Whatshot
VW Transporter - The Van That Made Me Question Everything
VW Transporter - The Van That Made Me Question Everything
Date: 2026-06-26
There is a moment, somewhere between Umhlanga Rocks Drive and the N2 on-ramp, when the penny dropped. I was sitting higher than any car I had driven that week, visibility was exceptional, the ride was composed, and the cabin was quieter than it had any right to be. And I thought: why have I been driving a bakkie all this time?
The Volkswagen T7 Transporter has that effect on people.
I tested the range-topping Kombi Style 4Motion, and from the moment I settled into the driver's seat it felt less like climbing into a van and more like boarding something purposeful. The 12-inch digital instrument cluster and 13-inch touchscreen infotainment greet you immediately, Apple CarPlay connects without fuss, and the standard safety suite, including lane assist, automatic emergency braking, and rain-sensing wipers, wraps around you like a well-organised co-driver. I never once felt like I was roughing it.
Under the bonnet sits the 125 kilowatt 2.0-litre TDI, mated to an eight-speed automatic and 4Motion all-wheel drive. Out on the open road it pulls with quiet authority, the kind of effortless pace that makes long-haul runs genuinely enjoyable rather than merely tolerable.
The size tells its own story. A 1,140-kilogram payload, 2.8-tonne towing capacity, and 170 kilograms on the roof. I kept thinking about the mountain bikes, the camping gear, the golf bags, and the week's groceries, all in one vehicle, all at once. My bakkie-driving colleagues would not want to hear this, but the T7 makes a compelling argument.
The Kombi is backed by a three-year, 120,000-kilometre warranty and a five-year maintenance plan, which speaks to a manufacturer that knows exactly what they have built.
Go and drive one at Bidvest McCarthy Volkswagen Umhlanga. I did, and I am still thinking about it.