Long-term report: The Volkswagen Transporter Sportline arrives to life by the sea

Sporty vans have always been a popular choice in the UK. In fact, the van you see here – the Transporter Sportline – is a model that only we get, rather than one offered elsewhere in Europe.

So why the fuss? Well, with a sporty van, the aim is to get that practicality of a regular van, but with the added dynamic appeal of something a little more dynamic. It’s also a sign that you’ve got the tip-top model, so you’ll be the talk of the site or, more commonly for these vans, the school car park.

You’re going to have to pay for the privilege, mind you. This Volkswagen Transporter Sportline, for instance, costs just over £65,000 after VAT has been applied, making it as expensive as some of the more premium SUVs out there. It’s a big chunk of change for a van, that’s for sure.

So what are you getting for the money? Well, there’s that all-important sporty exterior design. It comes courtesy of a fully redesigned exterior, with a gloss black radiator grille with an integrated red stripe – just like a Golf GTI – and intricate 19-inch diamond-cut alloys. I’ve already been a bit scared of getting near a kerb.

Noticeably over a ‘regular’ Transporter, the Sportline is kitted out with Eibach performance springs which drop the ride height of the van for a more dynamic stance on the road. It’s a tried-and-tested method in the van community and if you take a look at any beachside car park, you’ll be sure to see Transporters that have been lowered to within an inch of their lives.

Fortunately, the Sportline hasn’t been taken too far, though it’s enough to add a heck of a lot of firmness to the ride. I’ve mainly been driving the Transporter locally and, with the shocking state of the roads near to where I live on the South Coast, it’s quite tiresome. You’re constantly being lifted from your seat or chucked from side to side. It’s quite a lot to deal with, in all honesty.

But we’ve got the Transporter in useful Combi configuration, which means you get a row of seats behind you, rather than a full load area like a conventional panel van. All of the seats inside have been given the Sportline treatment with quilted leather and specific detailing, so it all feels very pleasant no matter where you’re sitting. There’s still loads of room behind those back seats, too, and they can be removed – though I’m yet to take on that challenge.

Despite its firm ride, I’ve got to admit that I rather like the way the Sportline looks. It’s definitely got some of the GTI-esque character to it and I’ve noticed myself looking back after locking it, which, as any car fan will tell you, is a good sign.

The only thing I’m getting used to is driving a diesel. In this day and age, my weekly testing duties are mainly taken up by electric and hybrid models, so driving something with a 2.0-litre oil-burner up front feels akin to manning the Cutty Sark.

There’s something fantastically old-school about it all, though, and even though it produces just 168bhp, it feels peppy enough to get you up to speed in good enough time. Volkswagen claims up to 34mpg combined for this setup too and, during my mixed driving, I’ve been getting spot-on that figure.