The Volkswagen Transporter T5 range is the fifth generation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV/VWN) 'Transporter' series of medium-sized light commercial vehicles and the people mover Caravelle/Multivan range. It was launched 6 October 2002, and went into full production on 25 April 2003, replacing the fourth generation T4 Transporter range.
Key markets for the T5 range are Germany, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Russia, France, Turkey and Singapore. The T5 range was not sold in the United States and Canada due to poor sales of the T4-based Volkswagen EuroVan. In lieu of the T5, Volkswagen marketed the Canadian-built Routan, a minivan derived from the Chrysler RT platform.
Overview
The Transporter is the commercial workhorse in the T5 range, available in over 100 combinations. Variants include short- (SWB), or long-wheelbases (LWB); along with low-, medium-, or high-rooflines; and can be configured as a van, minibus, single-cab, double-cab, drop side or chassis truck.
Body types
A brief view of the Transporter T5 range: Panel Van – Delivery van without side windows or rear seats, Highroof Panel Van – Delivery van with raised roof. There is also a third mid-roof height available with the T5, between the two traditional ones Half-panel – Van with side windows only in the front half of the cargo area and one row of removable rear seats, Pick-up – Flatbed truck, also available with wider load bed, Crew Cab Pick-up, in – Flatbed truck with double cab and two rows of seats, Cab Chassis – (both single and crew cab), for coach builders to build special bodies onto, Kombi, from (combination vehicle) – Van with side windows and removable rear seats, i.e. both a passenger and a cargo vehicle combined. Also available with heightened roof, Shuttle (8-11 seater) minibus, Taxi, along with Police, Fire and Ambulance emergency services vehicles are made by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) through Special Vehicle Order (SVO), although this option is not available in all markets.
Apart from these factory variants there are a multitude of third-party conversions available, some of which are offered through the VWCV/VWN dealer organisation. They include refrigerated vans, ambulances, police vans, fire engines, ladder trucks, campervans and so on.
The full cargo payload potential of the Transporter is between to 1.4 tonnes. Load compartment volumes range from to .
In Mexico, the T5 range is marketed under the nameplate Transporter, same as Europe.