Volkswagen have actually been making campervans because the initial Kombi in the 1950s, so the German brand name understands a thing or 2 in this area. Design Credit: CarExpert At a factory level it has a variety of California-branded camper variations of its present series of business vans, consisting of the Caddy, T6.1 Transporter along with the Crafter. It’s even flaunted a California idea variation of its brand-new plug-in hybrid Multivan. Stream Supercars and more motorsport action live and totally free on 7plus The Australian market has actually seen a variety of these lorries imported and offered in your area, though the bigger Crafter Grand California was never ever able to be offered here due to problems with getting the moving side door on the left-hand side for Aussie roadways. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia for that reason stated “if you desire something done right, do it yourself”. Well, sort of. In partnership with rv and caravan professional Jayco, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia developed the Crafter Kampervan by Jayco, very first exposed to the general public at the 2022 Caravan Camping Holiday Supershow and consequently offered in minimal numbers online later on that year– all 60 of them offered out in minutes. Now for 2024 Volkswagen and Jayco are back once again with the appropriately called ‘GEN2’ variation of the Crafter Kampervan, total with feedback-based updates and upgrades, in addition to a structured variety. The industrial lorries department has actually presented a variety of quality checks in the production procedure in line with factory requirements. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert While the preliminary allowance for GEN2 is priced estimate as the exact same “60+ systems” as GEN1 for the rest of 2024, the business has actually assured it’s dealing with its factory in Germany to protect more Crafter base systems in 2025 to increase its Kampervan capability. Just like the initial, the 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan by Jayco is totally backed by VW’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee along with 5 years of basic roadside help. These are likewise made in Melbourne by Jayco, making this rather the localised job. Is this the best campervan for the daring and nomadic? Just how much does the Volkswagen Crafter cost? The 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan by Jayco variety begins with $157,990 plus on-road expenses. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert All rates leave out on-road expenses To see how the Volkswagen Crafter lines up versus its competitors, take a look at our contrast tool. What is the Volkswagen Crafter like on the within? There’s rather a lot going on here. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert While the very first row of seating and front of cabin is all stock basic VW Crafter, behind those factory rotating front seats it’s all custom Kampervan. There’s a folding table slotting in between the 2 rows of seating that can likewise be eliminated and utilized outdoors, and there’s storage below the second-row seat base– the latter brand-new with the GEN2 Kampervan. You can likewise transform the 3rd and 4th seats into something of a 2nd bed, and there’s a roller blind for the rear side windows. Being based upon the existing Crafter LWB with high roofing, there’s a factory 8.0-inch ‘Discover Media’ navigation system with cordless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, FM radio, USB-C combination and four-speaker audio. There’s a mid-life upgrade concerning the Crafter later on this year that will bring little in visual modifications however a significant dive in tech, efficiently bringing the new-gen Digital Cockpit setup from the similarity the Caddy and Golf in addition to a boosted suite of chauffeur support and semi self-governing driving systems. These tech upgrades will likely be assessed 2025-build Kampervans. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert As you return there’s a complete kitchen area setup including a gas cooktop with hinged glass cover, a 90-litre 12V refrigerator, 240V microwave, and even a complete shower and toilet behind a mirror door total with an on-demand gas-powered warm water system. It’s like a rolling hotel space! Feeding all these ‘Habitat’ functions are a 120-litre fresh water tank, an 80-litre grey water tank, along with a 9kg gas bottle saved in a sealed compartment. Externally there’s a combined dual-USB and 240V power outlet available from the outdoors workspace, along with mains power and water inputs on the right-hand side of the automobile. A modified electrically run side action– which opens and closes through a switch however likewise instantly folds away when the automobile is put in Drive– has actually been optimised for the GEN2, and help ingress and egress. There are stacks of storage drawers and cabinets dotted about. Volkswagen states it has actually improved storage in locations like the cooking area and both next to and under the rear double bed location. Natural ventilation has actually been enhanced with the different extra fly screens that have actually been used in this 2nd version, permitting the side and rear windows to be exposed however covered by the insect-blocking internet. You likewise get blackout blinds throughout for included personal privacy when you require it. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert The rear bed linen location includes a queen-width bed mattress and repaired bed, consisting of a 1.8m-long Cloud9 Luxury inner spring bed mattress. VW Commercial Vehicles states this bed is updated from the GEN1 Kampervan, and the bed height has actually been raised to permit the extra rear storage. You likewise get USB and 240V power outlets in the sleeping location to charge your gadgets, and there are a set of individual reading lights with extra USB charge points. There are swivel fans for cross-ventilation, and they fold into their installs to permit more headroom when not in usage. Above the bed location is an air conditioning outlet fed by a Dometic Harrier Lite roof-mounted air-conditioner. There’s likewise an Eberspacher diesel heater for cooler environments. Finishing the rear quarters is a Sphere 12V television with integrated DVD gamer, which can be connected to a swivel install in the cooking area or on the bedside. Out back behind the tailgate is a trundle tray with a 75kg load limitation, where you’ll likewise discover the awning tools in addition to pockets to keep the factory chair and table set when not in usage. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert You likewise require the centers to power this things, so the Crafter Kampervan comes geared up with a 400Ah lithium home battery confined in a batter box, teamed with a 3000W inverter which can run all of the lorry’s 240V sockets off grid, in addition to a 60A DC-DC battery charger which utilizes the automobile’s engine to rapidly top up the battery– all provided by Projecta. VW Commercial Vehicles and Jayco have actually almost doubled the capability of the onboard battery along with the charging capability of the DC-to-DC battery charger (from 30A to 60A). There’s likewise a secondary OEM automobile battery and 200W photovoltaic panel on board, with VW pricing estimate off-grid capability of more than 3 days without any a/c, or 6-7 hours with air conditioner. Solar blanket input is likewise provided through an Anderson plug, which is placed for windshield or rear installing. The business states the Crafter Kampervan GEN2 provides much better basic battery capability, inverter size and DC-DC charging capability than crucial competitors from Trakka, Horizon and even Jayco’s own motorhome variety. It’s all regulated through a What’s under the bonnet? The Crafter Kampervan variety is powered by a 2.0 TDI 410 bi-turbo diesel with basic 4Motion four-wheel drive. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert To see how the Volkswagen Crafter compares to its competitors, take a look at our contrast tool. How does the Volkswagen Crafter drive? Regardless of its extremely large measurements, the Crafter Kampervan is remarkably simple to drive. All-Terrain Credit: CarExpert We had a stint each in the Kampervan Style and All-Terrain, with the very first leg beginning in Phillip Island and ending up in Gembrook in Victoria’s far-east, and the 2nd stint beginning with our Gembrook stop and ending in the Toolangi Forest. Bear in mind the Kampervan is based upon the LWB High Roof version of the Crafter, indicating it’s an enormous 6836mm long, 2040mm large (2427mm incl. mirrors) and trips on a 4490mm wheelbase. It’s likewise an entire 2850mm high– she huge! Despite the fact that VW does not price quote a weight figure for either Crafter Kampervan version, the included weight of the conversion plus the 4.3 t GVM upgrade implies there’s a great deal of strong things for the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel to carry around. Even with simply one individual on board, it’s not especially fast. That stated, with the quantity of set on board and the probability of knick-knacks being saved in cabinets or in the refrigerator, you would not wish to be driving this thing especially rapidly or strongly, lest you harm or agitate what you’re bring. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert Our very first leg was carried out in the All-Terrain version, which has the exact same driveline and basic specification of the Style however includes a 50mm overall suspension lift bundle on top of smaller sized 16-inch steel wheels with all-terrain tires, in addition to a snorkel and Seikel underbody defense. With a traditional eight-speed automated and 410Nm on tap from 2000rpm, there’s a relative smoothness and linearity to the sturdy Crafter’s drivetrain that’s maybe less reluctant off the line and more standard on the relocation than a few of VW’s smaller sized business vans with dual-clutch transmissions. It reacts rather properly to inputs, though if you’re requiring to get a relocation on rapidly– for instance, while taking out of a slip lane or driving through a roundabout break point on a high-speed nation highway (like Victoria’s Bass Hwy)– you require to truly wring its neck. This rather upsets the otherwise fine-tuned atmosphere. Mentioning improvement, provided the open cabin and blocky percentages, the Crafter Kampervan’s insulation from roadway and wind sound is exceptional. The only genuine sound I heard were the within the cabinets and refrigerator flexing over more difficult bumps. The raised trip height and chunkier tires of the All-Terrain appeared to take in roadway flaws a bit much better than the Style, and it provides a little bit more assurance when working out steeper dips and driveways so you’re not constantly frightened of scraping it– plus, I believe it looks freaking difficult. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert Hopping into the lower-riding and street-focused Style there wasn’t a big distinction however there was a small included firmness which likewise suggested much better handling as a compromise. We likewise discovered the leg in the Style to yield much better fuel usage, in spite of the bulk of the All-Terrain’s path being on the highway– much better aerodynamics, possibly. The Style is even more car-like, making it a simple thing to pilot even if, like the All-Terrain, you require to provide that little additional space when making breaks in traffic. Truly, I was amazed at how simple it was to pilot. The standard instrument cluster with clear analogue determines and a monochrome multifunction display screen are all knowledgeable about the VW Commercial variety along with entry-level automobile item. It provides a range of screens for journey computer system, support functions, digital speedometer and numerous fast choose settings. Both variations provide a commanding view of the roadway ahead and all the chauffeur controls and ergonomics are extremely car-like, that makes it a quite smooth shift for a VW owner like myself. The leather-wrapped wheel, for instance, is much like the one in my sis’s Polo, and it’s attached to a perfectly weighted electromechanical power guiding system which is speed-sensitive and well precise in feel. I will keep in mind rearward presence is blocked by the rear bulkheads and bed linen location, and it’s an embarassment there’s just a rear-view electronic camera rather of a surround-view screen. A minimum of there are front and rear parking sensing units to assist you prevent support into something or binging the nose while parking. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert Speaking of assistants, the Crafter Kampervan features VW’s ‘Front Assist’ including self-governing emergency situation braking and forward crash caution; motorist tiredness tracking; adaptive cruise control; speed limiter; blind-spot tracking; rear cross-traffic alert; and lane-keep help. The All-Terrain we checked revealed a mistake for the adaptive cruise control throughout the highway stint, however otherwise having actually the included eyes on the back of your head from the blind-spot and rear cross-traffic cautions assist a lot provided this thing’s gigantic length, and the lane-keeping system assists you stick in between skinnier lane markings. It’s not rather as advanced a suite as a few of VW’s more recent guest and business offerings, though the inbound mid-life upgrade for the basic Crafter variety need to bring things like Travel Assist and extended performance of other systems for higher autonomy. While not clearly validated on the occasion, VW Commercial’s group mentioned these modifications being reviewed future Kampervans likely from 2025 onwards, as supply from the European factory enhances in the brand-new year. What do you get? For 2024 the variety has actually been cut to 2 versions– the Style and All-Terrain. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert Crafter Kampervan Style highlights: Exterior 17-inch ‘Lismore’ alloy wheels Automatic LED headlights LED daytime running lights Headlight washer system Fog lights incl. cornering function Rain-sensing wipers Electric folding mirrors Sliding door, left Rear barn doors with heated window Heat-insulating windscreen, laminated glass Heated rear windows Infotainment Discover Media infotainment system Kampervan Habitat Features– Batteries, Technology and Entertainment Projecta Power Management system Projecta 60A DC-DC battery charger Projecta 400Ah lithium home battery Lippert control board 12V and 240V power sockets Roof-mounted photovoltaic panel, 200W Sphere 12V television incl. integrated DVD gamer Furrion stereo CD/DVD/radio Internal, external stereo speakers Wi-Fi extender Digital television aerial Kampervan Habitat Features– Exterior Fiamma handbook box awning– 4.0 m 9kg gas bottle External shower, water gain access to External 240V power point External 12V power point External television point LED Annex light 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert Kampervan Habitat Features– Interior Large pot drawers incl. Ezi-Glide runners Kitchen cabinets Trundle tray under bed storage Bedside storage compartment External electrical action for left moving door Bathroom Kitchen 12V refrigerator– 90L Gas cooktop with hinged glass cover Microwave 240V LED light strip under overhead cabinets Domestic Harrier Lite rooftop-mounted air conditioning Eberspacher diesel heater Fresh water tank– 120L Grey water tank– 80L On-demand gas warm water system 2 x fans LED lighting Kampervan Habitat Features– Comfort 2 x table settings Cloud 9 double bed Roof hatch in living location Exhaust fan hatch in shower Side, rear door fly netting Accessories and Loose Items External fittings, accessories, pipe 1 x duvet 1 x blanket, toss carpet 1 x cooking area drawer management system 1 x plastic slicing board 1 x power extension lead 2 x fold-out chairs 1 x fold-out camper table 1 x fire extinguisher 2 x Fiamma level professional set Solar screens for all front windows 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert Crafter Kampervan All-Terrain includes: Exterior 16-inch black steel wheels 235/65 R16 AT tires Snorkel 50mm overall lift plan Seikel underbody security Options The Crafter Kampervan variety is offered with a series of paint surfaces– the only alternatives offered. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert Solid: $NCO Candy White Metallic: $2385 Reflex Silver Indium Grey Two Tone: $4060 Candy White + Deep Ocean Candy White + Cherry Red Candy White + Mojave Beige Reflex Silver + Indium Grey Is the Volkswagen Crafter safe? The Crafter Kampervan does not have an ANCAP security ranking, nor does the basic Crafter lineup. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert Standard security functions consist of: Safety Equipment Dual front air bags Dual front-side, drape air bags Multi-Collision Brake Assist Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) Hill Hold Assist Driver Assistance Adaptive cruise control Autonomous emergency situation braking (AEB) Blind-spot tracking Driver tiredness detection Forward crash caution Lane-keep help Rear cross-traffic alert Reversing cam Front, rear parking sensing units Speed limiter How much does the Volkswagen Crafter expense to run? The Crafter Kampervan lineup is covered by Volkswagen’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre service warranty with 5 years of basic roadside help. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert In addition to protection by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’s dealership network, the Crafter Kampervan has access to the Jayco and JARSA networks for maintenance and repair work. The basic Crafter provides five-year Care Plans for set up upkeep– with 12-month/20,000 km periods. For the Crafter 4Motion, the pre-paid strategy costs $2600. CarExpert’s Take on the Volkswagen Crafter This sort of item is a lot more specific niche than the things we typically examine. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert What the Crafter Kampervan by Jayco provides is a really particular option to an extremely particular set of requirements. While the campervan market seems rewarding and in need, it’s still a little subset of total brand-new vehicle sales But for what it is, it feels and look like a factory item and exudes cool element with its Kombi-inspired paint choices. It’s likewise very simple to drive, does not compromise on the sort of mod-cons you anticipate in a modern-day industrial car and returns by the complete producer’s service warranty and is competitively priced with competing items– even within Jayco’s own variety. Credit to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia for developing a localised option in the face of not having the ability to get the factory-made Crafter Grand California to Australia. The regional collaboration and conversions company develops a customized item for our market, producing tasks while doing so– who stated regional production was dead? With simply 60-ish systems pencilled in for the rest of 2024, and provided the last run just lasted about 10 minutes once it went on sale online, you’re not likely to see numerous of these Crafter Kampervans running around even if the whole allowance for this year is tired. What it likewise represents is a dedication from Volkswagen Australia to regional collaborations to establish bespoke items for the regional market. The Kampervan by Jayco is among many cooperations the German brand name’s industrial department has actually taken part in, and the business states there are more to come. 2024 Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan Credit: CarExpert MORE: Buy a Volkswagen CrafterMORE: Everything Volkswagen Crafter Pros Oozes cool consider two-tone paint Big bumps in off-grid power systems Looks and feels like a factory item Cons Extremely minimal production for 2024 Updated Crafter en route with much better tech A gruntier drivetrain would not go astray
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