lane keeping assistance, autonomous emergency braking and an electronic parking brake with auto hold.
A 12-inch digital instrument cluster will help relay key driving data, while a 13-inch touchscreen multimedia system will provide access to DAB+ radio, online service, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity functions.
What engines will the 2024 Volkswagen Transporter come with?
Volkswagen will initially offer the Transporter with an array of conventional diesel engines. These will include 110hp, 150hp and 170hp diesel options; front-wheel drive will be standard, but 4MOTION all-wheel drive will be available for the 150hp and 170hp variants.
A plug-in hybrid Transporter, called the eHybrid, will go on sale later, blending electric and diesel power for improved efficiency and a total of 233hp. However, it will only be available in front-wheel-drive format.
The new Volkswagen Transporter will also be sold with an electric powertrain at a later date. The zero-emissions version, called eTransporter, will be available in 116hp, 136hp, 218hp and 286hp specifications, all of which will be rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive versions, however, are planned.
A battery pack with an 83kWh gross capacity will be standard, but it looks like the base 116hp version will feature a less expensive and lighter 54kWh battery.
These engine options echo that of the new Ford Transit, which will make it to market with 110hp, 136hp, 150hp and 170hp diesels, as well as electric variants.
Who developed the 2024 VW Transporter?
The vehicles produced by the Ford/VW partnership have thus far seen one manufacturer take the lead on the project, and this will be the case with the new Transporter, too.
With the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok, it was Ford that played a greater role in the development, hence both pickup trucks feature Ford engines and gearboxes.
This is set to be the case with the Ford Transit Custom and the VW Transporter – Ford has had development sovereignty in the project again. This is little surprise given the relative importance of the two medium-size vans to the two manufacturers. Although the Transporter is an established name with a committed customer base, the Transit Custom is a vital vehicle to Ford.
It has regularly been the best-selling vehicle in the UK – not just the most popular van, the best-selling vehicle full stop. The Transporter is undeniably an important vehicle to Volkswagen, and one that has had a strong fan base over the years. However, this is driven to a large extent by the more lifestyle versions of the van such as the VW California camper van model.
The next generation of Volkswagen California will no longer be based on the Transporter, and will instead use the Multivan people carrier as its starting point. This means VW isn’t risking alienating its fans by handing its camper over to another company.
On the same basis, it would be strange for Ford to hand the lead development role of its most popular van over to VW. The next Transporter will therefore be based on the same platform as the new Transit Custom and use the same engines.
What will be shared between the Volkswagen Transporter and the Ford Transit Custom?
As the basic platform of the Ford and VW are the same, both vehicles offer similar dimensions. One could choose to offer more in the way of body lengths and raised roof options as time progresses, but it is highly likely that the same options will be available to both.
This means a maximum payload in the region of 1,300kg, a towing capacity up to around 2,800kg and features such as the flat cabin floor allowing for walk-through access.
The engines and gearboxes will also be shared between the two vehicles, as they are in the Ranger and Amarok. However, it doesn’t mean that the two line ups will be identical in every way – Volkswagen will have the opportunity to take a look at what is available and decide which options to take. Both will come with an electric version, though.
