On The Road
The recent crop of VWs have been noted for their driveability, and the Crafter is no exception. All the elements work together, making equally light work of mean streets and the open road.
It starts with an air of refinement as soon as you fire up the five-pot unit. Engine noise stays in the background and there is ample torque for minimal revs.
Aiding the engine’s flexibility is the dash-mounted six-speeder. Its short throw and precise action will allow you to work the gears with ease.
Big vans bring their own concerns when approaching corners and tackling winding roads. But if you do happen to enter a bend at faster than average speed, the Crafter digs in and holes the line- whether laden or unladen – for considerably longer than might be expected. If you insist on taking things to the limit, ESP (VW’s electronic stability program) is waiting in the background – and unlike some examples of this technology it doesn’t cut in too early.
This handling ability is coupled to speed-sensitive steering that lacks something in feedback, instead preferring to live on the lighter side. This is fine in town when you need to twirl the wheel, but less welcome at higher speeds when more indication on what is happening down below would be appreciated.
Cab Comfort
At first glance, the cabin of the Crafter doesn’t seem particularly innovative for such a new vehicle – but look a little closer and you discover that its design is very much geared to the modern driver.
The first noticeable plus is the seat adjustment. Having been increased by 60mm, it now – unlike many of its contemporaries – allows people over six feet enough legroom. In addition, the footwell is noticeably deeper.
The seat provides a comfortable companion over long distances, and avoids the ‘posterior ache’ that tends to crop up after two hours on the road.
One negative is the lack of an adjustable steering wheel; surprisingly in such a well equipped van it is a £55 option. Also, it is hard to gauge the exact speed because the dial is so cluttered with incremental markings.
Mercedes’ partnership is reflected in the single column-stalk on the left of the steering wheel. It does everything required of it, but a conventional two-stalk set-up might be less distracting for drivers new to the vehicle.
Back to the ‘plus’ column and there is excellent storage across the top of the dash (three separate trays), as well as door bins and twin overhead shelves.
Located in the central seat is a pull-down table top complete with moulded cup holders – ideal for writing on – while paperwork documents can be fixed to the clip on the dash.
The cab is as spacious as it is practical. VW has put an emphasis on freeing up room for the occupants to move around in, and considering the amount of housekeeping involved in delivery work and the room needed for laptops and so on, this is a welcome feature.
