Test drive: Volkswagen Transporter Rockton 4Motion, the most capable 4x4 van

A cold morning. It snowed overnight, and by the first hours of the day the white blanket covers the whole small mountain village. There is no choice but to go to work, which means facing the cold and starting our work vehicle. With such heavy snowfall, it won’t be easy to move it… Unless our vehicle is a Volkswagen Transporter Rockton 4Motion, because then snow is no problem.

We have put the Volkswagen Transporter in its most off-road version through the most demanding conditions, namely the Rockton 2.0 TDI 150 CV with 4Motion traction and fitted with 4Season tyres.

Exterior design: a huge, tall orange van

The first thing that catches the eye of the Volkswagen Transporter Rockton is its exterior colour, the German brand offers several colours for this finish, orange being the most striking (and, incidentally, the most widely used in Germany on construction and public service vehicles).

The second surprise is its enormous ground clearance. Compared with an SUV, this crossover looks like a city car. To this we can add (as an option) a metal underbody guard that protects the mechanicals -really, unlike plastic guards- against any unforeseen event. The standard tyres are 4Season units measuring 205/65 R16.

Exteriorly it is spartan, with a black front bumper (fully painted is an extra) and LED headlights for all lighting functions, which are another option. On the side it has double sliding doors without electric operation but with electric locking. At the rear it has double doors, although the loading sill is quite high.

Interior design: up to nine real seats with layout to suit us

Inside, the design is sober, as is normal in this segment, with the typical finishes of this type of vehicle. There are no great design flourishes or innovative materials, but everything is in its right place and it has an elevated but comfortable driving position.

The only thing that is really necessary and can be fitted as an option is the armrest on the front seats, especially the driver’s, since covering distances in the Transporter is not especially uncomfortable, but the lack of an armrest is very noticeable. Visibility is very good, except to the rear, which is completely obstructed by the seats in the last row.

The seats on our test unit were another option, with a specific upholstery and shape, arranged in a 2+2+3 configuration. The good thing is that this type of seat can be moved within the vehicle as we wish, using the rails that run through the whole interior of the Transporter, leaving the floor completely flat.

It would be better, however, to fit more comfortable seats in the second and third rows, ones that are not so narrow and do not have an integrated headrest, since on the ones fitted to our test unit the backrests could not even be adjusted. That said, the rear seats, both in the 2nd and 3rd rows, have plenty of space between each seat for both legs and head.

The enormous interior space creates a problem in the boot, since the whole floor of the Transporter is flat, the same surface being used in the rear seats as in the boot. If we carry something small it will move around the whole cabin; it should incorporate some hook or solution to hold objects in the large boot or load area.

Engine and performance

Under the bonnet the Transporter Rockton hides a well-known two-litre TDI block producing 150 CV, it is not the most powerful version of this engine, but it is more than sufficient to move this van with ease. This 2.0 TDI is quite eager in delivering power, responding from just over 1,500 r.p.m. and stretching its torque delivery up to almost 4,000 revolutions.

Between its engine with 340 Nm of torque and its six-speed manual gearbox, it is very easy to make the most of each of the 150 CV available. The shifter feels correct, with short, fairly precise travel; it also has a specific first gear for off-road use. The engine noise and vibration could be improved, but they are within normal values for the segment.

Handling: a real 4×4 van

The first thing that surprised us about its behaviour, from a dynamic standpoint, was that as soon as we got behind the wheel, the first kilometres -as usual- were on the motorway from Madrid to Vigo. On that first stretch, despite its dimensions and height, it behaves in a noble and predictable way. On the other hand, we must not forget that it is taller than a conventional van and quite long, but dynamically it holds its own. That said, it is noisy inside because it is not at all aerodynamic and at high speeds this is noticeable; however, when overtaking or merging it acquits itself nobly.

We expected it to be clumsier on the road, yet it surprises with its composure, being quite rigid and with a suspension that controls the body movements at all times. When such movements are unavoidable, the Transporter behaves predictably.

On the road it is very comfortable to drive, only when tackling a mountain pass will we notice it -especially because of its size-, although it does not lack power and the brakes perform their function superbly. The 4Motion full-time all-wheel drive with automatic management also helps ensure there is no loss of power at any time and gives it very good exit from bends.

However, the most notable aspect of its behaviour appears when we leave the asphalt, that is, its off-road capability, which rivals that of any pure 4×4. Its 4Motion traction works automatically, thanks to the centre differential, which comes into operation sending power to the rear axle when needed to support the front, all managed in a completely automatic way.

What we can lock with a button is the rear axle, to get through the most complex situations. Unlike other electronically managed systems, in this case the management acts slightly ahead of time, and in a complicated situation of very low grip we only need to press the accelerator gently and the traction control does the rest (on other similar systems we often end up stuck in situations that are easy to resolve simply by locking the differential or sending torque to other wheels). In other words, despite its automatic management it is not afraid of any type of terrain, and it is supported by the rear axle lock and hill descent control (two features that few 4x4s offer).

Once we understood the theory of how the 4Motion works, we decided to put it to the test on a high mountain road in the Serra do Caurel (Lugo) after a heavy snowfall. We began driving on a road with a light layer of snow until we reached another with several centimetres of snow that had not been cleared by any machine or vehicle. That is when its traction capability surprised us, even on a considerable gradient. But this Transporter Rockton seems to have no limits and pushes its way through the snow without barely flinching; its generous ground clearance and the outstanding underbody protection (a highly recommended option if off-road use is planned) give us greater confidence, with snow depth reaching a third of the wheel.

Fuel consumption

Despite its dimensions, average consumption during the test remained at reasonable figures. On motorways, despite its height and wholly unfavourable aerodynamics, the figure on the usual Madrid > Vigo > Madrid route was 8.3 litres per 100 km. On country roads the figure drops to 7 litres per 100 km, although if we drive carefully it can fall as low as 6.5 litres per 100 km. Finally, in town, the average on our usual route was 8.9 litres per 100 km.

Equipment: spartan, with a long list of options

Standard equipment highlights safety features: front airbags, stability control with brake assist, front fog lights with cornering lights, among other items. The standard equipment is completed by black bumpers and mirrors, a touchscreen radio with a five-inch display, four speakers (front seats only) and climate control with two separate zones -front and rear cabin-, among other features.

The rest is completed by the list of extras. We missed a rear camera (it had parking sensors) or an armrest on the driver’s seat, as well as more comfortable seats in the second and third rows. But both the 2nd and 3rd row seats and the second side door are optional depending on the layout you want, up to 9 seats in total (our unit had seven seats).

Price and verdict on the Volkswagen Transporter Rockton

The starting price for this very special 4×4 version is 37,060 euros (2,000 more if chosen with the DSG gearbox), while once extras are added it is easy to exceed 40,000 euros or, as in the case of the unit we tested, to reach around 50,000 euros final price; it all depends on the level of extras and customisation.

My verdict on the Transporter Rockton is very positive. It is a van of the kind that barely exists any more. Its wise middle ground between work and off-road capability makes it a perfect vehicle for those who need, for work or leisure, to leave the asphalt or drive through difficult terrain, where a 4×4 falls short on size. That is where this Transporter offers the best of both worlds: it is enormous, ideal for cargo, with a fully customisable interior layout, and its abilities are those of a true 4×4.

Photos | Test team