Last Updated: 11/11/2009
Feeling Blue... Vanuser gets behind the wheel of the VW Crafter BlueTDI to see how the new Euro V engines perform.
Euro V emissions legislation is just around the corner for heavier vans, and manufacturers have started introducing their latest engines to meet this regulation. The good news for customers, is that while there will no doubt be a rise in purchase costs to cope with the new technology, Euro V engines seem to be offering improved fuel consumption along with the exhaust gas reduction.Most of the vans that we have seen with Euro V technology so far have achieved the revised emission levels with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), improved diesel particulate filters (DPF) and refined combustion technology. However Volkswagen has gone down the route of many heavy truck manufacturers and added selective catalytic reduction (SCR) which involves the injection of small amounts of a Urea additive, known as AdBlue, into the exhaust system to assist with the burning off of sooty deposits.
The resulting engines not only meet Euro V, but they are well on the way to Euro VI levels of low emissions, which allows VW to badge the BlueTDI vans as EEV, or enhanced environmentally friendly vehicles.
The 2.5 litre four cylinder engine is available at four power output ratings of 88hp, 109hp, 136hp and 163hp, much like the Euro IV motors. However in each case torque is up by 20-30Nm. In the case of our 109hp test van, torque rises from 280Nm to a full 300Nm.
To make the most of this broader spread of torque, the BlueTDI Crafters have a new six-speed manual gearbox. As well as a very low first gear, that barely gets the van moving, the box has longer fifth and sixth gear ratios, which lower cruising rpm by around 15 per cent. This results in lower noise levels as well as a cut in fuel use and emissions.
VW says that shorter gear lever travel and reduced vibration contribute to improved driver comfort and it is certainly true that the Crafter driving experience is both smooth and remarkably quiet.
As mentioned first gear is very short, but once moving the big van simply glides along through the gears. Having just 109hp means that this fleet-friendly commercial is never going to be overly rapid, with a 0-62 time of 18.5 seconds, but it accelerates well enough and pulls from very low revs without any juddering. Once up to speed it can also cruise with motorway traffic without any problems.
Not surprisingly getting 109hp onto the road is not a struggle for the tyres. However all Crafters now come with ABS brakes, traction control, electronic brake force distribution, load adjusting ESP and electronic brake assist as standard, to keep that bluff nose pointing in the desired direction of travel.
It is quite a climb up into the Crafter cab which gives you a really commanding view of the road. Personally I found the driver’s seat to be fairly narrow, with a short base too that felt like I was perched on it. That said after a day at the wheel there were no aches.
The cab is functional and well laid out, with numerous storage options including separate overhead bins for driver and passenger. Electric windows are standard along with VW’s cool blue and red dash lighting. You also get a full height steel bulkhead as part of the package, which helps to keep in-cab noise to a minimum.
Our test van came with Climatic air conditioning (£1,035), heated electric mirrors (£155.25), a rubber floor covering in the rear (£460) and front and rear parking sensors (£316.25). The rear sensors come with a series of yellow and red lights across the bottom of each wing mirror, that illuminate as you near an object. While this is very entertaining, I hesitate to think what a replacement mirror costs, with the indicator repeater built in the housing too.
The front sensors have a pod on top of the dash with yellow lights to warn of impact. To be honest the only time these came on was pulling out of our road where the grass on the opposite side of the road hangs over the asphalt, causing the sensors to light up and bleep loudly as the van swung out onto the main road.
There is also an interesting sticker in the front window of the Crafter, which shows the dash light symbol that will appear when the DPF needs to regenerate. If you see that light it instructs you to drive for 15 minutes in fourth or fifth gear at speeds of at least 40mph. I’m not sure what you are supposed to do if you are in the middle of a big city at that point, where 40mph is both illegal and usually unachievable.
That however should be the only time that you need worry about the technology. There is an AdBlue filler under the bonnet which leads to a 25-28 litre tank under the chassis. Consumption is around 1.6 litres/620 miles and AdBlue is available from most fuel forecourts. However VW has promised to supply the liquid free of charge for the first three years through its dealer network.
If the AdBlue does run low a warning light will tell the driver to fill up. If this is ignored, the van will drop to 75 per cent of engine torque until the tank has been replenished.
Depending on model, the AdBlue system adds around 30-70kg to the unladen weight of a Crafter van, though VW says that weight savings have been found elsewhere. On the plus side, VW claims that fuel consumption should improve by up to 7 per cent. For our high roof, medium wheelbase, 3.5 tonne test van, that equates to a combined consumption of 29.4mpg.
As with other vans at this size the choice of bodies and specifications is seemingly endless. Load volumes go from 7.5cu m to 17cu m, while payloads range from 1,011kg right up to 2,603kg in the case of the 5 tonne models. You can also specify panel van, window van, kombi or chassis cab in single and double cab layouts, with a wide range of off-the-shelf body options available.
The big VW is not cheap however, prices start at £17,250 and rise to a mighty £30,510 for the 5 tonne model. Our CR35 BlueTDI, without the extras mentioned above, has a basic price of £24,000, plus the VAT and on-the-road costs. You do however get a three year/unlimited mileage warranty as part of the deal, along with three years of VW Assistance in the UK and Europe.
The Crafter was always a good van and the move to Euro V, and BlueTDI has done nothing to diminish that. I’ll reserve judgement on the whole AdBlue and DPF question until a few fleets have racked up some miles. Certainly most of the trucks on the roads these days are running a similar set-up without any problems.
The benefits of the new engine and gearbox in terms of low noise and vibration though should not be underestimated. This really is a smooth van in which to cover the miles. Add in improved torque and potentially better fuel consumption, and some particularly attractive contract hire rates at present, and its easy to see why VW is confident about improving its share of the LCV market in the UK.
