Volkswagen is unique in that it offers a four-wheel-drive van as part of its standard fleet, giving rural users and farmers more van options than any other brand. When the new Transporter T6 was launched last autumn, the four-wheel-drive offer was continued in what is called the 4Motion version of the new T6 Transporter.

The T6 is an attractive new Transporter van that offers some potential as an alternative to the larger 4x4s on the market. It looks like a normal van, it’s more stylish than in the past and it has cleaner-cut design features. And the important point: it has the option of a 4x4 system.

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The Transporter has always been a good van to drive and I’ve always found it comfortable. The seat position is good and the access is reasonable, with convenient grab handles on each side.

There was a good bench seat to give seating for two passengers and a driver’s armrest fitted in between. The dash layout is more modern and car-like than in the past, so it’s easy to get comfortable with the controls.

Volkswagen fits a solid bulkhead between the cab and van section that’s safer and lowers the overall noise levels. The Transporter could, however, do with more storage areas as the glove box size is limited.

The test van was the power-topping 180bhp version that’s fitted with a twin-turbocharger on what is a modest 2.0-litre engine. The power and torque figures are both rated highly and that translated into a lively drive with a mix of loads at differing stages over a few days. The six-speed gearbox gives good power delivery and is convenient to use. Perhaps a little too convenience, as I found that I knocked my left knee with it a little too often.

This Transporter comes with what is claimed to be a new generation 4Motion all-wheel-drive system as part of the optional package. For normal driving, the power goes to the front wheels and you hardly know that the 4Motion system is fitted.

Volkswagen claims that it’s a lighter unit than before and that it gives better handling. There is also an optional mechanical differential lock system and that makes starting in slippery ground conditions a little easier. It was easy to test this on a rural grass road and I found that it kicks in quickly.

I’m not so sure that the Transporter 4Motion could cope with more arduous off-road driving conditions though. I didn’t venture to find out as I was not prepared for a towing session, but on smaller forestry-type roads it performed well and coped with the occasional slippery spot.

The towing rating of the Transporter T6 4Motion was one feature that disappointed me. I would have expected a higher rating than the 2.5-tonne figure. There is a good load capacity within the van itself, so the overall load can be over five tonnes, with a van load weight of three tonnes, which will be useful but not so much in terms of a trailer.

I was also a little disappointed with the fuel economy figures. The Transporter returned a figure that was about 12% higher than the rated figure of 12km/litre (8.3/100km or 34mpg). While that’s seen as fair, the rated figure is even higher than some of the higher-towing 4x4s on the market. This means that you can expect to get about 850km on a full 80-litre tank of diesel.

This Volkswagen engine is a Euro five-rated engine – not Volkswagen’s newest yet and that means that it does not require AdBlue, which is a benefit in some respects.

Because all of the Transporter models come with Volkswagen’s BlueMotion technology as standard, I expected a better economy figure. These vans come with low rolling resistance tyres, regenerative braking and start/stop systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Out on the road, the Transporter provides great driving comfort. The modern lighting pack gives great visibility at night. There is also a neat reversing camera, but I found that in rougher roads and with heavy rain it soon required a regular cleaning. The test van came with a full satnav system and the large screen was clear to use.

There are plenty of safety features included, such as an electronic stabilisation programme (ESP), driver and passenger front airbags and electric seatbelt tensioners. There is useful, practical stuff as standard, including hill hold assist, driver alert system and brake assist.

Entry prices start at €32,750 or £28,782 in Northern Ireland for the 4Motion Transporter models, and the system is only available on the higher power models from 140hp upwards. This includes the additional €3,000 premium over the standard van for the 4Motion system. If you are VAT-registered, then the value is even better.

Overall, the Transporter 4Motion package is good to drive, even if the towing rating is a little disappointing.