The Bluemotion badging, which has been successful across Volkswagen’s passenger car range, is now starting to make serious inroads into the firm’slight commercial vehicle line-up.
As well as the Bluemotion Technologies versions of the Transporter, which feature low rolling-resistance tyres, stop/start and a brake-energy regeneration system, the specific Bluemotion model adds an automatic tyre-pressure monitoring system to ensure pressures are kept at the optimum level, as well as extra engineering efficiencies to optimise environmental performance.
The Bluemotion model is only available in T27 2.0 TDI form, using the 114hp diesel engine and with the standard roof height, while the wider Bluemotion Technology application goes across a range of models and includes the new Trendline and Highline specifications.
VW claims the Bluemotion Transporter can cover an additional 125 miles per tank of diesel over a standard 102hp 2.0 TDI Transporter, which it equates to an annual fuel saving of £830 for drivers doing 30,000 miles per year. The middle ground of the Transporter with VW’s 114hp 2.0 diesel engine and the Bluemotion Technologies additions will do a claimed 711 miles on a tank, 77 less than the full Bluemotion but 48 above the one that doesn’t get any of the efficiency measures.
The usual excellent Transporter features still apply, as the Bluemotion model hasn’t taken anything away from VW’s medium van. That means good build quality, a decent drive and solid RVs, although the cabin is a little lacking in storage space compared with newer offerings. But the Bluemotion is a serious attempt to cut fuel costs, one of the biggest expenses attached to running a vehicle. There’s a small premium on purchase price in the first place, but that’s without factoring in the extra equipment such as cruise control, and operators covering bigger mileages should find it paid back in less money poured into the fuel tank.
