10 reasons to put the Volkswagen Crafter on your van shortlist

When it comes to running your business, you need a van that will work just as hard as you – a van that is as versatile as it is reliable, and as packed with tech as it is capacious for everything you need to carry. If that’s your wish list, meet the Volkswagen Crafter.

Available as a panel van in three different lengths and three differing heights – delivering up to 18.4m3 of load space and 2472kg of payload – or as a chassis cab, Luton, a dropside, a tipper, with a Single and Double Cab, the Crafter’s vast array of configurations means that it can be tailored precisely to your business needs.

Moreover, the Crafter now features a range of strong and economical engines and smart in-cab safety and infotainment technology that make it easy, safe and enjoyable to drive every day. In fact, not only is the Crafter rated 5 stars by What Car?, it also scooped the Best Overall Large Van and Best Large Van to Drive prizes at the inaugural What Car? Van Awards.

So, here are all the reasons you should consider putting the Crafter at the top of your next big van shortlist.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

With three vehicle lengths and heights to choose from, the options to tailor the Crafter to your exact business needs are wide and varied. The medium wheelbase Crafter delivers a load length of 3450mm, while the Crafter long wheelbase Maxi increases that to a whopping 4855mm (plus overhang) - that’s longer than two VW Up! city cars end-to-end.

Inside, the high roof option yields a load height of 1961mm, while the super high roof sports 2189mm of interior load height – both delivering exceptional capacity and loadability.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

When it comes to usability for your daily business needs, you need a van that can haul a lot of cargo – that’s where the Crafter exceeds.

Medium wheelbase guise provides space for four Euro pallets, while the long and long wheelbase Maxi versions can swallow six Euro pallets with ease. In terms of payload, the Crafter can haul up to 2472kg of cargo – that’s equivalent to more than two VW Polo small cars.

Loading volume is equally remarkable, ranging from 9.9 to 11.3 cubic meters. The two longer-wheelbase versions bump that up to a massive maximum of 18.4 cubic meters - meaning no job is too big for the Crafter.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

The loading bay of the Crafter is designed with safety and ease in mind. The roof-height rear doors open up to 180 degrees (increased to 270 degrees on Trendline models), making loading and unloading as easy as possible, while the side-loading sliding door makes things even easier with a class-leading opening width of 1311mm.

Up to 14 high-strength, retractable load-lashing rings and rails mean you can safely secure your cargo, while a resilient beechwood floor (standard on Trendline and optional on Startline) ensures that your load compartment can handle the sharpest, heaviest and bulkiest of loads. Space for shelving units and an optional interior roof rack for long items only enhances the Crafter’s immense versatility.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

“One of Volkswagen’s main aims for the Crafter was to reduce the stress on the driver,” said our What Car? road test team. To do this, the Crafter has been fitted with a line-up of quieter, more refined and smoother engines (more on that in a bit), improved sound deadening in the cabin and a comfortable optional ergoComfort 20-way adjustable driver’s seat.

An impressive suite of standard driver assistance systems – such as Front Assist and City Emergency Braking and Crosswind Assist – also help reduce stress by lending a second pair of eyes on the open road, while Trailer Assist, Park Assist and Lane Keep Assist are available as options.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

The Crafter also features a roster of additional driver assistance systems to help around town and during slow-speed manoeuvring – helping to keep you, your cargo and your van’s panels safe - this helping your van stay in pristine condition, upholding its residual value and keeping your company image in tip top condition.

Optional Side Protection alerts you with visual and audible warnings if you're getting too close to other vehicles, pillars, walls or pedestrians, while optional Rear Traffic Alert helps by emitting an audible warning when reversing out of a parking space if another vehicle is getting too close. If the driver fails to respond, the system intervenes and applies braking to help avoid a collision.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

Whether you’re stop-starting around busy city centres or hitting the motorways for longer commutes to your next job, the Crafter’s range of Euro 6 compliant 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engines are easily up to the task in hand.

Four power outputs are available, depending on whether you choose front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or confidence-inspiring 4MOTION all-wheel drive. Horsepower ranges from 101bhp to 174bhp, while up to 410Nm of torque will help haul even the heaviest of loads.

Up to 38.2mpg (WLTP combined) is achievable with the diesels, while the city-focused all-electric e-Crafter sports a range of 107 miles and power of 134bhp and 290Nm of torque.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

Up front, the Crafter’s cockpit is as relaxing as it is functional. The optional ergoComfort suspension driver’s seat provides optimal back care and reduces the impact of jolts, while optional heated and massaging seats make driving a pleasure.

An abundance of practical storage compartments including cup holders, the biggest glove compartment in its class and plenty of overhead cubbies make the Crafter’s cabin your personalised mobile office. Plenty of connection ports and sockets make charging all your vital electronics a breeze, too.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

As a van driver or fleet manager, the Crafter’s cockpit truly is your mobile workplace and contains everything you need to maximise every working day. A Bluetooth hands-free kit for your smartphone with radio and navigation integration means you can stay connected to your customers as well as effortlessly planning your most efficient routes.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s suite of We Connect[1] features allow you to access even more of the Crafter’s digital functions through your smartphone, including live driving data, vehicle health reports, journey planners and the automatic Emergency Call system, should you be unfortunate enough to have an accident.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

*To use We Connect services, you need to have a Volkswagen ID user account, and must log into We Connect with your username and password. In addition, a separate We Connect contract or We Connect Plus contract must be concluded online with Volkswagen AG. For We Connect Plus, you have 90 days from vehicle handover to register the vehicle on the portal.volkswagen-we.com in order to use the services for the full duration of the agreed complementary period. Only available in conjunction with a compatible infotainment system

While the Crafter is incredibly versatile as a panel van, sometimes something more bespoke is needed – whether you’re a sole trader whose business has unique demands or a fleet manager who needs multiple standard-fit conversions.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers a vast amount of conversion options – either as ‘Engineered to Go’ off-the-shelf options or, for more customised solutions, through the Volkswagen Recognised Conversion process.

Whether you need a Crafter dropside, a hydraulic crane, refrigeration or anything else to meet the demands of your business, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles can help. All work is delivered seamlessly through its one-stop shop approach, meaning you can focus on your business while your perfect vehicle is prepared.

Read more: VW Crafter van review

At the 2020 What Car? Van Awards the Crafter was crowned What Car?’s Best Large Van and Best Large Van to Drive thanks to its blend of comfort, technology and oodles of cargo space, as well as its innovative Electromechanical Servotronic steering that provides speed-sensitive operation for greater precision and ease. So, those are all the reasons you should consider a Crafter for your business.

Read more: VW Crafter van review