Volkswagen Crafter van review
VW's large van is excellent to drive and available with a huge amount of configuration options, but rivals are cheaper
RRP £62,673
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Large Van
Van
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Introduction
Performance & drive
Interior
Passenger & boot space
Buying & owning
Phil Huff
Updated: 25 August 2026
How we test cars
The Volkswagen Crafter is the largest van in the company’s commercial vehicle range, sitting above the VW Transporter and competing with heavyweight rivals including the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and Renault Master, as well as the Stellantis quintet of the Citroën Relay, Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Toyota Proace Max and Vauxhall Movano.
But unlike the first-generation Crafter, which was closely related to the Sprinter, the current model is Volkswagen’s own design. It’s been on sale since 2017, but a substantial update has modernised the cabin and added more tech without changing the fundamentals of the van’s exterior or mechanical layout.
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There’s a range of body lengths and roof heights, along with countless chassis cab and specialist conversion bases. Gross vehicle weights extend beyond the usual 3.5-tonne limit, too, so there’s a Crafter for seemingly every business.
As it approaches its 10th birthday, we find out whether its premium feel and broad range of configurations are enough to keep it near the top of a bustling class.
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Verdict
The Volkswagen Crafter remains one of the most polished large vans on sale, combining excellent road manners and a comfortable cab. It would be easy to recommend it on that alone. It's not the cheapest among its rivals, nor does it have the biggest payload, but it does offer a huge, square load area and excellent conversion potential.
Pros
- Excellent to drive
- Refined and comfortable
- Huge choice of configurations
Cons
- Below-average payload
- Mediocre fuel economy
- Cheaper alternatives are available
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Performance & drive
What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is
Strengths
- Excellent motorway refinement
- Smooth eight-speed automatic
- Light and accurate steering
Weaknesses
- 4Motion adds weight and cost
- Ford Transit feels more agile
This generation Volkswagen Crafter has always been one of the best large vans to drive, and the latest updates haven’t changed that.
There are three versions of the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine. The 138bhp model is front-wheel drive, the 161bhp version is rear-wheel drive, while the 175bhp engine is available with front-wheel drive or 4Motion all-wheel drive. Depending on the version, buyers can choose between a six-speed manual gearbox and an eight-speed automatic.
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We had the keys to the most powerful 175bhp engine with the eight-speed automatic ‘box and 4Motion all-wheel drive. It’s a combination that makes the Crafter heavy but remarkably easy to live with. There’s plenty of low-down pull, the gearbox changes smoothly, and progress remains relaxed even when the van is carrying a load.
Of course, you wouldn’t expect the most powerful version of the van to struggle, but experience suggests that either the 138bhp or 161bhp versions will do just fine if you don’t need four wheel drive.
The auto ‘box responds promptly without feeling aggressive, rarely hunting between gears. It takes much of the strain out of stop-start driving, while also settling into a high gear quickly on the motorway. It’s all very civilised.
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The steering’s light at low speeds, making it easy to thread through tight city centres or loading yards.
Ride comfort is impressive, especially given the Crafter’s aging underpinnings. Our van remained composed over broken roads and speed bumps, while the suspension settled down impressively on the motorway. Adding several hundred kilograms of wood for a home DIY project made surprisingly little difference to its behaviour, with the Crafter still feeling stable, controlled and untroubled.
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A Mercedes Sprinter might be marginally more comfortable, and a Ford Transit feels a little more agile, but the Crafter strikes an excellent balance.
The Crafter is light, comfortable and remarkably easy to place for such a large van. Add the 175bhp engine and eight-speed automatic, and even a sizable load barely seems to trouble it.
Phil Huff, Van reviewer
Interior
The interior layout, fit and finish
Strengths
- Excellent driving position
- Strong build quality
- Clear digital instruments
Weaknesses
- No physical temperature controls
- Some menus are poorly structured
A 2024 facelift transformed the Volkswagen Crafter’s cab, replacing the old analogue layout with a fully digital driver’s display and a tablet-style infotainment screen mounted prominently in the centre of the dashboard. Whether that’s a good thing is up for debate.
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You’ll find a 10.4-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, while a larger 12.9-inch system is available as an option. Wireless phone charging, USB-C ports and smartphone connectivity are also included, while automatic models gain a column-mounted gear selector that frees up useful space in the centre of the cab.
More space has been freed up by moving the old manual handbrake from the floor and replacing it with an electronic switch that’s mounted unusually high on the dashboard, right by the instrument binnacle. It feels odd initially, but it becomes second nature with familiarity.
It certainly looks more modern than before, and the digital instruments are clear and easy to read. Unfortunately, the facelift removed most physical controls, including the ones for the air conditioning. Instead, adjusting the cabin temperature requires you to use an imprecise touch-sensitive slider underneath the touchscreen. That is irritating in any vehicle, but especially in a working van where drivers may be wearing gloves.
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The touchscreen itself is responsive enough, but the interface often feels like passenger car technology transplanted into a commercial vehicle without enough thought about how it will actually be used.
Material quality is strong by large van standards. Most surfaces are made from hard, wipe-clean plastic, but everything feels solidly assembled, with no obvious squeaks or rattles. It’s a shame it’s all so grey, but trading a little visual flair for quality seems reasonable in a commercial vehicle.
The driving position is upright but supportive, although our van had the optional Comfort Driver’s Seat fitted which offers a wider range of adjustment than the standard seat.
The Crafter’s slab-sided square shape, deep windscreen and large two-part mirrors mean there’s excellent visibility and spatial cues to make manoeuvring a cinch.
Yes, touchscreens allow more functions and save manufacturers money, but I’d happily swap some of the technology for a proper temperature knob.
Phil Huff, Van reviewer
Tips & Advice
Which smartphone integration should I have?
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fantastic – and free – technologies. Here we show you the benefits, drawbacks and best apps
Passenger & boot space
How it copes with people and clutter
Strengths
- Huge maximum load volume
- Wide side-door opening
- Excellent conversion preparation
Weaknesses
- Payload trails the best rivals
- 4Motion versions loses further capacity
- Heavier models bring extra operating restrictions
The Volkswagen Crafter has an unusually wide cab, so three adults can fit across the front more comfortably than in the likes of a Mercedes Sprinter or Vauxhall Movano. There are plenty of storage options, including large door bins, dashboard trays, overhead compartments and space beneath the passenger seat. Automatic versions also gain an extra cupholder where the manual gear lever would otherwise sit.
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The Volkswagen Crafter offers one of the largest and most versatile load areas in the class, although its payload figures are less impressive than the van’s sheer size suggests.
There are three body lengths: medium wheelbase (MWB), long wheelbase (LWB) and long wheelbase Maxi (LWB Maxi). Load lengths range from 3450mm to 4855mm, while cargo volumes start at 9.9m3 and rise to 18.4m3 in the largest front-wheel-drive super-high-roof model. A Ford Transit tops out at 15.1m3, a Mercedes Sprinter stops at 15.5m3, and a Renault Master maxes out at 14.8m3, so the Crafter is seriously large. Only an Iveco Daily can top it, with a maximum 19.6m3 of space for cargo.
The load bay is broad and square, with 1832mm of width and a side-door opening measuring 1311mm — just 1mm narrower than the Master’s best-in-class measurement. Front-wheel drive versions also have a loading sill 100mm lower than rear-wheel drive and 4Motion models, which makes repeated loading and unloading noticeably easier.
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Access through the back is good, with 180-degree rear doors fitted as standard, while Commerce Plus models gain 270-degree hinges, allowing the doors to fold back against the sides of the van when space is tight.
Volkswagen has also put plenty of thought into conversions and load securing. The Crafter can be fitted with an optional ‘universal floor’ designed to accept third-party racking systems, while the body includes preparation points for shelving and up to 14 recessed load-lashing rings.
Payload limits are the Crafter’s main weakness. The best 3.5-tonne panel van can carry around 1229kg, but automatic gearboxes, all-wheel drive, larger bodies and higher equipment levels all reduce that figure, down to as low as 881kg. You could get an extra 231kg in a Movano, and 417kg more in a Transit, depending on the model.
Heavier five-tonne models solve that problem and provide much greater carrying capacity, but they bring additional licensing, tachograph and operating requirements that make them unsuitable for many drivers and small businesses.
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The Crafter’s load bay is huge, square and exceptionally easy to adapt, but volume and payload are not the same thing. Choose a heavy version or plenty of options, and the amount you can legally carry falls surprisingly quickly.
Phil Huff, Van reviewer
Buying & owning
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Strengths
- Unlimited-mileage warranty
- Long maximum service intervals
- Strong dealer and maintenance support
Weaknesses
- High purchase price; disappointing fuel economy
- Air conditioning isn’t standard on Commerce
- Options and 4Motion add substantial cost
The Volkswagen Crafter isn’t a cheap van. Prices start at around £39,000 before VAT and other costs, for a medium-wheelbase three-tonne CR30 Commerce with the 138bhp engine and six-speed manual gearbox, but the more useful CR35 version starts north of £42,000 — more than the most expensive panel van versions of the Renault Master or Vauxhall Movano.
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Move to a more powerful, larger, higher spec van with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox, and you’ll be looking at adding more than £15,000.
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You do get a nice cab for that, although the entry-level Commerce model is a tad bare. Standard equipment includes a wireless phone charging pad, keyless starting, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic windscreen wipers.
Upgrade to Commerce Plus and you get air conditioning, cruise control, heated and electrically adjustable mirrors, a more supportive driver’s seat, wooden load flooring and 270-degree rear doors. It’s the one to go for.
With official WLTP economy figures that never better 32.8mpg – and some heavier models dropping as low as 22.2mpg – the Crafter isn’t as economical as the Mercedes Sprinter or Master. That said, we averaged 30.2mpg in the 175bhp 4Motion automatic over a mixture of roads, including driving both laden and unladen; beating its official figure of 28mpg.
Warranty cover lasts for three years with no mileage limit, which matches the Iveco Daily and Sprinter. Most other large vans are covered for three years or 100,000 miles, although the Nissan Interstar is covered for five years.
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Servicing uses a variable schedule determined by the van’s onboard computer, with intervals extending to a maximum of 30,000 miles.
Buy it if…
- You want a large van that’s easy to drive
- Ride comfort and refinement are important to you
- You’d like a wide range of conversion options
Don’t buy it if…
- You want a class-leading payload
- Physical controls are important to you
- You’re on a budget
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Despite being a little sparse, I think the Crafter feels like a premium van and is priced accordingly. Its excellent automatic gearbox may justify an upgrade, but optional four-wheel drive, mediocre economy and a lengthy options list can make it expensive to buy and run.
Phil Huff, Van reviewer
Volkswagen Crafter specifications
RRP price range
£62,673 - £69,711
MPG range across all versions
26.4 - 29.4
Available fuel types (which is best for you? )
Diesel
Number of engines (see all)
1
Number of trims (see all)
1
Warranty
3 years
Company car tax at 20% (min/max)
£4,213 - £4,733
Company car tax at 40% (min/max)
£8,425 - £9,467
FAQs
Is the Volkswagen Crafter a good van?
Yes. The Crafter is one of the most refined and comfortable large vans to drive, with light controls, excellent visibility, strong build quality and a broad range of body and drivetrain options. Its main weaknesses are below-average payloads, relatively poor fuel economy, and a high purchase price.
What engines are available in the Volkswagen Crafter?
Just the one, a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine with outputs of 138bhp, 161bhp or 175bhp. The 138bhp version is front-wheel drive, the 161bhp model is rear-wheel drive, while the 175bhp engine is available with front-wheel drive or 4Motion all-wheel drive.
Which Volkswagen Crafter should I buy?
For most buyers, the 138bhp front-wheel-drive CR35 is the sensible choice, with a justifiable upgrade to the Commerce Plus spec to make days behind the wheel more comfortable.
What is the difference between Crafter Commerce and Commerce Plus?
Commerce includes a digital instrument display, 10.4-inch touchscreen, smartphone connectivity, wireless charging, front and rear parking sensors, lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking. Commerce Plus adds air conditioning, cruise control, heated and electrically adjustable mirrors, a more supportive driver’s seat, wooden load flooring, an alarm and 270-degree rear doors.
New car deals
Best price from £62,673
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £44,400
RRP from: £62,673
Available now
From £44,400
About the writer
Name: Phil Huff
Title: Van reviewer
Follow Phil Huff on
Phil Huff has been writing about cars and vans for newspapers, magazines and websites since 2012 but spent a decade before that covering the somewhat speedier world of F1. Today, he’s fully immersed in the LCV world, spending more time talking about gross vehicle weights than 0-62mph times.
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