The Volkswagen Crafter is the biggest van that VW makes, and the latest model launched is a significant advance over its predecessor. It has a sharper look than before, but is in-keeping with the lines of the smaller VW Caddy and T6 Transporter, while VW has turned to its car range for a raft of new tech in the cabin and under the skin.

The Crafter Mk2 is VW’s fourth generation of large van, and follows in the footsteps of the LT (Mk1 and Mk2), as well as the original Crafter. While the LT Mk2 and Crafter were co-developed with the Mercedes Sprinter, the Crafter Mk2 is an in-house VW production, although it’s also sold by sister MAN Trucks as the TGE.

The bulk of the range is front-wheel drive, but 4Motion four-wheel drive is available on selected models (some from 2018), while rear-wheel drive is offered (from late 2017/early 2018) with in single and twin wheel guises, the latter is standard on five tonne versions.

Where the Crafter pulls ahead of rivals is with its use of technology that’s taken from VW’s passenger cars. The cabin has the familiarity of the Caddy and Transporter vans, and in turn it shares much with the VW car range interms of its looks and the materials used.