The Volkswagen Transporter T6 is the sixth generation of the

Volkswagen Transporter The Volkswagen Transporter, based on the Volkswagen Group's T platform, now in its seventh generation, refers to a series of vans produced for over 70 years and marketed worldwide. The T series is now considered an official list of Volkswagen Gr ...

vans. It is the successor to the T5 Transporter. The Transporter line is the mid-size van offered by

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV; german: Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge , abbreviated ''VWN'' ) is a German brand, marque of light commercial vehicles, owned by Volkswagen Group. It is headquartered in Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany. Originall ...

, between the larger Crafter and smaller Caddy.

Overview

2018 Volkswagen Transporter T32 Highline TDi 2

Still based on the T5's 7H / 7J platform, the T6 came with a wide range of revisions and updates, including a completely new dashboard layout (in two versions, standard and 'comfort'). The front end ahead of the windscreen was all new along with cosmetic revisions to the tailgate / rear doors and rear lights. New options for the T6 included LED headlights, LED rear lights and a range of driver assistance and multimedia options.

Transporter T6.1

Volkswagen unveiled the updated T6.1 version of the T6 at the

Geneva Motor Show The Geneva International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by th ...

in March 2019. Essentially a mid-cycle refresh, the main updates were electric power steering, which allows for the implementation of more driver assist functions compared to the T6. There were also minor styling updates in the form of a deeper front grille section. The T6.1 also has a new dashboard incorporating updated infotainment systems similar to those used in VW's passenger car range, and the ability to specify the "Virtual Cockpit" fully digital instrument cluster first seen on the Golf and Passat.

ABT e-Transporter

VW collaborated with ABT e-Line and introduced the ABT e-Transporter 6.1 in 2020 as a battery-electric version of the T6.1. The e-T6.1 is equipped with a single motor with output drawing from a 37.3 kW-hr battery (33.6 kW-hr useable); under the WLTP test cycle, the tested range was . It is based on the LWB T6.1 with standard roof and has a cargo capacity of up to .

Successors

The T6.1 Caravelle and Multivan were replaced by the Multivan (T7) in 2022; the T7 is based on the MQB platform and includes options for hybrid powertrains. In addition, the Multivan T7 is expected to displace the Touran and Sharan. Transporter commercial body styles will continue on the T6 platform.

Powertrain

At launch, the engine range closely matched the previous generation T5 (2010 – 2016), but these were soon updated to newer, cleaner engines including new TDi and BiTDi diesels. All engines became Euro6 emissions compliant. Towards the end of 2017, a new (to the Transporter) 2.0 TFSi engine became available, mirroring the motor industry's gradual move away from diesel engines. 5 and 6 speed manual gearboxes from the previous generation were carried over, as was the 7 speed DSG gearbox. 4motion four wheel drive continued to be an option, becoming standard fitment with the BiTDi engine as of 2018.

Models

The Transporter T6 is offered in a variety of body styles, including as a

panel van A panel van, also known as a blind van, car-derived van (United Kingdom) or sedan delivery (United States), is a small cargo vehicle with a passenger car chassis, typically with a single front bench seat and no side windows behind the B-pillar. ...

motorhome A motorhome (or motor coach) is a type of self-propelled recreational vehicle (RV) which offers mobile living accommodation. Features Motorhomes usually have sleeping spaces for two to eight people. Each sleeping space is either fixed or conv ...

("California"), passenger ("Caravelle"/"Multivan" and "Shuttle"/"Window van"), combination cargo and passenger ("Kombi"), and

chassis cab A chassis cab, also called a cab chassis or half truck, is a type of vehicle construction, often found in medium duty truck commercial vehicles. Instead of supplying the customer with a factory pre-assembled flatbed, cargo container, or other eq ...

for a custom body or cargo bed. In addition, the T6 is available with either short- or long-wheelbase and either low, medium, or high roof; the high roof is only available in combination with the long-wheelbase. File:Techno-Classica 2018, Essen (IMG 9480).jpg, Chassis cab File:Volkswagen Transporter USA Vacations.jpg, Shuttle File:Volkswagen T6 California Ocean (1) ACC Berlin 2017.JPG, California "Ocean" File:VW Caravelle Russia plate (48591005557).jpg, Caravelle File:Volkswagen T6 2.JPG, Dashboard File:Volkswagen T6 3.JPG, Caravelle/Multivan, interior File:Vozidlo Českých Radiokomunikací.jpg, Kombi File:Volkswagen Transporter 5.jpg, Panel van (T6.1), high roof

Cargo: Panel van and Kombi

Models are designated by maximum load, including the T26, with a maximum load of ; T28, ; T30, ; and T32, . There were three trim levels available: Startline (base), Trendline (mid), and Highline (luxurious). The Kombi model (in some markets, "Crewvan") added a second row of three seats along with windows for the second row.

Passenger: Caravelle, Multivan, and Shuttle

The Caravelle T6 is equipped with seven seats in three rows, windows all around, and leather seating surfaces; it is designed for luxurious passenger transport. It is available with either the short- or long-wheelbase and the standard-height roof. The second row includes two individual, swiveling seats and the third-row accommodates three, forward-facing. At its introduction, the Caravelle was available with a single color option, a two-tone red-and-white finish. In Australia, the three-row Caravelle was branded as the Multivan, available with short- or long-wheelbase and seven seats. The Australian Caravelle was available in the long-wheelbase form only, and the interior was fitted with nine seats in four rows. Like the Caravelle, the Shuttle T6 is equipped with windows at all three rows for passenger transport, but is intended for commercial for-hire services, and correspondingly is fitted with up to nine seats and hard-wearing surfaces. The standard seating accommodates eight in three rows, but the vehicle was available with just two seats in the front (as the "Transporter window van") if desired.

Chassis cab

The chassis cab model is available with either a single (one row of seats) or double (two rows) cab, in the long-wheelbase form only. Overall length is the same for both models; the loading platform is shortened on the double cab model accordingly.

Campervans

As with previous generations of the Transporter, the T6 is a popular platform to be converted into a

campervan A camper van, also referred to as a camper, caravanette, motor caravan or RV (recreational vehicle) in North America, is a self-propelled vehicle that provides both transport and sleeping accommodation. The term describes vans that have been fitt ...

. T6 conversions commonly include a pop top roof to create extra headroom. The conversion can also include a bed platform, hob, sink and grill installation, along with additional storage. Volkswagen also offers a factory made campervan called the

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

Notes

References

{{Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (Europe) timeline Transporter (T6) Vans Minibuses Police vehicles Euro NCAP large MPVs Cars powered by VR engines Front-wheel-drive vehicles All-wheel-drive vehicles Vehicles introduced in 2015 2010s cars