2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan assessment

Volkswagen have been making campervans for the reason that unique Kombi within the Nineteen Fifties, so the German model is aware of a factor or two on this house.

At a manufacturing facility degree it has a spread of California-branded camper variations of its present vary of business vans, together with the Caddy, T6.1 Transporter in addition to the Crafter. It’s even proven off a California idea model of its new plug-in hybrid Multivan.

The Australian market has seen plenty of these automobiles imported and bought regionally, although the bigger Crafter Grand California was by no means in a position to be bought right here because of points with getting the sliding facet door on the left-hand facet for Aussie roads.

Volkswagen Industrial Autos Australia subsequently stated “if you need one thing executed proper, do it your self”.

Nicely, type of. In collaboration with leisure car and caravan specialist Jayco, Volkswagen Industrial Autos Australia created the Crafter Kampervan by Jayco, first revealed to the general public on the 2022 Caravan Tenting Vacation Supershow and subsequently bought in restricted numbers on-line later that 12 months – all 60 of them bought out in minutes.

Now for 2024 Volkswagen and Jayco are again once more with the aptly named ‘GEN2’ model of the Crafter Kampervan, full with feedback-based updates and upgrades, along with a streamlined vary. The industrial automobiles division has launched plenty of high quality checks within the manufacturing course of according to manufacturing facility requirements.

Whereas the preliminary allocation for GEN2 is quoted as the identical “60+ items” as GEN1 for the rest of 2024, the corporate has promised it’s working with its manufacturing facility in Germany to safe extra Crafter base items in 2025 to extend its Kampervan capability.

As with the unique, the 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan by Jayco is absolutely backed by VW’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in addition to 5 years of ordinary roadside help. These are additionally manufactured in Melbourne by Jayco, making this fairly the localised challenge.

Is that this the right campervan for the adventurous and nomadic?

How does the Volkswagen Crafter examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Volkswagen Crafter in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Volkswagen

Crafter

How a lot does the Volkswagen Crafter value?

The 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan by Jayco vary begins from $157,990 plus on-road prices.

All costs exclude on-road prices

To see how the Volkswagen Crafter strains up in opposition to its rivals, take a look at our comparability instrument.

What’s the Volkswagen Crafter like on the within?

There’s rather a lot happening right here.

Whereas the primary row of seating and entrance of cabin is all inventory normal VW Crafter, behind these manufacturing facility swivelling entrance seats it’s all bespoke Kampervan.

There’s a folding desk slotting between the 2 rows of seating that can be eliminated and used exterior, and there’s storage beneath the second-row seat base – the latter new with the GEN2 Kampervan. You can too convert the third and fourth seats into one thing of a second mattress, and there’s a curler blind for the rear facet home windows.

Being based mostly on the present Crafter LWB with excessive roof, there’s a manufacturing facility 8.0-inch ‘Uncover Media’ navigation system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to Bluetooth cellphone and audio streaming, FM radio, USB-C integration and four-speaker audio.

There’s a mid-life replace coming to the Crafter later this 12 months that may convey little in aesthetic adjustments however a considerable soar in tech, successfully bringing the new-gen Digital Cockpit setup from the likes of the Caddy and Golf in addition to an enhanced suite of driver help and semi autonomous driving methods.

These tech upgrades will doubtless be mirrored on 2025-build Kampervans.

As you progress again there’s a full kitchen setup that includes a gasoline cooktop with hinged glass lid, a 90-litre 12V fridge, 240V microwave, and even a full bathe and bathroom behind a mirror door full with an on-demand gas-powered scorching water system. It’s like a rolling resort room!

Feeding all these ‘Habitat’ options are a 120-litre contemporary water tank, an 80-litre gray water tank, in addition to a 9kg gasoline bottle saved in a sealed compartment.

Externally there’s a mixed dual-USB and 240V energy outlet accessible from the surface working space, in addition to mains energy and water inputs on the right-hand facet of the car.

A revised electrically operated facet step – which opens and closes by way of a swap but in addition mechanically folds away when the car is put in Drive – has been optimised for the GEN2, and aids ingress and egress.

There are heaps of storage drawers and cabinets dotted about. Volkswagen says it has enhanced storage in areas just like the kitchen and each beside and underneath the rear double mattress space.

Pure air flow has been improved with the varied extra fly screens which were utilized on this second iteration, permitting the facet and rear home windows to be left open however coated by the insect-blocking nets. You additionally get blackout blinds all through for added privateness while you want it.

The rear bedding space includes a queen-width mattress and stuck mattress, together with a 1.8m-long Cloud9 Luxurious internal spring mattress. VW Industrial Autos says this mattress is upgraded from the GEN1 Kampervan, and the mattress top has been raised to permit for the extra rear storage.

You additionally get USB and 240V energy shops within the sleeping space to cost your gadgets, and there are a pair of non-public studying lights with extra USB cost factors.

There are swivel followers for cross-ventilation, they usually fold into their mounts to permit for extra headroom when not in use.

Above the mattress space is an AC outlet fed by a Dometic Harrier Lite roof-mounted air-conditioner. There’s additionally an Eberspacher diesel heating system for cooler climates.

Finishing the rear quarters is a Sphere 12V TV with built-in DVD participant, which will be hooked up to a swivel mount within the kitchen or on the bedside.

Out again behind the tailgate is a trundle tray with a 75kg load restrict, the place you’ll additionally discover the awning instruments in addition to pockets to retailer the manufacturing facility chair and desk set when not in use.

You additionally want the amenities to energy these things, so the Crafter Kampervan comes outfitted with a 400Ah lithium home battery enclosed in a batter field, teamed with a 3000W inverter which may run all the car’s 240V sockets off grid, in addition to a 60A DC-DC charger which makes use of the car’s engine to rapidly prime up the battery – all provided by Projecta.

VW Industrial Autos and Jayco have almost doubled the capability of the onboard battery in addition to the charging capability of the DC-to-DC charger (from 30A to 60A).

There’s additionally a secondary OEM car battery and 200W photo voltaic panel on board, with VW quoting off-grid capability of greater than three days with no AC, or 6-7 hours with AC. Photo voltaic blanket enter can be provided by way of an Anderson plug, which is positioned for windscreen or rear mounting.

The corporate says the Crafter Kampervan GEN2 gives higher normal battery capability, inverter dimension and DC-DC charging capability than key rivals from Trakka, Horizon and even Jayco’s personal motorhome vary. It’s all managed by way of a

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The Crafter Kampervan vary is powered by a 2.0 TDI 410 bi-turbo diesel with normal 4Motion all-wheel drive.

To see how the Volkswagen Crafter compares with its rivals, take a look at our comparability instrument.

How does the Volkswagen Crafter drive?

Regardless of its very hefty dimensions, the Crafter Kampervan is surprisingly straightforward to drive.

We had a stint every within the Kampervan Fashion and All-Terrain, with the primary leg beginning in Phillip Island and ending in Gembrook in Victoria’s far-east, and the second stint ranging from our Gembrook cease and ending within the Toolangi Forest.

Take into accout the Kampervan relies on the LWB Excessive Roof variant of the Crafter, which means it’s an enormous 6836mm lengthy, 2040mm broad (2427mm incl. mirrors) and rides on a 4490mm wheelbase. It’s additionally an entire 2850mm tall – she massive!

Despite the fact that VW doesn’t quote a weight determine for both Crafter Kampervan variant, the added weight of the conversion plus the 4.3t GVM improve means there’s loads of heavy responsibility stuff for the two.0-litre turbo-diesel to lug round.

So, even with only one individual on board, it’s not notably fast. That stated, with the quantity of package on board and the chance of knick-knacks being saved in cabinets or within the fridge, you wouldn’t need to be driving this factor notably rapidly or aggressively, lest you injury or unsettle what you’re carrying.

Our first leg was undertaken within the All-Terrain variant, which has the identical driveline and normal spec of the Fashion however provides a 50mm complete suspension raise package deal on prime of smaller 16-inch metal wheels with all-terrain tyres, in addition to a snorkel and Seikel underbody safety.

With a traditional eight-speed automated and 410Nm on faucet from 2000rpm, there’s a relative smoothness and linearity to the heavy-duty Crafter’s drivetrain that’s maybe much less hesitant off the road and extra typical on the transfer than a few of VW’s smaller industrial vans with dual-clutch transmissions.

It responds fairly precisely to inputs, although if you happen to’re needing to get a transfer on rapidly – for instance, whereas pulling out of a slip lane or driving by a roundabout break level on a high-speed nation freeway (like Victoria’s Bass Hwy) – it’s good to actually wring its neck. This considerably upsets the in any other case refined atmosphere.

Talking of refinement, given the open cabin and boxy proportions, the Crafter Kampervan’s insulation from street and wind noise is admirable. The one actual noise I heard had been the insides of the cabinets and fridge flexing over more durable bumps.

The raised trip top and chunkier tyres of the All-Terrain appeared to take in street imperfections a bit higher than the Fashion, and it gives a little bit extra peace of thoughts when negotiating steeper dips and driveways so that you’re not at all times frightened of scraping it – plus, I feel it appears freaking powerful.

Hopping into the lower-riding and street-focused Fashion there wasn’t a big distinction however there was a slight added firmness which additionally meant higher dealing with as a trade-off. We additionally discovered the leg within the Fashion to yield higher gasoline consumption, regardless of the majority of the All-Terrain’s route being on the freeway – higher aerodynamics, maybe.

If something the Fashion is much more car-like, making it a straightforward factor to pilot even when, just like the All-Terrain, it’s good to give that little additional hole when making breaks in visitors. However actually, I used to be shocked at how straightforward it was to pilot.

The fundamental instrument cluster with clear analogue gauges and a monochrome multifunction show are all conversant in the VW Industrial vary in addition to entry-level passenger automotive product. It gives quite a lot of shows for journey pc, help options, digital speedometer and numerous fast choose settings.

Each variations supply a commanding view of the street forward and all the motive force controls and ergonomics are decidedly car-like, which makes it a reasonably seamless transition for a VW proprietor like myself.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel, for instance, is rather like the one in my sister’s Polo, and it’s hooked as much as a properly weighted electromechanical energy steering system which is speed-sensitive and properly correct in really feel.

I’ll be aware rearward visibility is obstructed by the rear bulkheads and bedding space, and it’s a disgrace there’s solely a rear-view digicam as an alternative of a surround-view monitor. At the least there are entrance and rear parking sensors that will help you keep away from backing into one thing or binging the nostril whereas parking.

Talking of assistants, the Crafter Kampervan comes with VW’s ‘Entrance Help’ encompassing autonomous emergency braking and ahead collision warning; driver fatigue monitoring; adaptive cruise management; velocity limiter; blind-spot monitoring; rear cross-traffic alert; and lane-keep help.

The All-Terrain we examined confirmed an error for the adaptive cruise management in the course of the freeway stint, however in any other case having the added eyes on the again of your head from the blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings assist loads given this factor’s colossal size, and the lane-keeping system helps you stick between skinnier lane markings.

It’s not fairly as subtle a set as a few of VW’s newer passenger and industrial choices, although the incoming mid-life replace for the usual Crafter vary ought to convey stuff like Journey Help and prolonged performance of different methods for larger autonomy.

Whereas not explicitly confirmed on the occasion, VW Industrial’s workforce alluded to those adjustments being mirrored on future Kampervans doubtless from 2025 onwards, as provide from the European manufacturing facility improves within the new 12 months.

What do you get?

For 2024 the vary has been trimmed to 2 variants – the Fashion and All-Terrain.

Crafter Kampervan Fashion highlights:

Exterior

• 17-inch ‘Lismore’ alloy wheels
• Computerized LED headlights
• LED daytime operating lights
• Headlight washer system
• Fog lights incl. cornering operate
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Electrical folding mirrors
• Sliding door, left
• Rear barn doorways with heated window
• Warmth-insulating windshield, laminated glass
• Heated rear home windows

Infotainment

• Uncover Media infotainment system
  • 8.0-inch touchscreen
  • Satellite tv for pc navigation
  • Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
  • Bluetooth
  • FM radio
  • USB-C inputs
  • 4-speaker sound system

Kampervan Habitat Options – Batteries, Know-how and Leisure

• Projecta Energy Administration system
  • 240V 30A DC built-in charger
• Projecta 60A DC-DC charger
• Projecta 400Ah lithium home battery
• Lippert management panel
• 12V and 240V energy sockets
• Roof-mounted photo voltaic panel, 200W
• Sphere 12V TV incl. built-in DVD participant
• Furrion stereo CD/DVD/radio
• Inner, exterior stereo audio system
• Wi-Fi extender
• Digital TV aerial

Kampervan Habitat Options – Exterior

• Fiamma handbook field awning – 4.0m
• 9kg gasoline bottle
• Exterior bathe, water entry
• Exterior 240V energy level
• Exterior 12V energy level
• Exterior TV level
• LED Annex gentle

Kampervan Habitat Options – Inside

• Massive pot drawers incl. Ezi-Glide runners
• Kitchen cupboards
• Trundle tray underneath mattress storage
• Bedside storage compartment
• Exterior electrical step for left sliding door
• Lavatory
• Kitchen
• 12V fridge – 90L
• Gasoline cooktop with hinged glass lid
• Microwave 240V
• LED gentle strip underneath overhead cabinets
• Home Harrier Lite rooftop-mounted AC
• Eberspacher diesel heating system
• Recent water tank – 120L
• Gray water tank – 80L
• On-demand gasoline scorching water system
• 2 x followers
• LED lighting

Kampervan Habitat Options – Consolation

• 2 x desk settings
• Cloud 9 double mattress
  • Innerspring mattress
  • Pillow prime
• Roof hatch in residing space
• Exhaust fan hatch in bathe
• Facet, rear door fly netting

Equipment and Free Gadgets

• Exterior fittings, attachments, hose
  • Again water hose
  • Blue non-toxic water hose
  • 3-piece brass adapter set
• 1 x cover
• 1 x blanket, throw rug
• 1 x kitchen drawer administration system
• 1 x plastic chopping board
• 1 x energy extension lead
• 2 x fold-out chairs
• 1 x fold-out camper desk
• 1 x fireplace extinguisher
• 2 x Fiamma degree professional set
• Photo voltaic screens for all entrance home windows

Crafter Kampervan All-Terrain provides:

Exterior

• 16-inch black metal wheels
• 235/65 R16 AT tyres
• Snorkel
• 50mm complete raise package deal
• Seikel underbody safety

Choices

The Crafter Kampervan vary is out there with a spread of paint finishes – the one choices accessible.

Strong: $NCO

Metallic: $2385

Two Tone: $4060

• Sweet White + Deep Ocean
• Sweet White + Cherry Crimson
• Sweet White + Mojave Beige
• Reflex Silver + Indium Gray

Is the Volkswagen Crafter protected?

The Crafter Kampervan doesn’t have an ANCAP security ranking, nor does the usual Crafter lineup.

Customary security options embrace:

Security Gear

• Twin entrance airbags
• Twin front-side, curtain airbags
• Multi-Collision Brake
• Brake Help
• Digital Differential Lock (EDL)
• Hill Maintain Help

Driver Help

• Adaptive cruise management
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver fatigue detection
• Ahead collision warning
• Lane-keep help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing digicam
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Pace limiter

How a lot does the Volkswagen Crafter value to run?

The Crafter Kampervan lineup is roofed by Volkswagen’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee with 5 years of ordinary roadside help.

Along with protection by Volkswagen Industrial Autos’s vendor community, the Crafter Kampervan has entry to the Jayco and JARSA networks for servicing and repairs.

The usual Crafter gives five-year Care Plans for scheduled upkeep – with 12-month/20,000km intervals. For the Crafter 4Motion, the pay as you go plan prices $2600.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen Crafter

This type of product is much more area of interest than the stuff we usually assessment.

What the Crafter Kampervan by Jayco presents is a really particular answer to a really particular set of wants. Whereas the campervan market seems to be profitable and in demand, it’s nonetheless a small subset of general new automotive gross sales

However for what it’s, it appears and seems like a manufacturing facility product and oozes cool issue with its Kombi-inspired paint choices.

It’s additionally tremendous straightforward to drive, doesn’t sacrifice on the type of mod-cons you count on in a contemporary industrial car and comes backed by the total producer’s guarantee and is competitively priced with rival merchandise – even inside Jayco’s personal vary.

Credit score to Volkswagen Industrial Autos Australia for developing with a localised answer within the face of not with the ability to get the factory-made Crafter Grand California to Australia. The native partnership and conversions enterprise creates a tailor-made product for our market, creating jobs within the course of – who stated native manufacturing was lifeless?

However with simply 60-ish items pencilled in for the rest of 2024, and given the final run solely lasted about 10 minutes as soon as it went on sale on-line, you’re unlikely to see many of those Crafter Kampervans operating round even when all the allocation for this 12 months is exhausted.

What it additionally represents is a dedication from Volkswagen Australia to native partnerships to develop bespoke merchandise for the native market. The Kampervan by Jayco is one among quite a few collaborations the German model’s industrial division has engaged in, and the corporate says there are extra to return.

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