Volkswagen T6 Transporter Kombi T30 Highline 2.0 TDi 140 DSG: Third long-term report

AS I write, the man from Volkswagen is just days away from picking up the T6, but I’ve still managed to cram in some long trips in the Volkswagen T6 Transporter Kombi T30 Highline 2.0 TDi 140 DSG for our last month together. First was the almost obligatory trip to buy flat pack furniture at Ikea. Two living room stowage units for my kids’ toys would have been too much for the Collins’ car, but the T6’s load area wasn’t even troubled. In fact, there was so much space in the back of our Volkswagen van that the large boxes almost looked lost! I appreciated how easy it was to load and unload the boxes with the flat load floor and hardwearing rubber flooring – although the tailgate is heavy and you have to be careful about obstacles that are in the way of its arc to avoid dents! Next up, I was Birmingham bound for a meeting with Volkswagen CV.  The excellent combinations of that 140P 2.0-litre TDi diesel engine, the seven-speed DSG transmission and cruise control meant that the 100-odd mile trip from my home in Hertfordshire was dispatched easily, comfortably and with kind traffic on the M1/M6 – surprisingly quickly! Interestingly, this meeting was the first chance for me to see the new Caravelle Generation Six limited edition. The first time I saw this special T6 was at the reveal in Amsterdam last year and it’s still my favourite of the new models. It certainly gives a nod to the iconic original, with its two-tone paint, retro wheels and more luxurious intrerior. Business Vans is getting a go soon, so watch the site for a review of this special van. Finally, another trip to Peterborough visiting a client beckoned and it was the T6 that got the job. Why? Well for me, with the smooth and slick DSG transmission, the Transporter is the perfect, trouble-free mile-muncher. What a shame that despite these long motoway trips, the average MPG dropped to just 20mpg this month – I never got close to the claimed 36.7mpg! So what will I miss about the T6 Kombi? For me I think it’s the quality, practicality and how easy it is to drive. Everything about this van feels well-made and built to last – there were no squeaks and rattles, plus the wipe clean cloth upholstery, remained unmarked despite the best efforts of my kids. I had a chance to try one of the T6’s key rivals recently – a Sport version of the Mercedes Vito combi and both inside and out, it felt significantly cheaper than this Volkswagen. To be honest I think my kids will miss this van more than me! I never had any trouble getting them to sit on the bench with their seats – in fact even a trip to the supermarket was considered an adventure. No other car or commercial has been able to replicate this – which is worrying for a T6-less future. I reckon three adult passengers on their way to work would be just as happy too! Access wasn’t perfect however – it would have been nice to have two sliding rear doors rather than the one, but I appreciate this is a characteristic of this model. In fact it’s hard to pick fault in our Crewvan of the year, as other niggles revolved around the small sizes of the dashboard stowage, the lack of App Connect (not the fault of the van!) and the blingy chromed 18-inch wheels that made the ride a bit choppy. Going back to the wheels, despite the ride and the cost (£2,100!),  I’d have the 18-inch Springfield alloys again if I was choosing, which sounds weird considering how they upset the ride, but they fill the arches well and give added visual clout to the sharp looks of the T6, that rival vans just can’t match.