Volkswagen ABT eTransporter

Interior

The Volkswagen Transporter has one of the best interiors in the business, benefitting from many of the design touches and materials used in the firm’s road cars. It means that although it’s been designed to be long-lasting, that doesn’t mean it feels cheap or look boring inside.

The infotainment screen in particular gives it an ultra-modern look, and in the ABT eTransporter it includes a 6.5-inch unit that also includes Volkswagen AppConnect, which allows you to use your mobile phone apps through the infotainment system.

Cargo space is impressive, with a 6,700-litre load area and both side-loading and rear-opening access. It has a total payload of 1,001kg.Text here ...

Exterior

The Volkswagen Transporter is one of the smartest looking vans in the segment with its boxy styling making it something of a cult hero in the lifestyle sector as well as the commercial one. The ABT eTransporter gets all the latest styling touches, with a chunky black front bumper on the entry model that’s replaced with a body-coloured version on the pricier example.

The side and rear get prominent creases in the body work that make the traditional slab-sided van design look a bit more interesting. This version doesn’t shout about being zero-emissions, but those in the know will recognise this fact from the ABT badging that’s present on the side of the van, while a more subtle white and green ABT e-Line badge can be spotted in the front grille.

Technology

The infotainment system comes as standard with DAB radio, SD card slot, Bluetooth integration, two USB-C slots and the aforementioned Volkswagen AppConnect.

Volkswagen hasn’t held back on safety equipment, including Front Assist with City Emergency Braking included as standard, which can detect a potential collision with cars, cyclists and pedestrians and prepare the brakes to stop, even slightly engaging them to lend a helping hand if required.

It also includes Driver Steering Recommendation, which can gently intervene with the steering to stabilise the vehicle, and Crosswind Assist, which can apply the brakes if it detects a strong crosswind while the vehicle is travelling above 50mph.

The ABT eTransporter comes with a Combined Charging System (CCS) socket and can accept a charge of up to 50kW, which Volkswagen reckons provides a 0-80 per cent charge within 45 minutes.

The typical rev counter dial in the driver’s instrument cluster has been replaced with a power meter that includes a charge level indicator. When the needle is in the green, the battery is being charged by recuperation during braking. Where as the blue area denotes the typically optimum speeds and acceleration for the most economical driving and thanks to the charge level indicator, you always have the current state of charge in the battery.

Performance

Under the bonnet sits an 83kW electric motor that has 200Nm of torque, so acceleration won’t be a problem, even when fully loaded. The 0-60mph time is 17.4 seconds. It uses Volkswagen’s latest generation of electric motor technology, which is lighter, quieter and smoother to drive than ever before, and the battery comes with a 100,000-mile or eight-year warranty.

In the panel van, range is up to 82 miles and it is capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,001kg with a loading volume of 6,700 litres, while the kombi version has a range of 80 miles, a maximum payload of 914kg and a maximum load volume of 4,400 litres.

eTransporter Trim levels

There are just two trim levels available for the ABT eTransporter, with the entry-level model getting some basic design choices to bring the cost down compared with the better-equipped Advance model.

ABT eTransporter 6.1

Standard equipment for the ABT eTransporter is impressive, with Front Assist with Emergency Braking System helping keep you safe behind the wheel, electronically adjustable and heated exterior door mirrors, air conditioning, 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio and smartphone connectivity and rear parking sensors. It’s marked out from the Advance model through its 16-inch steel wheels and black bumpers.

ABT eTransporter 6.1 Advance

The Advance trim level gets all the equipment listed above, but also adds a heated windscreen, LED headlights with separate LED daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors and electrically foldable exterior door mirrors. On the outside, it gets 17-inch alloy wheels and body-coloured exterior door mirror housings, door handles and bumpers.

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ABT eTransporter Dimensions

Want to learn more about the e-Transporter? Download Brochure