Volkswagen Trakkadu AT campervan new car review

Ever wondered what it would be like to try the grey nomad thing? You know, pack everything up and follow the road to wherever it takes you?

Exploring Australia via Winnebago, converted van or caravan is a popular pastime, appealing to people from all walks and with all shades of hair colour…

Sydney-based Trakka is a name synonymous with road-based travel in Australia. When Dave Berry started the company in 1973 he saw an opportunity to create a premium product that would allow everyday drivers to explore our big brown land safely and comfortably.

The firm's latest mainstream offering, the Trakkadu T6, certainly pertains to Berry's brief. Based on the long-wheelbase Volkswagen Transporter, the range is targeted at buyers who want a bit of everything in a camper: comfort, ease of use and long-range amenability. The thinking behind such a van is also to keep it useable as an everyday offering, a factor reinforced by carry-over safety credentials, fuel efficiency and practicality.

The T6-based range is available from $85,000 drive away for the two-wheel drive 340, moving as high as $137,000 drive away for the flagship Trakkadu OPR. The AT Trakkadu tested here sits at the penultimate rung of the ladder, at $120,000 drive away (the Volkswagen Transporter T6 4Motion donor vehicles constitutes more than $50,000 of the price), offering the versatility and class of the ORP but without its high-end four-wheel drive capability. That's not to say the AT isn't off-road savvy, fitted with more heavy duty Seikel springs, shocks and raised suspension (220mm ground clearance) to cater for light off-road duties. A diff-lock, reinforced underbody protection and increased 3.2-tonne GVM are also included.

The suite of interior equipment is expansive to say the least, not surprising given the starting price. A diesel-powered cook top and heater are included as standard, as is a hot water service that is utilised via a retractable hose for showers outside the rear of the van. There is also an 80-litre fridge, electric fan, sink and ample cupboard space for pots and pans, cutlery and food – each utilising separate battery power which is generated in part by a solar panel on the roof. The cupboards, cooktop and fridge flank the right hand side of the van, allowing ample space for luggage and gear.

Occupants are afforded 2.1 metres worth of headroom once the top is conveniently lifted into place with the help of gas struts. It is stowed in the same way, the roof locking securely into place via two internal latches.

At the heart of the AT is Volkswagen's 132kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine paired with a seven-speed transmission. It's the same engine that does duty in many of Volkswagen's models, with 400Nm worth of torque making relatively light duty of the AT's 2550kg tare weight (700kg more than standard). With Trakka's emphasis on using one fuel source (diesel powers many of the interior functions), the T6 is not offered in petrol guise.

So, the lay of the land. Our test of the Trakkadu AT covers three days and two nights on the NSW South Coast. We stay at approved camping grounds with plug-in electricity which supports the van's natural supply, allowing you to make use of household electricity outlets.

The first observation is to pack judiciously. Two people for two nights doesn't sound like much, but throw in a surfboard, golf clubs and camping chairs and the Trakka's interior space is fairly loaded and impinges use of the interior – a reflection on the van's size rather than its packaging.

Having separated necessities and luxuries in a packing sense, it is time to hit the road. The Trakkadu, despite the additional 700kg worth of weight over the regular T6, hardly breaks a sweat in daily conveyance, the engine using its low-down torque to build speed progressively and the heavy duty springs masking the additional heft over the bumps and in the bends. The added weight is only faintly evident in a dynamic sense, and the effects on the diesel's performance at open speeds is negligible. The cabin is devoid of vibrations and rattling, mirroring excellent build construction and attention to detail from Trakka's Sydney-based manufacturing facility.

The modified front chairs, which can swivel 180-degrees and are fitted with dual armrests, are comfortable and supportive during the four-hour venture south. There is little need to stop other than rest breaks as the engine sips on a relatively efficient 9.3L/100km.

Arriving into Batemans Bay just on dusk, you would have thought the setting-up process might be tricky with the lack of light. It is quite the opposite thanks to extensive LED strip lighting which blankets the cabin at night.

The Volkswagen's rear bench seat doubles as the bed. Setting up is a cinch, just slide the seat to its most forward-set position, stow the headrests, pull a lever and push the back rest down. The back rest aligns with an added section of cushioning to provide a circa two-metre long bed space that is wide enough for double bed standards. It's then a case of simply setting up bedding, closing the cleverly integrated aluminium window shutters and leaving the van parked up to walk to dinner. Another smart touch, the van's heater function can be set with a timer, allowing you to warm the space quickly and conveniently before going to bed.

The Trakka feels adequately ventilated with its pop-up roof in place. It means you won't wake up feeling like you're on the steamy car scene set of movie Titanic, as there is plenty of fresh air circulating through the cabin. Additional sound and heat insulation also does a nice job of isolating occupants from the outside environment at night.

There are no real limitations to what the Trakka is capable of. Breakfast the next morning is cooked up quickly and effectively using the stove top (which has different heat settings and take about 5 minutes to warm up), enjoyed under the side-mounted annex using the stow away table which also doubles as the inside table. If the engine is hot, the hot water system (with 55-litre fresh water tank) is proficient during dish duties or, in our case, a warm shower after a surf – the former disposing grey water into a separate 30-litre reservoir).

That Trakka has packaged the AT so effectively utilising a 25-strong team outside of Sydney is admirable. Everything is house neatly and efficiently, meaning you really could live with the AT as an everyday runabout.

The thought of utilising this versatile machine for the daily grind is a bit of a moot point though; spend a few days in one and you feel a yearning to drive off into the sunset and follow the road to wherever it takes you.

Volkswagen Transporter Trakka AT pricing and specifications

Price: $120,000 drive away (based on the AT T6 4Motion variant)

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel

Power: 132kW

Torque: 400Nm

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 8.3L/100km (based on official VW claim, not withstanding additional weight)

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