As much as we love all commercial vehicles we also know that small tippers come with certain limitations in the driving stakes. Blame it on the reduction in structural rigidity over their panel van equivalent, which in turn puts a dent in their behaviour in the corners.

So when we took delivery of Volkswagen's Crafter in C35 double-cab tipper guise we assumed it would be a case of 'nice enough but no cigar'. Ok, it may look like an extended outhouse on wheels, but it only took a brief drive to see that this German means business. Gone is the traditional loose rear suspension and vague tracking, and in comes composure and refinement.

This is further enhanced by the company's Shiftmatic auto' 'box, which changes with smooth assurance and even saves on fuel according to VW - crikey! And being a double-cab of generous proportions you can also get four passengers in the rear - if you want to. Now if that's not multi-tasking we don't know what is.

To read the full road-test On the Volkswagen Crafter tipper double-cab check out the 26th July issue of Commercial Motor