Volkswagen Transporter T32 Kombi Highline: van review | Martin Love

Powerful, uncomplaining, relentless" VW's much-loved Transporter takes long-distance adventures in its stride

Price 30,460
Top speed: 119mph
CO2: 195g/km
MPG: 37.2

It's not often you choose to take your holiday in a panel van, but that's what three friends and I did last month. In a virtually terminal case of Lycra-inflamed midlife "cycleopathy", we set out to ride from south London to the south of France - a distance of almost 900 miles. We did it for the challenge, but also to raise money for refugees. And Volkswagen's new Transporter played the crucial role of support vehicle, safe haven and responsible adult. Over the course of the week it lugged bikes, spares, tents, sleeping bags, gallons of water, folding chairs, gas stoves, cooking pots and enough energy bars to fuel a herd of rhinos. It was our refuge on the road and acted as mobile home, lunch depot, coffee stop, mechanical workshop and, when the snoring in the tent got too bad, dormitory.