Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Transporter Sportline: long-term test review

Final report: our medium-sized van makes way for its smaller sibling

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review vans

Verdict

We’re really sorry to see the Transporter go – this Sportline version delivers cool looks and excellent performance – but the car-like comfort that the Caddy Cargo offers is helping to ease the pain somewhat. We just wish that the tech were better integrated, and more of it were available as standard, too.

Advertisement - Article continues below
  • Mileage: 13,654
  • Economy: 34.2mpg

Everything ends, and unfortunately our time with the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline has come to a close. We’ve been bowled over by its performance and sporty looks – as well as its cargo carrying – but it’s the oldest model that
VW now offers in its commercial vehicle line-up, so it was time for a change. 

Enter the VW Caddy Cargo, which is the newest member of the combustion-engined van line-up; only the electric ID. Buzz Cargo is fresher. With a swap from a model first introduced in 2016 to one that arrived four years later, it seemed like a good opportunity to see what progress looks like in the world of vans.

The T6.1 Transporter – so called because the Mk6 model was facelifted in 2019 – certainly seems like an old-school product when compared with the Caddy Cargo. That’s because it can trace its tech back to the T5 that came before it. The upright driving position is great for a clear view of the road ahead, but while our Sportline model delivered impressive performance, it still felt like a van at heart. That high centre of gravity and bouncy ride were constant reminders.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

ID.3

2022 Volkswagen

ID.3

38,120 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £12,900
View ID.3
A1 Sportback

2018 Audi

A1 Sportback

26,742 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L

Cash £14,300
View A1 Sportback
TT Roadster

2018 Audi

TT Roadster

61,873 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £17,800
View TT Roadster
X2

2020 BMW

X2

52,404 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £17,900
View X2

Where the Caddy Cargo impresses is with its comfort. Its arrival in 2020 marked a transition to the same platform that’s used by the VW Golf, so it’s a lot more car-like to drive. The lower seating position means the view out isn’t quite as panoramic as you’ll find in the Transporter, but the suspension copes a lot better with rough surfaces, and the Caddy Cargo feels more lively, too.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Both vans feature 2.0-litre diesels , although the twin-turbo set-up of the Transporter means it has far more power than the Caddy Cargo. But fitting a 2.0 TDI to the small van rather than the 1.6 TDI seen in past generations means the latest model has a healthy spread of torque, so it pulls strongly even from low revs. Then there’s the novelty of its manual gearbox, which is considerably more responsive than the Transporter’s slow-witted DSG.

The other area where the two vans diverge is in terms of cabin tech. Both come with VW’s digital instrument cluster, but the Transporter’s infotainment is a generation behind. However, this means that the climate controls are a set of easy-to-use rotary dials, whereas the Caddy features the latest set-up from the Golf. That includes frustrating touch-sensitive sliders for the volume and temperature, as well as having the climate functions within the screen. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

It also lacks certain features, because Apple CarPlay is offered as an option that’s purchasable via VW’s online store. It feels like a backwards step when the system is standard on the Transporter. We’re lucky that our Caddy Cargo features sat-nav as part of the kit list, but owners who haven’t upgraded could feel short-changed.

Volkswagen Transporter Sportline: first report

Our Sportline-spec panel van has a racier look than an actual hot hatch

Advertisement - Article continues below
  • Mileage: 11,233
  • Economy: 35.4mpg

It’s all well and good for a hot hatchback to deliver a thrilling drive, but for me, it’s got to look the part as well. It’s something that I’ve felt has been lacking from Volkswagen’s most recent hot Golfs, and the arrival of a VW Transporter Sportline on our fleet has done nothing to help alter this point of view. Here’s a van that, to my eyes, looks sportier than a hot hatch.

We recently had a Golf R 20 Years in to pitch against the latest Honda Civic Type R, so I saw the perfect opportunity to line up VW’s hot hatch next to this sportiest of vans. Yet even with the special-edition Golf’s subtle extras, I still don’t think the R can hold a candle to the Transporter Sportline for racy appeal.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

First, there’s the colour. Even in bright sunlight, the dark blue of the Golf R here isn’t nearly as vivid as the optional metallic hue of our Transporter. The red flash across the van’s grille is a nod to the Golf GTI, and to my eyes is more distinctive than the blue trim on the R.

Yes, big wheels and quad exhausts do help the Golf R stand out, but it’s really not that far removed from R-Line trim. At least the Transporter’s lowered suspension, rear spoiler (which is just as big as the Golf’s), black alloys and chunky Sportline bodykit offer some visual impact that the standard Startline and Highline vans lack.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Transporter can’t match the 328bhp, four-wheel-drive Golf R in a drag race or around corners. But with 201bhp on tap, it’s still a pretty sprightly performer when unladen, and it has already surprised a few unsuspecting drivers at the traffic lights. 

The biggest obstacle to driving fun is the gearbox, though. It’s a seven-speed DSG unit, but it’s quite slow-witted. Floor the throttle, and the electronics need a second or two to catch up with what you’re doing. Much like some hot hatches, there’s a bit of a knack to getting the best from it; a 450Nm torque figure is 30Nm more than the Golf R’s, and
if you keep within the 1,400-2,250rpm band where it’s available, the Transporter’s in-gear acceleration is a lot of fun.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Grip is actually pretty good, thanks to 255/45 section tyres, but the Transporter’s tall driving position reminds you that this is no sports car. At least VW has given the cab a racy update. The driver’s and twin front-passenger seat are finished in Nappa leather and Alcantara suede with red stitching, while there’s also a leather-trimmed steering wheel and the dashboard features gloss-black trim and the eight-inch version of VW’s Discover media sat-nav system.

Advertisement - Article continues below

This set-up works pretty well, and given that it’s an older set-up (this version of the Transporter has been around since 2019), it doesn’t have the annoying climate and volume controls that plague most of VW’s newer models. There’s wireless smartphone connectivity, too, although the Transporter lacks wireless charging to go with it, so I find it better to plug in anyway.

Unfortunately, the smartphone system is a little unstable, and after a long period of connection, the screen tends to go fuzzy and there’s a delay between the phone mapping and your actual location. A quick jump to another menu and back to the smartphone screen resets it, but it’s still an annoyance.

Another bugbear are the front and rear parking sensors, which tend to overreact to their surroundings. You can turn them off, though, and the electronics are able to reactivate them in case you forget to do so manually before parking.

Other than that, the Transporter Sportline is really delivering the goods in terms of its ability. It’s quick enough to be fun to drive, and I’m unswayed in my opinion that it looks sportier than an actual hot hatchback, too.

Model:Volkswagen Transporter 2.0 TDI DSG Sportline SWB
On fleet since:December 2022
Price new:£46,519 (ex. VAT)
Engine:2.0-litre 4cyl twin-turbodiesel, 201bhp
CO2/tax:197g/km/£320
Options:Ravenna Blue metallic paint (£810)
Insurance group:40
Mileage/mpg:13,654/34.2mpg
Any problems?Puncture requiring a new tyre (£184)
Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior test editor

Dean has been part of the Auto Express team for more than 20 years, and has worked across nearly all departments, starting on magazine production, then moving to road tests and reviews. He's our resident van expert, but covers everything from scooters and motorbikes to supercars and consumer products.

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,600
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,200Avg. savings £4,560 off RRP*Used from £14,993
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,250
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,699
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution
Connecting charger to Hyundai Tucson PHEV

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution

Half a million extra PHEVs could reach UK roads by 2030 in place of cleaner EVs due to changes surrounding the ZEV Mandate
News
19 May 2025
New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return

The Ford Fiesta could be coming back as an electric car, and here’s everything we know so far
News
20 May 2025
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025