VW Crafter 4Motion
BUYERS GUIDE – HEAVY DUTY
The all-Volkswagen Crafter is no longer a rebadged and repowered Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The post-2018 Crafter 4Motion was upgraded for 2025.
The Crafter 4Motion models come with east-west engine mounting, six-speed manual and eight speed automatic transmissions and are all-single-tyred models with 3.5-4.0-tonnes GVM ratings.
Because the Crafter was conceived as a range of vans and cab/chassis with front wheel drive and rear wheel drive variants, producing a 4WD variant was simply a matter of combining both drivelines.
The front wheel drive 4×2 Crafter has east-west engine and transmission mounting, with six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic choices that drive front wheel half-shafts.
Dual tyred, rear wheel drive models have a longitudinally-positioned engine and propshaft drive to the rear axle.
In the case of 4Motion Crafters, the engine is positioned east-west and both drivelines are fitted, with a right-angle bevel drive to the propshaft and live rear axle.
The amount of drive going to the rear axle is controlled by a generation-five Haldex wet-clutch coupling.
The Haldex unit assess front axle traction and distributes torque up to 60-percent to the rear axle if required. There’s also an electronically controlled centre differential system, with locking function, to prevent ‘spin out’ at either end of the vehicle.
As with the VW Amarok 4WD ute that’s fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission there’s no two-speed transfer case fitted to 4Motion Crafters.
The Crafter range received updates in mid-2025, with new technology, safety features and driver assistance systems.
Included as standard were: forward collision warning, with AEB cyclist and pedestrian detection; lane assist; travel assist; blind sport monitoring; adaptive cruise control and a ‘moving off’ information system.
Visually, the Crafter picked up a fresh front bumper and badging, to align with the rest of the Volkswagen family.
On the inside, a redesigned dashboard featured a 10.4-inch infotainment system; fully digital cockpit; standard wireless charger and USB-C ports with faster charging.
Electric parking brake and transmission shifter replace the previous mechanical units, along with climate control centre design and multi-functional steering wheel.
The Australian-designed and Jayco-Melbourne-converted Crafter Kampervan, available in Style and All-Terrain, also benefits from these same updates. Check out our OTA report in Camping – Campervans.
The 2025 Crafter retained the former TDI410 2.0L twin-turbo diesel powertrain.
VW Crafter 4Motion 2025 van models were: Crafter 35 MWB Van TDI410 8 Speed Auto 4Motion 3.55t GVM, $77,790; Crafter 35 MWB Van TDI410 8 Speed Auto 4Motion 3.88t GVM, $79,790; Crafter 35 LWB Van TDI410 8 Speed Auto 4Motion 3.55t GVM, $81,290; Crafter 35 LWB Van TDI410 8 Speed Auto 4Motion 4.0t GVM, $84,790; Crafter 35 LWO Van TDI410 8 Speed Auto 4MOTION 3.55t GVM, $83,790.
VW Crafter 4Motion single cab/chassis model was: Crafter 35 LWB SCC TDI410 8 Speed Auto 4Motion 3.55t GVM, $73,600
There was also a host of optional equipment available, including sliding doors; GVM upgrades; roof heights; storage compartments; windows; wooden flooring; side and roof trims; suspended, heated and swivel seats; suspension modifications; acoustic reversing alarms; headlight options; roof rack prep; wiring kits for bodybuilders; second battery kits; second aircon kits; second alternator; hill descent assist and rear diff lock.
We’ve requested a test vehicle and will report ASAP.
Post-2018 models
All Crafter 4Motion models were single-tyred vehicles with 3.5-4.0-tonnes GVM ratings. There were medium wheelbase vans ($56,990 RRP manual and $59,990 auto); long wheelbase vans ($60,490 RRP manual and $$63,490 auto); single cab/chassis ($$55,790 RRP auto only) and dual-cab/chassis ($59,290 RRP auto only).
Interestingly, VW charged only $4500 extra for the 4Motion versions over the price of two-wheel-drive Crafters, unlike Mercedes-Benz, which asked a whopping 20 grand extra for its pre-2024 4×4 Sprinter models.
Despite larger external dimensions, the Crafter’s east-west engine position allowed it to retain or increase former-model load lengths. A further key effect of the new exterior design was a drag coefficient of 0.33, the best in its class, VW claims.
Available driver assistance systems included sensor-controlled side protection, park assist, rear traffic alert, adaptive cruise control (ACC), front assist with city emergency braking system, multi-collision brake system and crosswind assist.
A rear view camera was standard on all van models.
For 4Motion Crafter vans, hill descent control and a mechanically lockable rear differential were available as a packaged $1190 option.
On vehicles with tow-bars, electronic trailer stabilisation used the ESP system to help control trailer sway. Towing capacity was 2500kg, with a maximum 150kg towball weight.
The post-2018 Crafter achieved a cargo capacity of up to 18.4 cubic metres. Load width between the wheel arches was 1380mm and cargo space length was up to 4855mm.
In the medium-length variant it was possible to load six Euro pallets (each 1.20m x 0.80m) or four Euro 3 pallets (each 1.00m x 1.20m).
A left-side sliding door was standard and a right-side one was optional.
The van cabin we evaluated allowed very easy entry and exit, with three-point-of-contact safety and wide internal step.
The van cabin had three seats as standard, with the centre one foldable, revealing a work table and cup holders integrated into its back rest.
The driver’s seat had longitudinal and height adjustment, electric four-way adjustable lumbar support and two adjustable armrests. Luxury driver’s and passenger’s seats were optional.
Powered main mirrors and manual-adjustment spotters were standard.
Adding significantly to driving ease was a wide-view reversing camera, supplemented by a parking aid that mapped the vehicle’s swept path on the screen.
There were ample storage areas for mobile phones, laptop and tablet, water bottles and coffee mugs, as well as document cubby holes above the windscreen and slots for two-way and CB radio inserts.
There was one USB outlet and two 12-volt plug sockets – three with the Trendline package that also includes a chrome radiator grille, chromed trim on switches and controls and front fog lights and cornering lights.
There was a choice of two radios and navigation systems for the Crafter. All had a 200mm touch-screen with colour display that could be controlled using swipe and zoom hand movements.
Bluetooth hands-free functionality and voice control were included and customers could also add DAB+ digital radio reception.
The ventilation system plumbing was integrated into the floor, preventing damage by body builders when fitting out interiors. Also, the vent integrated in the floor ensured an even distribution of air from the middle of the vehicle.
Central locking and wireless remote control were standard and the cargo doors could also be locked by a dashboard button.
An optional universal cargo floor was made of five-ply beech and hardwood composition and sealed with UV-resistant resin-film coating. Mesh texturing was said to make this surface coating anti-slip.
There was also an option for ply panels to cover the cargo-area walls.
Nuts ‘n’ bolts
The 2.0-litre TDI diesel ‘EA 288 Commercial’ engine, which had been further developed for the new Crafter, was available with single and twin turbos, but for 4Motion models the more powerful biturbo was standard. Figures were 130kW and 410Nm.
VW claimed Euro 6 emissions compliance for the latest engines, thanks to a common-rail injection system with 2000 bar pressure; a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and a water-cooled Mahle charge air cooler. An oxidising catalytic converter, with a downstream combination of diesel particulate filter (DPF) and SCR catalytic converter, after-treated the exhaust gases.
The AQ450 automatic gearbox had a heavy-duty casing and bearings, a reinforced lock-up clutch, large parking pawl and drove a four-pinion front differential.
The VW Crafter had McPherson strut front suspension, a live rear axle with parabolic leaf springs and anti-sway bars on both axles.
Electro-mechanical steering was used for the first time on a Crafter, permitting easy fitment of safety functions that included driver fatigue detection, lane keep assist and park assist.
Double-piston floating-calliper, ventilated disc brakes were fitted up front and single-piston, ventilated, combination-calliper disc brakes with parking brake were fitted at the rear.
The Crafter could be fitted with a second deep cycle battery, with a capacity of 92Ah (AGM) and second-battery monitoring.
Standard ride height left only 199mm ground clearance, but there was a Seikel lift kit available that raised that by 30mm. In conjunction with 245/70R16 tyres in place of the standard 235/65R16s the overall ground clearance lift was 50mm.
On and off road in the 2019 model
Our three-seat Crafter 4Motion was a medium (3640mm) wheelbase, standard-height (2355mm) van model that measured just under six metres overall – around ute size. It had 3200mm of floor length and 1.3 tonnes payload capacity – more than equivalent-length utes. The roof load rating was an impressive 300kg.
A very tight turning circle, great forward vision and superb all-around-view and rear vision camera made it as easy to manoeuvre as the best utes.
Ride quality empty was as good as the very best utes we’ve driven and it got better with a load on board. A load floor height of 670mm made freight handling a doddle.
Performance was excellent and the auto box shifted imperceptibly. The only downside of the small-capacity diesel was poor engine braking power.
Handling was car-like, even with a load on board and the electric steering gave good tyre-contact feedback.
Economy on-highway and around town varied between 6.7L/100km and 12.1L/100km, depending on load and traffic conditions.
We checked out the Crafter 4Motion on some muddy building sites and rough fire trails and it handled all with ease. Traction and lift off on a slimy building site was most impressive with the load out of the vehicle – a situation that sees many tradie vehicles in need of a tow.
The Crafter 4Motion is a well priced alternative to a ute for tradies, we reckon. It has no compromises in terms of driveability or site tractive ability and is more manoeuvrable than many utes.
It can be fitted out as a mobile workshop more easily than a ute and has central locking security for its contents.
Many tradies use their utes for recreational pursuits and the Crafter could be converted inventively from workday truck to weekend and holiday camper.
Check out our video test and an owner’s report below:
Owner’s report
Two of our long-term OTA website followers bought a Crafter 4Motion in 2020 and fitted it out for bush work, including a Seikel lift kit. Since then they’ve spent many months in Outback areas and have some issues with the vehicle that other remote-area travellers should consider.
The issues fall into two categories: vehicle faults and limitations of the vehicle for their purposes.
A faulty wheel sensor resulted in the ABS light coming on and that reduced the functionality of the vehicle until it was replaced under warranty. However, getting into a VW dealership meant a 400km drive and a two-week wait at the only one who would look at it: two dealers said they were too busy and couldn’t do anything for six weeks!
Another warning light issue was traced to a faulty temperature sensor on the intercooler.
The Crafter developed a very soft brake pedal after some time on corrugated roads. That was diagnosed as faulty booster that was, replaced , but the soft-pedal problem remained. (OTA’s experience with the soft-pedal issue in other vehicles has been traced to the disc brake pads moving away form the rotors on rough roads.)
An engine sump leak developed and was repaired under warranty.
Dust sealing of the side and rear doors isn’t bulldust-capable, so this couple runs the second A/C unit in the van to pressurise the back area. (A bonus of that is lower ambient temperature for the fridge/ freezer that reduces the electrical load.)
‘Gutterless’ door openings means that rain water drips into the door openings.
Fuel consumption has averaged 13L/100km, which is about what a diesel ute towing a lightweight camper achieves in the real world. This couple thought they’d use less fuel than that.
The proportions of the Crafter’s van body have caught it out on serious bush tracks, with the rear overhang making the plastic rear bumper vulnerable to damage and the bodywork is a tad wide for some narrow tracks.
With the fit-out weight on board and a full water tank, the Crafter is right up on GVM and the suspension travel is short and harsh, making off road and rough road travel very uncomfortable. However good dirt and good bitumen are fine.
Cabin acoustics make normal conversation difficult, despite the fit-out furniture that the couple thought would mask the ‘tin can’ effect. Noise levels were fine in the cargo partition models that they have driven.
“It sounds like we’re ‘whingers’,” said the couple. “But, given the scarcity of VW dealers outside of major centres, we’ve become nervous about the Crafter’s capability for the semi-remote travel that we enjoy.”
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